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{{short description|Supervillain in the DC Universe}}
{{Not verified|date=July 2007}}
{{Superherobox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=[[Image:Darkseid.png|250px]]
|character_name = Darkseid
|image = Justice_League_Odyssey_Darkseid.jpeg
|caption=Darkseid from X-Men/New Teen Titans.<br>Art by [[Walt Simonson]]
|imagesize =
|character_name=Darkseid
|caption = Textless variant cover of ''Justice League: Odyssey'' #21 (June 2020). Art by Will Conrad.
|publisher=[[DC Comics]]
|publisher = [[DC Comics]]
|debut=''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (comic)|Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #134 ([[November]] [[1970]])
|debut = ''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #134 (December 10th 1970)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sacks |first1=Jason |last2=Dallas |first2=Keith |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490564 |pages=39–40}}</ref>
|creators=[[Jack Kirby]] (writer & artist)
|creators = [[Jack Kirby]]<ref name=gcdjack>[https://www.comics.org/credit/name/Jack%20Kirby/sort/chrono/ Jack Kirby] at the Grand Comics Database.</ref>{{sfn|Van Lente|Dunlavey|2012|page=115}}<ref>McAvennie, Michael "1970s" in Dolan, p. 145 "As the writer, artist, and editor of the Fourth World family of interlocking titles, each of which possessed its own distinct tone and theme, Jack Kirby cemented his legacy as a pioneer of grand-scale storytelling."</ref>
|real_name=Uxas
|alter_ego = Uxas
|species=[[New Gods|New God]]
|species = [[New Gods|New God]]
|homeworld=[[Apokolips]]
|homeworld = [[Apokolips]]
|alliances=[[Darkseid's Elite]]<br/>[[Secret Society of Super Villains]]
|alliances = [[Darkseid's Elite]]<br />[[Female Furies]]<br />[[Intergang]]<br />[[Secret Society of Super Villains]]<br />[[Legion of Doom]]<br />[[Injustice League]]
|aliases=Dark Side
|aliases = Lord of Apokolips<br />God of Evil<br />Anti-Life God<br />Boss Dark Side
|supports =<!--optional-->
|powers =
|powers=Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability and Genius-level intellect<br>[[Energy]], [[Matter]] and [[Reality]] manipulation<br>The Omega Effect<br>Psionic powers<br>Immortality<br>Regenerative [[healing factor]]<br>Dimensional and time travel abilities.<br>
{{collapsible list
|}}
| titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
|title = ''See list''
|
* [[Genius]]-level intellect
* Master tactician
* Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, and reflexes
* Immortality
* Invulnerability
* Skilled hand-to-hand combatant
* Omega Effect
** Omega Beams
** Flight
** Telekinesis
** Telepathy
** Dimensional travel
** Matter and energy manipulation
<!--Please do not add to this list. This list should be kept short and succinct. There is no need to list every single ability that Darkseid has ever exhibited in his comic book history.-->
}}
}}


'''Darkseid''' ({{IPAc-en|'|d|ɑr||k|s|ai|d}})<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ts8vEAAAQBAJ&q=Darkseid+%22darkside%22&pg=PA237|title=Is Superman Circumcised?: The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero|first=Roy|last=Schwartz|date=May 19, 2021|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9781476644417|via=Google Books}}</ref> is a <!--Do not add "fictional" as it is tautological; supervillains (and characters in general) are by definition implied to be fictionalized to some extent.-->[[supervillain]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[DC Comics]]. Created by writer-artist [[Jack Kirby]], the character first made a [[cameo appearance]] in ''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #134 (December 1970), before being fully introduced in ''[[Forever People]]'' #1 (February 1971).
'''Darkseid''' is a [[fictional]] alien [[supervillain]], in the [[DC Comics Universe]] created by [[Jack Kirby]] as part of the [[Jack Kirby's Fourth World|Fourth World]] series of [[comic books]] in the early [[1970s]]. He first appeared in ''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen (comic)|Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #134 ([[November]] [[1970]]). Darkseid has risen in popularity, and become one of the most powerful and well-known villains of [[DC Comics]].

Formerly known as '''Uxas''', Darkseid is a [[New Gods|New God]] and the tyrannical ruler of the planet [[Apokolips]]. His ultimate goal is to find and gain control over the [[Anti-Life Equation]] to enslave the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|multiverse]] by eliminating all hope and free will in sentient beings. Regarded as one of the most powerful beings in the [[DC Universe]], Darkseid serves as one of [[Superman]]'s greatest [[List of Superman enemies|adversaries]] and the [[archenemy]] of the [[Justice League]].

Darkseid has been adapted in various media incarnations, having made his live-action feature debut in the 2021 [[DC Extended Universe]] film ''[[Zack Snyder's Justice League]]'', portrayed by [[Ray Porter]]. [[Michael Ironside]], [[Andre Braugher]], [[Tony Todd]], and others have provided the character's voice in media ranging from animation to video games.


==Publication history==
==Publication history==
Darkseid was created by writer-artist [[Jack Kirby]] to serve as the chief [[antagonist]] of his "[[Fourth World (comics)|Fourth World]]" [[metaseries]]. The character was first seen briefly in a series of cameos that started in ''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #134 (December 1970), before making his first full appearance in ''[[Forever People]]'' #1 (February 1971). Kirby modeled Darkseid's face on actor [[Jack Palance]] and based his personality on [[Adolf Hitler]] and [[Richard Nixon]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newsfromme.com/2006/11/10/the-palance-darkseid-connection/ | title=The Palance-Darkseid Connection | last=Evanier | first= Mark | work=News From Me | date=November 10, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/best-comic-book-villains-real-life-inspiration/|title=Real Life Inspirations Behind Some of the Best Comic Book Villains|date=Mar 30, 2014|website=ScreenRant|access-date=Oct 12, 2020}}</ref>
Darkseid has appeared all over the DC universe, battling [[Superman]] and the [[Justice League]] several times.


Though Darkseid was originally conceived as the primary villain for the [[New Gods]], he would eventually be established as an archenemy of Superman and the Justice League.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |pages=71–was 73}}</ref>
As with gods in other mythologies, Darkseid is incredibly powerful, but cannot escape his ultimate destiny. It has been foretold that Darkseid will meet his final defeat at the hands of his son, [[Orion (comics)|Orion]], in a cataclysmic battle in the fiery Armaghetto of [[Apokolips]].


