Unity (Superman: The Animated Series)
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2008-04-13T18:27:02Z
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/* Trivia */
'''Unity''' is the collective name for a race of fictional alien beings from an [[eponymous]] episode of [[Superman: The Animated Series]].
==Description==
The Unity aliens were shown in three forms: a presumably male creature, a presumably female creature, and in the form of [[parasite]]s that invaded human bodies by unknown means and attached themselves to the [[brainstem]] of their victim(s), taking over the bodies for their own use. The Unity aliens utilized a [[hive mind]], similar to the [[Borg (Star Trek)|Borg]], and each individual host apparently shared the pain of any injured one.
===The Male Creature===
The male Unity creature appeared initially in a [[human]] form as a rather scary-looking [[preacher]] who went by the name of Reverend Howell (voiced by [[Stephen Root]]). This being was first seen exiting a bus in [[Smallville (DC Comics)|Smallville]] and passing by a disguised Kara In-Ze, alias [[Supergirl]]. The "preacher" later shed his (or rather, its) human disguise in a spectacularly disgusting sequence, becoming a huge, blue, 6-eyed, clawed being. The male creature was killed when [[Superman]] tore it in half and pierced both halves with [[heat vision]]. Each half had exactly three, glowing, yellow eyes, as the original creature was split right down the middle, in between the eyes.
The male creature was able to speak [[English language|English]] in both its forms.
===The Female Creature===
The female alien was directly referred to as "Unity". It was a large, almost immobile blue being with hundreds of bulging, glowing, yellow eyes and thick [[tentacle]]s. It could also exude an unknown number of smaller, ropy white tentacles from its body in order to feed and communicate with the host bodies used by its [[parasitic]] children. These tentacles could also infect others with the parasites. Not much about the female is known; it was first seen inside a [[circus|circus tent]]. In contrast to the male creature, it could not speak, although it did emit an almost human scream upon receiving a fatal injury. It was killed when Supergirl threw a can of compressed flammable gas, possibly [[compressed natural gas]], at it, which embedded into the creature, she then ignited the gas canister with her heat vision, which exploded in a giant fireball, blasting the creature apart.
===The Parasites===
Only seen on-screen via an [[x-ray]], the Unity parasites attached themselves to the brainstems of their hosts. This allowed them complete control over the host's mind and body, and turned their complexion pale and sickly. Once bonded to the parasite, the hosts could grow ropy white tentacles out of their mouths. The tentacles seemed to have a limited ability to regrow themselves, but after several exposures to x-ray vision, they melted into a viscous white fluid, somehow neutralizing the parasite as well. These tentacles also had the ability to infect others with the parasites, apparently by means of [[oral sex|oral penetration]].
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==Trivia==
* At one point in "Unity", Supergirl is captured by three Unity hosts, and her body is wrapped almost completely in their tentacles. This scene, along with Superman's later capture by the male Unity alien, which uses its tentacles to bind his limbs and attempts to force another tentacle into his mouth (and, in general, the method by which the Unity parasites spread) is surprisingly similar to a number of [[hentai]] [[anime]], where tentacles are often used as [[phallic]] substitutes (See [[Tentacle rape]]). This resemblance is surprising, given the typical intended audience of the series.
* "Unity" is possibly the most violent ''Superman'' episode. In addition to the aforementioned scene, both of the aliens meet extremely grisly deaths, with the male creature even bleeding heavily at one point.
* The male Unity alien was named Reverend Howell, his appearance, tone of voice, and overall demeanor is based on [[Reverend Harry Powell]], the villain of the cult noir film, [[The Night of the Hunter (film)|Night of the Hunter]].
* The plot is loosely based on the story from The Adventures Of Superman - Annual #1.
[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial species]]
[[Category:Fictional parasites]]
[[Category:Extraterrestrial supervillains]]
[[Category:DC animated universe]]
[[Category:DC Comics supervillains]]