Hellgrammite is a fictional supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an enemy of Superman. In the series Supergirl, the Hellgrammites are depicted as aliens where the two that have appeared are portrayed by Justice Leak.
An entomologist named Roderick Rose, the Hellgrammite subjects himself to a mutagenic process that transforms him into a grasshopper-like insectoid. He possesses superhuman strength and leaping abilities, the power to secrete adhesives and weave transformative or imprisoning cocoons and a durable exoskeleton. A number of his schemes revolve around transforming others into weaker, subordinate versions of himself, leading to clashes with Batman and the Creeper in Brave and the Bold #80, and with Green Arrow and the Black Canary in World's Finest Comics #248-249.
In the Post-Crisis DC Universe, the Hellgrammite returns as a recurring foe for Superman, first encountering the Man of Steel after being hired to kill Lex Luthor. During the Underworld Unleashed crossover, he makes a deal with Neron, trading his soulin return for increased physical powers and an improved ability to transform others into his drones. In a crossover special, Underworld Unleashed: Patterns of Fear #1, it was stated that he had once used the alias Robert Dobson. Although there were rumors of Hellgrammite's death as a member of the Suicide Squad during the Imperiex crisis, it was instead a similar villain named Larvanaut who died. He has been seen alive One Year Later, still a member of Superman's rogues' gallery, acting as an assassin for Intergang. Following the destruction of Star City at the hands of Prometheus, the new Batman leads a newly formed Justice League in a hunt to track down the various villains who helped Prometheus in his plot. The team finds Hellgrammite and several other villains attempting to flee the country, and a battle ensues. Hellgrammite is ultimately defeated after Donna Troy ties up a villainess named Harpi with her lasso, and then swings her into the villain, knocking both of them out.
Powers and abilities
Hellgrammite is capable of super-strength, improved jumping and producing cocoons to imprison his foes or transform them into drone versions of himself.
In other media
Television
Hellgrammite appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "The Cat and the Canary". Hellgrammite was a member of Roulette's Meta-Brawl. Hellgrammite later appeared as a member of the Secret Society and participated in the ensuing mutiny siding with Grodd and defeating Cheetah. He and several other villains were later frozen by Killer Frost and blown up by Darkseid in the series finale.
Hellgrammite appears in the episode "Time Out for Vengeance" voiced by John DiMaggio. Hellgrammite resurfaced at a construction site in Gotham City and fought Batman once again. Hellgrammite decided to turn Batman into his slave and bound the hero in his adhesive secretion. Creeper saved Batman and the two defeated Hellgrammite.
Hellgrammite appears in the Supergirl episode "Stronger Together," portrayed by Justice Leak. This version is a member of an alien race known as Hellgrammites where he is able to camouflage and disguise himself as a humanoid. He also possesses superhuman strength and the ability to shoot spikes with sufficient strength to penetrate metal. Due to his alien chemistry, he hunts DDT sources to survive, that being the closest analogue to his race's food. He is one of the aliens that escaped from the Kryptonian prison Fort Rozz when it crashed on Earth after accidentally being pulled out of the Phantom Zone. Hellgrammite is forced by Astra to capture her niece Supergirl and he is later killed during a fight with Alex Danvers. Another Hellgrammite appears in the Season 4 episode "Ahimsa," also portrayed by Justice Leak. He alongside a Kopy are released from D.E.O. custody by Mercy Graves and Otis Graves in order to further their anti-alien activity at the time when the Kryptonite they dispersed in the air disabled Supergirl. The two of them attack a carnival where they fought an armored Supergirl, Alex and Guardian. After the Kopy is defeated and the Kryptonite in the air is gone, Supergirl defeated the Hellgrammite. When Mercy and Otis appeared to threaten Supergirl, the Hellgrammite killed them before surrendering to the DEO. Though Otis later turned up alive in later episodes.
Miscellaneous
The animated Hellgrammite was also featured in an issue of Adventures in the DC Universe, which loosely adapted Brave and the Bold #80.