Darkseid has had a large influence in pop culture and other comics; most notably, Kirby's creation is credited as the inspiration for [[Marvel Comics]]' high-profile villain [[Thanos]] by his creators.
Presumably this outcome would occur at the climax of the ''New Gods'' series, but the title's unforeseen cancellation instead brought Darkseid's [[story arc]] to an unceremonious end, and both he and Orion were brought into the mainstream [[DC Comics Universe|DC Universe]], while Jack Kirby moved on to other projects.


[[Mark Evanier]], who spent several years as Kirby's assistant, has stated that 'Darkseid' is pronounced "As if spelled 'dark side,' as in 'the dark side of man's nature'", noting that this was "how Kirby always pronounced it around me"; however, Evanier has also stated that "at least once, when some fan who pronounced it 'dark seed' was excitedly telling [Kirby] his theories about the character, [Kirby] went along with it, rather than correct the kid."<ref name=PronunciationFAQ>[https://www.newsfromme.com/articles-such/the-jack-faq/4/ The Jack FAQ, p. 4], by [[Mark Evanier]]; retrieved June 29, 2024</ref>
According to writer [[Mark Evanier]], Jack Kirby modeled Darkseid on actor [[Jack Palance]].<ref>http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2006_11_10.html#012391</ref>


==Fictional character biography==
==Fictional character biography==
'''Prince Uxas''', the son of King Yuga Khan and Queen [[Heggra]] and the second-in-line to the throne of [[Apokolips]], plotted to seize control over the planet from his older brother, [[Infinity-Man|Drax]].<ref>{{cite book |last =Rovin |first =Jeff |title =The Encyclopedia of Supervillains |publisher =Facts on File |date =1987 |location =New York |isbn = 0-8160-1356-X |page=76}}</ref> When Drax attempted to claim the fabled Omega Force, Uxas murdered him and claimed its power for himself. His skin turned to stone, and Uxas rechristened himself as Darkseid.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]|penciller=Byrne, John|inker=Byrne, John|story=Apokolips Then|title=Jack Kirby's Fourth World|volume=|issue=#2|date=April 1997|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]|penciller=Byrne, John|inker=Byrne, John|story=Mothers & Sons|title=Jack Kirby's Fourth World|volume=|issue=#3|date=May 1997|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]|penciller=Byrne, John|inker=Byrne, John|story=Alpha and Omega|title=Jack Kirby's Fourth World|volume=|issue=#4|date=June 1997|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]|penciller=Byrne, John|inker=Byrne, John|story=O, Deadly Darkseid|title=Jack Kirby's Fourth World|volume=|issue=#5|date=July 1997|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref> At some point, he fell in love with an Apokoliptian scientist and sorceress named Suli, with whom he had a son, [[Kalibak]]. However, Heggra ordered [[Desaad]] to poison Suli out of the belief that she was corrupting her son.
===Origins===
Son of [[Yuga Khan]] and [[Heggra]], Darkseid is the ruler of the planet Apokolips, a post he obtained after assassinating his mother. He is obsessed with finding the [[Anti-Life Equation]] in order to use it to rule the universe; this goal also includes conquering his rival planet, [[New Genesis]], ruled by the [[Highfather]]. A destructive war between the two worlds was stopped only with a diplomatic exchange of the sons of Highfather and Darkseid.
[[Image:Newgods12.png|thumb|left|150px|Cover to ''New Gods'' #12. Art by [[Jack Kirby]].]]
Darkseid's second born son [[Orion (comics)|Orion]] from his wife [[Tigra (DC Comics)|Tigra]] is surrendered to Highfather, while Darkseid receives Scott Free, who later becomes the master escape artist [[Mister Miracle]]. This turns out to be a setback for Darkseid with his biological son growing up to value and defend the ideals of New Genesis in opposition to his father. Darkseid's first born son is [[Kalibak|Kalibak the Cruel]], and his third born son is [[Grayven]].


Following Suli's death, Darkseid's heart grew even colder and his disdain for his mother intensified when she forced him to marry a woman named Tigra, with whom he had another son, [[Orion (character)|Orion]]. Seeking vengeance against Heggra for killing the one he loved, Darkseid ordered Desaad to poison her so he could finally become the supreme monarch of Apokolips. Darkseid then tried to force Tigra to eliminate Orion, but the latter was ultimately traded with [[Highfather]]'s son, [[Mister Miracle|Scott Free]], as part of a peace treaty between the warring planets of Apokolips and [[New Genesis]].<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Jack Kirby|Kirby, Jack]]|penciller=Kirby, Jack|inker=[[Mike Royer|Royer, Mike]]|story=The Pact|title=[[New Gods]]|volume=|issue=#7|date=February 1972|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref> This trade eventually became a setback for Darkseid, with Orion growing up to value and defend the ideals of New Genesis as a powerful champion in opposition to his father. The prophecy foretold that Darkseid would meet his final defeat at the hands of Orion in a cataclysmic battle in the fiery Armaghetto of Apokolips. Likewise, Darkseid and his training minion, [[Granny Goodness]], were unable to break Scott Free's spirit after a long, torturous upbringing and Free ultimately managed to escape Apokolips, taking with him the [[Female Furies|Female Fury]] [[Big Barda]], as his wife. Free, now known as the superhero Mister Miracle, and Barda began living on Earth, and Darkseid used this "betrayal" as a pretext to declare the treaty with New Genesis abrogated so the planets could resume their conflict.
Darkseid's greatest ambition is to eliminate all [[freewill]] from the universe and re-shape it into his own image. To this end, he seeks to unravel the mysterious Anti-Life Equation, which will allow him to control completely the thoughts and emotions of all living beings in the universe. The Anti-Life Equation has often been portrayed as a quasi-mystical power that forces a listener to agree with whatever the wielder says, while other times, it is portrayed as a comprehensive scientific theory on how to dominate any living mind, whatever its nature may be.


