James Gunn is well-known for his interactions with fans on social media. If a particular question catches his eye, the director/writer/co-CEO of DC Films makes sure to comment, and fans love the exchanges.
Gunn did just that today, as a fan on Twitter asked him to name his favorite underrated Superman villains. The Superman: Legacy writer duly obliged, revealing some of his favorite villains to be Parasite, Silver Banshee, Ultra-Humanite, and Lady Blaze, along with saying that there are simply too many to count.
Those names might not immediately spark a memory in some readers as their appearances and stories can be a bit of a deep dive for more casual fans. Parasite is a moniker several supervillains use, but the most commonly used version is Rudy Jones. Rudy Jones was once a janitor at STAR Labs (a shame they didn’t hire security – far too many origin stories begin there!) when Darkseid manipulated him into opening a toxic waste container.
The toxic waste transformed him into Parasite, an evil that can absorb the life energy, superpowers, and knowledge – alongside the weaknesses – of anyone he touches. This power extends even to Superman, making him a deadly foe.
Silver Banshee, meanwhile, was once Siobhan McDougal, a member of a Gaelic clan that underwent a ritual to prove their worthiness. The ritual would bestow Siobhan with the leadership of her clan, but her brother Bevan did not want a woman leading them. He ultimately sabotaged the ceremony, sending Siobhan to an infernal realm where she became the Silver Banshee.
Her abilities allowed her to kill anyone with a scream – but she could not kill a victim that resembled a previous one. She went on to be a thorn in Superman’s side on a few occasions. A version named Siobhan Smythe appeared in the New 52 as one of Supergirl’s villains.
Ultra-Humanite is actually a pretty straightforward character and a classic comic book villain. Once “the most agile and learned brain on Earth,” an unnamed, mad (is there any other kind?) scientist found his body growing infirm. As his mental abilities began to develop, Ultra-Humanite would develop abilities such as telepathy, hypnotism, and more. He would then surgically place his brain inside the bodies of others before finally ending up in the body of a gorilla. Hey – DC Comics loves their gorilla-based supervillains; it makes sense that Gunn would have similar proclivities.
Lady Blaze has an interesting connection to the Shazam, but she’s done battle with Superman (who has no invulnerability against magic) a few times. Lady Blaze is a human/demon hybrid with magical abilities. Born out of the coupling of the wizard Shazam and a Hellhound, Lady Blaze is sister to Satanus, another demonic foe of Superman. She was also involved in the creation of Silver Banshee and another Superman villain, Skyhook.
Gunn’s love of comic books and his knowledge of comic book lore is well documented. There’s little doubt that there are other obscure favorites on his list- which makes it so hard to predict the central antagonist of Superman: Legacy.