| Debut: | Pendergast: Supergirl (vol. 2) #1 (November 1982) Decay II: Wonder Woman #3 (vol. 2) (April 1987) Decay III: Superboy (vol. 6) #21 (August 2013) |
| Creators: | Pendergast: Paul Kupperberg Carmine Infantino Decay II: George Pérez Decay III: Justin Jordan |
| Character Name: | Decay |
| Real Name: | Howard Pendergast |
| Powers: | Disintegration |
Decay is the name of three fictional characters owned by DC Comics. The first was an enemy of the pre-Crisis Supergirl, while the second appeared as a villain in the Wonder Woman comic book series.[1] The third version appeared in the New 52 as an enemy of Superboy.
Howard Pendergast is a delusional scientist who manipulates Gayle Marsh into becoming the super-villainess Psi to help him destroy civilization under the pretense of eradicating "decay". When Pendergast attempts to kill Psi for her failure to defeat Supergirl, she transforms him into a decaying monster before eventually restoring him to normal.
Phobos is a living statue created by Phobos to earn the approval of his father Ares.[2] It battles Wonder Woman before she destroys it with the Lasso of Truth.[3] [4]
Julian Lazarus later resurrects Decay by transferring its spirit into a virtual replica before Wonder Woman destroys it.[5]
A third incarnation of Decay is introduced in The New 52 continuity reboot. It is a psychic monster created by Sarah, a young captive of H.I.V.E. Decay battles Superboy and Doctor Psycho before the latter subdues Sarah and traps her in a peaceful dream world.[6]
All incarnations of Decay can disintegrate matter via touch.