While he has yet to obtain a complete working copy of the Anti-Life Equation, Darkseid has tried on several other occasions to achieve dominance of the universe through other methods. He has a special interest in [[Earth]], as he believes [[humans]] possess collectively within their minds most, if not all, fragments of the Anti-Life Equation. Darkseid intends to probe the minds of every human in order to piece together the Equation.
Darkseid's goal was to eliminate all [[free will]] from the universe, supplanting the [[Presence (DC Comics)|Presence]] as its Supreme Being. To this end, he sought to unravel the mysterious [[Anti-Life Equation]], which gives its user complete control over the thoughts and emotions of all living beings in the universe. Darkseid had tried on several other occasions to achieve dominance of the universe through other methods, most notably through his minion [[Glorious Godfrey]], who could control people's minds with his voice. He had a special interest in Earth, as he believed humans possess collectively within their minds most, if not all, fragments of the Anti-Life Equation.


Darkseid intended to probe the minds of every human to piece together the Equation. This has caused him to clash with many superheroes of the DC Universe, most notably the Kryptonian [[Superman]]. Darkseid worked behind the scenes, using superpowered minions in his schemes to overthrow Earth, including working through [[Intergang]], a crime syndicate which employs Apokoliptian technology and later becomes a religious cult that worships Darkseid.
Seeing other gods as a threat, Darkseid invaded the island of [[Themyscira]] in order to discover the secret location of the [[Olympian Gods (DC Comics)|Olympian gods]]. He planned to overthrow the Olympians and steal their power. Refusing to aid Darkseid in his mad quest the Amazons battled his parademon troops, causing half of the Amazon population's death. <ref>Wonder Woman Vol. 2, #102-104</ref> During the ''[[Our Worlds at War]]'' storyline it is explained that Wonder Woman was able to gain her revenge against Darkseid for killing so many of her sisters by placing a portion of her own soul into Darkseid. This supposedly weakened the god's power as he lost a portion of his dark edge. <ref>Wonder Woman Vol. 2, #173</ref>


===The Great Darkness Saga===
Drax, Darkseid's brother, became the [[Infinity-Man]].
{{Main|The Great Darkness Saga}}
One thousand years in the future, Darkseid has been absent for centuries and is almost completely forgotten. He returns and comes into conflict with that era's champions, the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]]. After using both scientific and magical methods to enhance his power, Darkseid transposes the planets Apokolips and Daxam—which places Daxam under a yellow sun and gives each of its inhabitants Kryptonian-like superpowers equal to those of Superman. Placing the Daxamites under his mental thrall, he uses them in a massive attempt to conquer the known universe. However, he is eventually defeated by the Legion and many of its allies.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Paul Levitz|Levitz, Paul]]|penciller=[[Keith Giffen|Giffen, Keith]]|inker=Mahlstedt, Larry|story=Great Darkness Saga, Chapter One: And the Servant Shall be a Sign...|title=Legion of Super-Heroes|volume=2|issue=#290|date=August 1982|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Paul Levitz|Levitz, Paul]]|penciller=[[Keith Giffen|Giffen, Keith]]|inker=Mahlstedt, Larry|story=Great Darkness Saga, Chapter Two: ... A Sign of Darkness Dawning|title=Legion of Super-Heroes|volume=2|issue=#291|date=September 1982|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Paul Levitz|Levitz, Paul]]|penciller=[[Keith Giffen|Giffen, Keith]]|inker=Mahlstedt, Larry|story=Great Darkness Saga, Chapter Three: Darkness Transcendent|title=Legion of Super-Heroes|volume=2|issue=#292|date=October 1982|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Paul Levitz|Levitz, Paul]]|penciller=[[Keith Giffen|Giffen, Keith]]|inker=Mahlstedt, Larry|story=Great Darkness Saga, Chapter Four: Within the Darkness...|title=Legion of Super-Heroes|volume=2|issue=#293|date=November 1982|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Paul Levitz|Levitz, Paul]]|penciller=[[Keith Giffen|Giffen, Keith]]|inker=Mahlstedt, Larry|story=Great Darkness Saga, Conclusion: Darkseid|title=Legion of Super-Heroes|volume=2|issue=#294|date=December 1982|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>''The Great Darkness Saga'' was removed from mainstream DC continuity in 1994, following the events of the ''[[Zero Hour: Crisis in Time|Zero Hour]]'' limited series. However, the tale has been restored to continuity in recent years. In ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' vol. 6 #4 (October 2010), explicit reference is made to the events of "The Great Darkness Saga", mentioning (among other things) Darkseid's victory over [[Mordru]] on the planet Avalon. Similarly in ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' vol. 7 #3 (January 2012), a Daxamite official remarked that the people of his world "still mourn how Darkseid used us for violence".</ref>


Seeing other deities as a threat, Darkseid invades [[Themyscira (DC Comics)|Themyscira]] to discover the secret location of the Olympian deities, planning to overthrow the Olympians and steal their power. Refusing to aid Darkseid in his mad quest, the Amazons battled his Parademon troops, causing half of the Amazon population's death. [[Wonder Woman]] was able to gain her revenge against Darkseid for killing so many of her sisters by placing a portion of her own soul into Darkseid. This supposedly weakened the god's power as he lost a portion of his dark edge.
===Superman/Batman===
Darkseid recently attempted to attack [[Earth]] by kidnapping [[Supergirl]]. He had used [[Kryptonite|Black Kryptonite]] to brainwash Supergirl, thus providing him with a leader for his [[Female Furies]], as well as a warrior on par with Superman. However, [[Batman]] and Superman were able to save Supergirl. This set forward a plan of revenge by Darkseid to destroy Supergirl; this plan also fails as Supergirl is teleported out at the last minute. Superman is set into an unparalleled fit of rage as he hurls Darkseid into the sun where they attempted to destroy each other. Superman beats Darkseid unconscious enough to throw him into the [[Source Wall]], where Superman declares that, "For years and years, you've tried to learn the secrets of ultimate power from the other side. But you will never get the answers—just like the others who are entombed here. This is where you belong. Along with all the other failures in the universe." The mysterious appearance of the [[Maximums]] in the next story arc (see below) has been linked to Darkseid.


