Parademon

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Parademons

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Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance New Gods # 1
Created by Jack Kirby
Gail Simone
Dale Eaglesham
In story information
Team affiliations Secret Six
New Gods of Apokolips
Abilities Heigtened strength and tolerance for pain, flight (armor-based)

In the DC Universe, Parademons are monstrous shock troops of Apokolips used by Darkseid to maintain the order of Apokolips.

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[edit] History

Loyal to their master but none too bright, the armored Parademons fly through the air, carrying powerful weapons used to quell the rabble. Their true strength is in their numbers, which reach into the thousands. When acting together they can overwhelm even the toughest heroes.

They are chosen from the most sociopathic and cruel residents before being given gliders and trained in combat. They are often accompanied by gigantic dogs, called Hounds.

The original Parademons were created by Jack Kirby in New Gods (Vol. 1) #1 (1971).

Recently in Salvation Run, Desaad uses the Parademons to attack the villains that Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad had dumped upon what turned out to be their training planet. One of the Parademons killed Hyena (the one that Deadshot didn't kill).

[edit] Notable Parademons

  • 3g4 - A Parademon drone who somehow develops a self-awareness and questions his training. Killed by Topkick for treachery (Aquaman #37).
  • Colonel Harrendous - Officer of parademon invasion force. Killed when Alien egg within him burst (Superman/Aliens II #2).
  • Mike - A forgotten Parademon left on a Caribbean island by Darkseid, Michael took on a mind of his own and began to kidnap people off passing ships to get company (Total Justice #1).
  • Parademon - A renegade Parademon, possibly Mike, who was forced as a member of the Secret Six or, as punishment, Mockingbird would inform Granny Goodness about his presence here (Villains United #1).
  • Pharzoof - rogue miniature Parademon (Birds of Prey #12).
  • Topkick - Parademon drill instructor (Aquaman #37).

[edit] Mike

Parademon

If this infobox is not supposed to have an image, please add "|noimage=yes".
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Total Justice # 1
Created by Christopher Priest
Ramon Bernado
In story information
Full name Michael
Species Parademon
Place of origin Apokolips
Team affiliations New Gods of Apokolips
Abilities Heigtened strength and tolerance for pain
flight (armor-based)

As part of one of his plans to acquire the Anti-Life Equation, Darkseid left a contingent of Parademons on a small Caribbean island. Eventually, seemingly having been forgotten, one of the Parademons took on a mind of his own, and dubbing himself Michael (but prefers to be called Mike), he began to kidnap people off passing ships to get company.

One of the boats that Michael took happened to have Tim Drake, the current Robin, and his father Jack on it, thus drawing the attention of the Justice League. Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, and Batman all came to the island, and were drawn into conflict with Darksied, who had come to retrieve his errant Parademons.

After a battle with Green Lantern, when the Justice League transport they were in crashed, Michael was presumed dead by Darkseid, and the Apokoliptian war lord left Earth. Batman had spirited Michael back into his home beneath the island, and left him with a television for company, warning him if he left, he would have to face the Dark Knight.

[edit] Secret Six Parademon

A rogue Parademon was seen in the Infinite Crisis storyline, Villains United. He is forced to join the Secret Six or, as punishment, Mockingbird would inform Granny Goodness about his presence here. During that time, he forms a bond with Ragdoll, calling him "clown".

The nature of their relationship is unknown, nor how they formed such a close bond.

At one point, the team is kidnapped and tortured by several of their adversaries. Parademon is shown expressing amusement at the tortures; he had undergone much worse while living on Apokolips.

When the mansion the Six were living in was attacked by members of the Society, he detonates the Mother Boxes he had strapped to his body, killing him. Before he died, he wanted the "clown" to tell him a joke and make him laugh one last time, which led to the following exchange:

Ragdoll - "You've misread me. I don't KNOW any jokes. Wait - you've lost three limbs, and you're about to die in the mud without ever knowing a home or a name."

Parademon - "Hah! See? I told you you were fun-"

And Parademon dies laughing.

In the current Secret Six mini-series, it is revealed that Parademon has been stuffed and is kept in Rag Doll's bedroom. Rag Doll talks to his stuffed body as though he is still alive.

[edit] Powers

Typical abilities of a parademon include heightened strength and a high tolerance for pain. Apokaliptian armor grants them the ability of flight.

As opposed to most parademons, Mike, the Secret Six Parademon, and Pharzoof could speak, and seemed to have more than the rudimentary intelligence most parademons possess. The latter was shown to enjoy being tortured by his opponents.

[edit] In other media

On the final two (1984-85) seasons of the Superfriends, when Darkseid became a recurring (if watered-down) villain, the Parademons followed - although the use of the word "demon" on television was often protested by parents' groups. Thus Darkseid's minions were always referred to as "para-drones" on that show.

Parademons have also been seen in several episodes of Superman: The Animated Series, most notably in the Apokolips...Now! two-parter. They were last seen in the final episodes of Justice League Unlimited, following a resurrected Darkseid's attempt to take over Earth once more.

They are non-speaking creatures, and usually appear as invading armies.

In the video game Justice League Heroes, the player fights Parademons on the level prior to the final battle with Darkseid.

[edit] External links

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