===The Seven Soldiers and "Boss Dark Side"===
During the [[Superman/Batman]] story arc "With a Vengeance" (issues 20-25), the [[Joker (comics)|Joker]] attempted to control Darkseid when the Clown Prince of Crime gained powers similar to [[Mister Mxyzptlk]]. It was later revealed that [[Bat-Mite]] was inside the Joker the whole time. (Bat-Mite literally crawled out of his mouth). Darkseid actually attempted to vaporize the Joker with his Omega Beam, but failed to hit his target.
In [[Grant Morrison]]'s 2005 ''Mister Miracle'' limited series, it was revealed that Darkseid had finally discovered the [[Anti-Life Equation]], which he then used to destroy the [[Fourth World (comics)|Fourth World]] altogether. The [[New Gods]] fled to Earth, where they hid. Highfather and his followers were now a group of homeless people. [[Metron (comics)|Metron]] used a wheelchair, the [[Black Racer (DC Comics)|Black Racer]] was an old white man in a wheelchair, [[Desaad|DeSaad]] was an evil [[psychiatrist]], [[Granny Goodness]] was a pimp (or "madam") for the [[Female Furies]] and Darkseid himself was now an evil gang leader who is referred to only as "Boss Dark Side". It is revealed that Darkseid actually gave the [[Sheeda]] North America in return for [[Aurakles]], Earth's first superhero.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Grant Morrison|Morrison, Grant]]|penciller=[[J. H. Williams III|Williams III, J. H.]]|inker=Williams III, J. H.|story=The Miser's Coat|title=[[Seven Soldiers]]|volume=1|issue=1|date=December 2006|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref> This was, in turn, purely for Darkseid to get [[Mister Miracle (Shilo Norman)|Shilo Norman]], whom he considers the "Avatar of Freedom", in his clutches so that he could eventually destroy the New Gods.


===Final Crisis===
To pay a debt incurred to an alternate reality Darkseid and in order to realign the timeline, Superman recently freed Darkseid from his entombment in the Source Wall.
{{Main|Final Crisis}}
As prophesied, [[Orion (comics)|Orion]] returns to Earth via boom tube for his final battle with Darkseid. During the massive fight, Orion ultimately kills him by ripping his heart out, which created a firepit of Apokolips from Darkseid's chest cavity (in reference to the prophecy of their final battle). As Darkseid dies, a battered, wounded Orion walks away from the battlefield having "won" the battle against his father once and for all. However, Darkseid's life essence endured even the death of his body and fell back in time, where he was reborn as "Boss Dark Side", aided by his resurrected minions and the supervillain [[Libra (DC Comics)|Libra]].


Once again bound to the form of a human, "Boss Dark Side" began to appear in a number of titles in the run up to ''Final Crisis''. In ''[[Flash (DC Comics character)|The Flash]]'' vol. 2 #240, he led an army of fanatics, their will broken by the "spoken form" of the [[Anti-Life Equation]], to kidnap the Tornado Twins. In ''[[Birds of Prey (comics)|Birds of Prey]]'' #118, he runs his Dark Side Club where superhumans fight to the death, brainwashed by drugs produced by [[Bernadeth]]. In ''[[Teen Titans]]'' #59, it was revealed that he had employed the [[Terror Titans]] to capture the Teen Titans and use them in his club fights.
In Superman/Batman #25, Mister Mxyzptlk revealed that Darkseid's destiny was yet to be written and that their futures were tied together via the cryptic statement "From the fourth world into the fifth dimension. Kinda like the ring tone of that, Big D."


In ''Final Crisis'', Darkseid has begun to take over Earth and corrupt the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|Multiverse]] with the aid of his herald Libra, a reborn supervillain and [[antichrist]]-like figure who soon converts much of the [[Secret Society of Super Villains]] to his cause with the aid of the [[Crime Bible]] and the [[Holy Lance]]. Darkseid is also joined by the souls of his fellow evil New Gods, who, like Darkseid, now possess either modified human bodies or the bodies of other superpowered beings, such as [[Mary Marvel]].
===Countdown===
{{main|Countdown (DC Comics)}}
The upcoming DC Comics event known as Countdown apparently has Darkseid playing a major role. A teaser poster for the event reads "Unto Man Shall Come a Great Disaster", with Darkseid's visage visible at the bottom. In addition, one of the promotional pins for the event reads "Darkseid Rules."


Darkseid also arranges for detective [[Dan Turpin]] to be lured into the Dark Side Club, where Turpin is turned into Darkseid's "final host", as his Boss Dark Side body has begun to mummify due to Darkseid's foul astral presence. With his legion of followers and allies aiding him as he undergoes his latest "rebirth", Darkseid successfully conquers the Earth with the unleashing of the Anti-Life Equation onto mankind. However, the rebirthing process is still far from complete as Dan Turpin's mind and soul, while corrupted by Darkseid's essence, still remains in firm control over his body. However, at the same moment [[Mister Miracle (Shilo Norman)|Shilo Norman]], the "Embodiment of Freedom" is shot by [[S.H.A.D.E.]] operatives, thus signalling the "Victory of Evil". Darkseid wins control over Turpin's body, now twisted in a close copy of his Apokoliptan former appearance, and wearing an updated version of his battle armor. Darkseid then gains the fullest of his power, his "fall" having the effect of compressing and crumpling spacetime around Earth.
It is currently unknown just what role Darkseid will play in the event, and if the 'Great Disaster' is the same disaster referenced in ''[[Kamandi]]'', another Kirby work.


After escaping from captivity, [[Batman]] shoots Darkseid with the same radion bullet that killed Orion, while Darkseid simultaneously hits Batman with the Omega Beam, sending him back in time and then "infecting" Batman with Omega energy that will cause him to jump forward in time, with disastrous results when he reaches the present. Darkseid is mortally wounded, but not before his Omega Sanction teleports Batman into [[prehistoric]] times. Remains believed to be Batman's (later revealed to be the last of the many Batman clones that Darkseid created) are found by Superman, who confronts Darkseid. As Darkseid mocks his old enemy for failing to defend Earth, it emerges that in Darkseid's fall through the multiverse, he created a doomsday singularity that now threatens all of existence. When Superman attempts to physically assault him, Darkseid reveals that he now exists inside the bodies of all those who fell to the power of the Anti-Life Equation and that killing Darkseid will kill humanity. Darkseid then reloads the gun that was used to shoot him, to kill Orion by way of firing the bullet backwards in time (a move Superman deems to be suicide due to the paradoxical nature of his actions: the bullet used to kill Orion is ultimately fired at him by Batman and is now poisoning him to death).
==Powers and abilities==
Darkseid is an incredibly powerful being with many [[god]]-like abilities.
[[Image:Darkseid Large.jpg|right|thumb|180px|''The Omega Beams'' in action. Art by Joe DeVito]]
*Darkseid's main power is the '''Omega Effect''', a form of energy that he fires from his eyes. It is not only a relentless attack, but it is also capable of teleporting the target to any location Darkseid chooses and recall them later or erase the target from the universe and similarly reform them. Darkseid has pinpoint control over his Omega Beams, and his unerring aim allows it to travel in straight lines or bend, twist, or curve around corners. The Omega Effect can apparently pass through matter and energy. In the third part of the ''Hunter/Prey'' storyline, he claimed that no being had yet withstood the full force of the Omega Effect, but [[Doomsday (comics)|Doomsday]] nonetheless survived the attack. Both Superman and the [[Hank Henshaw|Cyborg Superman]] have also withstood a blast from the Omega Beams, but with severe pain and damage as a result. The full might of the Omega Effect has even had some effect on the [[Spectre (comics)|Spectre]] himself. Darkseid's third son [[Grayven]] uses a weaker version of the Omega Effect.


Before Darkseid can use the Omega Effect to kill Superman, [[Flash (Barry Allen)|Barry Allen]] and [[Wally West]] lead the Black Racer to Darkseid and making contact with him frees Turpin from Darkseid's control. Wonder Woman (having been freed from possession by one of Darkseid's minions) then uses her lasso of truth to bind Darkseid's spirit form, effectively freeing humanity from the Anti-Life Equation and being controlled by Darkseid. In his final effort, Darkseid's disembodied essence appears and tries to seize the Miracle Machine Superman has created; however, Superman uses counter-vibrations to destroy him. Furthermore, the last piece of Darkseid's plan fails when Batman escapes the Omega Sanction.
*Darkseid possesses superhuman strength, stamina, and durability that at least rival, but most likely surpass, those possessed by Superman.


Doctor Impossible later manipulates the [[Crime Syndicate of America]] into helping him resurrect Darkseid via a machine that draws energy from the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|Multiverse]] itself. The resurrection backfires and creates a new being known as the Omega Man.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller=[[Mark Bagley|Begley, Mark]]|inker=Hunter, Rob|coinkers=[[Norm Rapmund|Rapmund, Norm]]|story=Omega, Part 1: Worlds Collide|title=[[Justice League|Justice League of America]]|volume=2|issue=#50|date=December 2010|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref>
*Additionally, Darkseid possesses a regenerative [[healing factor]] as well as immortality, which are common among the more advanced beings of the Fourth World.


===The New 52===
*Darkseid also possesses incredible [[psionic]] abilities. He once mentally dominated nearly three billion [[Daxamite]]s simultaneously. It should be noted that this happened after Darkseid had absorbed the energies from certain mystical artifacts, as well as from Legion of Super-Heroes enemies Mordru and the Time Trapper.


In September 2011, [[The New 52]] rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Darkseid's name is first invoked by a Parademon in ''Justice League'' #1.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]]|penciller=[[Jim Lee|Lee, Jim]]|inker=[[Scott Williams (comics)|Williams, Scott]]|story=Justice League: Part One|title=[[Justice League]]|volume=2|issue=#1|date=November 2011|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref> He is later mentioned again in ''Justice League'' #2,<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]]|penciller=[[Jim Lee|Lee, Jim]]|inker=[[Scott Williams (comics)|Williams, Scott]]|story=Justice League: Part Two|title=[[Justice League]]|volume=2|issue=2|date=December 2011|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref> and in ''Justice League'' #3 Darkseid makes his first appearance in the series, seen in a vision by [[Cyborg (comics)|Victor Stone]] after he is injured by an exploding Mother Box.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]]|penciller=[[Jim Lee|Lee, Jim]]|inker=[[Scott Williams (comics)|Williams, Scott]]|story=Justice League: Part Three|title=[[Justice League]]|volume=2|issue=#3|date=January 2012|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref> In the final pages of ''Justice League'' #4, Darkseid himself appears.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]]|penciller=[[Jim Lee|Lee, Jim]]|inker=[[Scott Williams (comics)|Williams, Scott]]|story=Justice League: Part Four|title=[[Justice League]]|volume=2|issue=4|date=February 2012|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref> In ''Justice League'' #5, the League confronts him but they are overpowered by him, when he severely hurts Superman with his Omega Beams and breaks Green Lantern's arm.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]]|penciller=[[Jim Lee|Lee, Jim]]|inker=[[Scott Williams (comics)|Williams, Scott]]|coinkers=Hope, Sandra, Irwin, Mark, Weems, Joe|story=Justice League: Part Five|title=[[Justice League]]|volume=2|issue=#5|date=March 2012|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref> Finally, in ''Justice League'' #6, Darkseid is driven out when Cyborg activates the invaders' Mother Boxes and Superman forces him through a boom tube. The incidents that occur in these issues make Darkseid the first foe the newly formed League faces as a team. The issue also reveals DeSaad and Steppenwolf, referring to Darkseid's daughter and their ceaseless search for her across countless worlds.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]]|penciller=[[Jim Lee|Lee, Jim]]|inker=[[Scott Williams (comics)|Williams, Scott]]|coinkers=Hope, Sandra, Banning, Matt, Irwin, Mark|story=Justice League: Part Six|title=[[Justice League]]|volume=2|issue=#6|date=April 2012|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref> Darkseid's daughter escapes containment in ''Justice League of America's Vibe'' #7 after the dampeners on her cage are temporarily disabled.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Sterling Gates|Gates, Sterling]]|penciller=Guinaldo, Andres|inker=Irwin, Mark|story=We Band of Brothers|title=Justice League of America's Vibe|volume=|issue=#7|date=October 2013|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref>
*Darkseid can transmute matter at the molecular level, as he demonstrated by turning the Daxamite warrior Ol-Vir into dust, and Slo-bo into a statue, and Secret from a spirit into a living girl. He is also able to dissipate and disperse the molecules of any object or organism, effectively erasing them from existence.


In the New 52 continuity, there is only one set of New Gods across the 52 Multiverse. So as Darkseid invades Prime Earth in ''Justice League'', he sends his lieutenant [[Steppenwolf (comics)|Steppenwolf]] to do the same, with greater success, on [[Earth-Two|Earth 2]], resulting in the deaths of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, and stranding Helena Wayne and Kara Zor-L on Prime Earth. Five years later, Darkseid once again invades Earth 2, which never fully recovered from his armies' earlier assault, and it is revealed that he and [[Highfather (comics)|Highfather]] of New Genesis struck a deal allowing him the unchallenged right to invade Earth 2.
*In the [[Great Darkness Saga]], Darkseid displayed some limited reality manipulation to defeat the [[Legion of Super Heroes]].


In ''Darkseid'' #1, his background story was revealed. Formerly a farmer named Uxas, he hated the deities of his world. So he traveled up to their mountain while they slept and tricked them all into fighting each other. As they were all weakened from the war, he killed them one by one with his scythe (similar to [[Cronus|Kronos]] of [[Greek mythology]]) and stole their power, before destroying his world and creating Apokolips.
*Darkseid has the ability to generate mental avatars, and is able to levitate himself and others [[Psychokinesis|telekinetically]] with ease.


In ''Justice League: The Darkseid War'' (after the retirement of the "New 52" imprint), Darkseid comes into conflict with the Anti-Monitor. Darkseid's daughter Grail leads the [[Anti-Monitor]], who is revealed to be a scientist named Mobius, to Darkseid for the former to kill the latter. Mobius believes that with the death of Darkseid, he will be free from being the Anti-Monitor. After an intense battle, the Anti-Monitor fuses the [[Black Racer (DC Comics)|Black Racer]] with Flash and sends it after Darkseid. Using the fused Flash and his own powers, he kills Darkseid. With Darkseid dead, the universe is unbalanced as it has lost its God of Evil. Lex Luthor later fuses with the Omega Sanction, becoming the new ruler of Apokolips.
*As a god-like being, Darkseid has several powers that surpass most other beings in the known universe. He can imbue humans with great power, as he did when he made an unnamed Earth woman over into the being known as Stayne, created as a rival for [[Takion]].


After killing the Anti-Monitor using an Anti-Life Equation-powered [[Steve Trevor]], Grail would later resurrect Darkseid through the [[Alexander Luthor Jr.|newborn child]] of [[Superwoman (Crime Syndicate)|Superwoman]]. The child has the same powers as his father Mazahs, with the ability to steal the powers of others. Stealing the new "God" abilities of the Justice League, Grail fuses them with the child and brings Darkseid back to life. However, he is under her complete control. Grail later attempts to redeem herself by seemingly killing Darkseid with the Anti-Life Equation. However, it is later revealed that she reincarnated him back as a baby with the intention of teaching him differently.
*He can travel through time and between dimensions as easily as any [[New Gods|New God]].


In ''[[DC Rebirth]]'', Darkseid kills [[Zeus (DC Comics)|Zeus]] and absorbs his power to return to his original form.<ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Scott Snyder|Snyder, Scott]]|penciller=[[Greg Capullo|Capullo, Greg]]|inker=Glapion, Jonathan|story=Metal|title=[[Dark Nights: Metal]]|volume=|issue=#2|date=November 2017|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller=[[Carlo Pagulayan|Pagulayan, Carlo]]|inker=Parsons, Sean|coinkers=Paz, Jason, Hanna, Scott|story=Children of the Gods, Part 1|title=Wonder Woman|volume=5|issue=#31|date=November 2017|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller=Davila, Sergio|inker=Hanna, Scott|coinkers=Morales, Mark|story=Children of the Gods, Part 2|title=Wonder Woman|volume=5|issue=#32|date=December 2017|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller=Lupacchino, Emanuela|inker=McCarthy, Ray|story=Times Past: Grail|title=Wonder Woman|volume=5|issue=#33|date=December 2017|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller=Davila, Sergio|inker=Hanna, Scott|coinkers=Gray, Mick, Ferreira, Eber|story=Children of the Gods, Part 3|title=Wonder Woman|volume=5|issue=#34|date=January 2018|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller=Luppacchino, Emanuela|inker=McCarthy, Ray|story=Times Past: Jason|title=Wonder Woman|volume=5|issue=#35|date=January 2018|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller=[[Carlo Pagulayan|Pagulayan, Carlo]]|inker=Paz, Jason|coinkers=Parsons, Sean|story=Children of the Gods, Part 4|title=Wonder Woman|volume=5|issue=#36|date=February 2018|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref name="Wonder Woman Vol 5 37">{{Cite comic|writer=[[James Robinson (writer)|Robinson, James]]|penciller=[[Carlo Pagulayan|Pagulayan, Carlo]]|copencillers=Segovia, Stephen|inker=Paz, Jason|coinkers=[[Art Thibert|Thibert, Art]], Fernández, Raúl|story=Children of the Gods, Conclusion|title=Wonder Woman|volume=5|issue=#37|date=February 2018|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref>
*Darkseid also possesses a superhuman level intellect; he is a master planner and strategist.


==Other versions==
===New Justice===
[[Image:darkseid 7s.gif|right|150px|thumb|Darkseid as "Dark Side" in 'Seven Soldiers' [[Mr. Miracle]].]]
*In [[Grant Morrison]]'s [[2005]] ''Mister Miracle'' miniseries, it was revealed that Darkseid finally discovered the [[Anti-Life Equation]], which he then used to destroy the [[Jack Kirby's Fourth World|Fourth World]] altogether. The [[New Gods]] fled to [[Earth]], where they hid: Highfather and his followers are now a group of homeless people, [[Metron (comics)|Metron]] is an epileptic, the [[Black Racer]] is an old white man in a wheelchair, [[Desaad]] is an evil [[psychiatrist]], [[Granny Goodness]] is a pimp for the [[Female Furies]], and Darkseid himself is now an evil businessman who is referred to only as "Dark Side". It is revealed in ''Seven Soldiers #1'' that Darkseid actually gave the [[Sheeda]] North America in return for Aurakles, Earth's first superhero. This is, in turn, purely in order for Darkseid to get [[Shilo Norman]], whom he considers the "Avatar of Freedom," in his clutches so that he can eventually destroy the New Gods. How much of this change is actual, or how much a re-imagining of the New Gods as archetypes of the real world is unclear. As it stands though, the series ended with Darkseid in his current form as "Dark Side" claiming the beginning of the "Dark Era."


{{see also|New Justice}}
* In the ''[[Great Darkness Saga]]'', Darkseid survived into the 30th century. Having been forgotten by almost everyone, he defeated the era's two most powerful villains ([[Mordru]] and the [[Time Trapper]]) and absorbed their powers, subsequently using those abilities to enslave the entire population of the planet Daxam. Commanding an army of billions of Daxamites(each with the same powers as Superman), as well as "dark" clones of Superman and other super powered beings, he launched a full-scale assault on the [[United Planets]]. Only the efforts of the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]] and its allies were able to prevent him from conquering the entire known universe.
After countless alien planets being held captive by Brainiac's race are freed, they venture into an unknown area of outer space called the "Ghost Sector." After remembering a prophecy his father told him, and [[Dark Nights: Metal|noticing the crack in the Source Wall]], Darkseid lures Cyborg, Starfire, and Azrael to the Ghost Sector in an attempt to use their powers to
conquer the Multiverse.<ref>Justice League Odyssey (2018) #1</ref>


Being successful with the team's entrapment, Darkseid reveals to Cyborg that a bond was established between them, when Cyborg merged with Darkseid's [[Mother Box]]. According to the prophecy, the alien worlds were hidden because of the [[New Gods|Old God]]s they worshipped.
As a result of his defeat by the Legion, Darkseid sought revenge against [[Lightning Lad]] and [[Saturn Girl]]. When Saturn Girl was in labor, Darkseid stole one of her twin children, warped him into the monstrous [[Validus]] and sent him into the Legion's past, where he became one of the Legion's deadliest foes as a member of the [[Fatal Five]]. Later, when his ploy was discovered, he restored Validus to his original form. (After the events of [[Zero Hour]] this origin of Validus was removed from continuity.)


===Infinite Frontier ===
*Darkseid was one of the featured villains in the (non-continuity) crossover of the [[Teen Titans]] and [[Marvel Comics]]' [[X-Men]]. In it, he seeks to resurrect the power of [[Phoenix Force (comics)|Dark Phoenix]], using [[Deathstroke the Terminator]] to aid him. In the DC/Marvel crossover, Darkseid's counterpart in the Marvel Universe was shown to be [[Thanos]].
In ''[[Infinite Frontier]]'', Darkseid is trapped in Earth-Omega following the restoration of the multiverse. He regained his original form by fusing with his alternate universe counterparts. Darkseid's former henchmen reunite with him on Earth-Omega and remain by his side as he gains a new follower named X-Tract, [[Chase (comics)|Cameron Chase]]'s [[Earth-Two]] counterpart.<ref>''Infinite Frontier'' #1-6. DC Comics.</ref>


Darkseid battles the Justice League Incarnate, but is defeated by the Great Hand and sent to a mysterious place where he is controlled by [[Pariah (character)|Pariah]] and the Great Darkness.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Jude Terror {{!}} |date=2022-02-26 |title=Justice League Incarnate #5 Preview: Darkseid's Mommy Issues |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/justice-league-incarnate-5-preview-darkseids-mommy-issues/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors |language=en}}</ref> He is freed after [[Nightwing]] fends off the Great Darkness and returns to Apokolips.
*Darkseid also faced off against [[Galactus]] in another [[intercompany crossover]] written and drawn by [[John Byrne]]. Set before the destruction of [[New Genesis]], Galactus attempted to drain Apokolips, but failed because there was no true life force in the planet.


=== DC All In ===
* In the miniseries ''[[Kingdom Come (comic)|Kingdom Come]]'', Orion has now deposed Darkseid, fulfilling the prophecy, and is ruler of Apokolips. However, the changes that he wished to make (democracy, freedom) quickly failed, making him bitter and cynical. Superman is disappointed in Orion's progress and says his new demeanor is more like Darkseid than ever.
In ''[[DC All In]]'', Darkseid bonds with the [[Spectre (DC Comics character)|Spectre]] using the Miracle Machine before allowing himself to be killed in battle with the Justice League to become unbound from time and space.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Taylor |date=October 4, 2024 |title=Darkseid's Ultimate Form Confirms the 1 Being Whose Power He Actually Respects |url=https://screenrant.com/darkseid-death-axe-hand-spectre-all-in-special/ |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reaves |first=Dashiel |date=October 2, 2024 |title=Darkseid's Legion Explained: DC Officially Introduces the Justice League's Most Terrifying Opposite, Ever |url=https://screenrant.com/darkseid-legion-of-superheroes-dc-all-in-absolute-universe-explained/ |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Robert |date=October 2, 2024 |title=Superman Finally KIlls Darkseid Solo, Showcasing His New Magic-Based Powers |url=https://screenrant.com/superman-kills-darkseid-using-magic-all-in-special/ |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> He travels to another universe and corrupts it with his influence, transforming it into the [[Absolute Universe]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epps |first=Justin |date=October 3, 2024 |title=Darkseid's Dying Words Are Perfect, And Officially Begin a Whole New Era of DC Continuity |url=https://screenrant.com/darkseid-death-all-in-final-words-absolute-dc/ |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=October 4, 2024 |title=DC Kicks Off Both Its All In Initiative and Its Absolute Universe in a Fascinating Spectacular |url=https://www.cbr.com/dc-all-in-special-1-absolute-universe-darkseid-review/ |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Russ |date=October 3, 2024 |title=DC Finally Brings Superman & Darkseid's Rivalry to a Brutal End |url=https://comicbook.com/comics/news/dc-finally-brings-superman-darkseids-rivalry-to-a-brutal-end/ |access-date=October 5, 2024 |website=comicbook.com |language=en}}</ref>


==Powers and abilities==
* A very distant possible future of the DC Universe was shown in DC's [[1998]] line-wide crossover event [[DC One Million]]. Here, in the one-shot ''[[Martian Manhunter]] #1,000,000'', it is shown that by the year 85,271, Darkseid had long since died in a final battle with Martian Manhunter (which cost the Martian his physical form, causing him to be merged with Mars).
As a [[New Gods|New God]], Darkseid is nigh-immortal and possesses immense physical abilities. He can harness the Omega Effect to generate disintegrating energy beams capable of instantly killing or resurrecting others. Furthermore, Darkseid can teleport and possesses telepathy and telekinesis.<ref name="Wonder Woman Vol 5 37" /><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[John Ostrander|Ostrander, John]]|penciller=[[Eduardo Barreto|Barreto, Eduardo]]|inker=Kryssing, Ray|story=In My Life (Part Two)|title=Martian Manhunter|volume=2|issue=#34|date=September 2001|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]|penciller=Byrne, John|inker=[[Terry Austin (comics)|Austin, Terry]]|story=Legends From the Darkside|title=Superman|volume=2|issue=#3|date=March 1987|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref name="Genesis #4">{{Cite comic|writer=[[John Byrne (comics)|Byrne, John]]|penciller=[[Ron Wagner|Wagner, Ron]]|inker=[[Josef Rubinstein|Rubinstein, Joe]]|story=Last God Standing|title=[[Genesis (DC Comics)|Genesis]]|volume=1|issue=#4|date=October 1997|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite comic|writer=[[Paul Dini|Dini, Paul]]|cowriters=[[Sean McKeever|McKeever, Sean]], [[Keith Giffen|Giffen, Keith]]|penciller=[[Scott Kolins|Kolins, Scott]]|inker=Kolins, Scott|story=Darkseid Equals Death|title=[[Countdown to Final Crisis]]|volume=|issue=#2|date=April 2008|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref name="Jack Kirby's Fourth World">''Jack Kirby's Fourth World''</ref><ref name="The Death of the New Gods">{{Cite comic|writer=[[Jim Starlin|Starlin, Jim]]|penciller=Starlin, Jim|inker=[[Art Thibert|Thibert, Art]]|story=Sacrifice|title=[[Death of the New Gods|The Death of the New Gods]]|volume=1|issue=6|date=April 2008|publisher=[[DC Comics]]|location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref name="Doomsday: Year One Annual">''Doomsday: Year One'' Annual</ref>


==Other versions==
*In [[Superman: Red Son]], a statue of Darkseid is visible within Superman's Fortress of Solitude.
===Injustice: Gods Among Us tie-in===
Darkseid appears in the ''[[Injustice: Gods Among Us]]'' prequel comic.


===Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe===
* A much closer alternate future was seen during ''Rock of Ages'', a ''JLA'' story written by Grant Morrison. Here, in a story roughly fifteen years from the "present day," Darkseid has found the Anti-Life Equation and become absolute ruler of Earth. Darkseid is rendered into a vegetative state at hands of [[Connor Hawke|Green Arrow]] and the [[Ray Palmer (comics)|Atom]], before the whole Earth is blown up by Orion in order to kill Darkseid for good.
Darkseid appears in the crossover comic ''Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe''. He battles Superman and [[He-Man]] before being killed by the latter, after which he is transformed into pure knowledge and claimed by the elders of [[Grayskull]].


==In other media==
==In other media==
===Television===
*Darkseid appeared in [[Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show]] and [[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians]]. He would frequently combine the villainous agenda of the episode with the scheme of forcing [[Wonder Woman]] to marry him. He was voiced by [[Frank Welker]], with the same throaty growl that Welker had given [[Inspector Gadget]] villain [[Dr. Claw]]. Jack Kirby said that the network executives tried to go behind his back and call the character "Darkside" for the ''Super Powers'' TV show, but Kirby was adamant about the name staying the same.
====Live-action====
* Darkseid appears in the [[Smallville season 10|tenth and final season]] of ''[[Smallville]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ign.com/articles/2010/07/25/sdcc-10-smallville-darkseid-blue-beetle-and-more-are-coming |title=SDCC 10: Smallville - Darkseid, Blue Beetle and More Are Coming! |last=Peterson |first=Brian |date=July 25, 2010 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=October 6, 2018 }}</ref> This version primarily appears as a non-corporeal being with superhuman strength, [[telekinesis]] and the ability to transform into smoke.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |url=https://ew.com/comic-con/2010/07/26/smallville-season-10-spoilers-comic-con/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727052031/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/07/26/smallville-season-10-spoilers-comic-con/ |archive-date=July 27, 2010 |title=Exclusive video: 'Smallville' execs, Erica Durance drop major S10 intel and weigh in on an 11th |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=May 9, 2022}}</ref> According to [[Hawkman (Carter Hall)|Carter Hall]], Darkseid was present on Earth during many of humanity's darkest hours, including the [[Spanish Inquisition]] and [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]]. Granny Goodness claims that [[Kali]], [[Hades]] and [[Lucifer]] are all names that Darkseid has been called on Earth. After awakening from a rift in the universe, Darkseid instigates an anti-vigilante movement and corrupts countless humans, including Gordon Godfrey and General [[Deathstroke|Slade Wilson]], to pull Apokolips towards Earth. In the two-part [[Finale (Smallville)|series finale]], Darkseid made a deal involving [[Lex Luthor (Smallville)|Lex Luthor]]'s revival in exchange for possession of [[Lionel Luthor]]'s body in order to confront [[Clark Kent (Smallville)|Clark Kent]] who seemingly destroyed him.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Finale|series=Smallville|credits=Al Septien, Turi Meyers, Brian Peterson, & Kelly Souders (writers) Kevin G. Fair & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The CW|airdate=May 13, 2011|season=10|number=21}}</ref> The [[Smallville Season 11|comic book continuation]] reveals that Darkseid survived and restored his physical form.<ref>''Smallville Season 11: Chaos''</ref>


===DC Animated Universe===
====Animation====
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Super Friends]]'', voiced by [[Frank Welker]].
====''Superman: The Animated Series''====
[[Image:Animated Darkseid.jpg|right|thumb|Animated '''Darkseid''' in 1996's ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]''.]]
[[File:DarkseidDCAU.png|thumb|right|Darkseid as he appears in ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]'']]
* Darkseid appears in the [[DC Animated Universe]], voiced by [[Michael Ironside]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jl.popgeeks.com/darkseid/darkseid.htm |title=Darkseid |publisher=PopGeeks|access-date=2021-06-16 }}</ref><ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Darkseid Voices (Superman) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Superman/Darkseid/ |access-date=May 19, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
Darkseid appears most prominently in [[Bruce Timm]]'s [[DC Animated Universe]], where he is voiced by [[Michael Ironside]]. Timm explained that Darkseid was brought into the series in an effort to boost Superman's [[rogues gallery]] and give him a more powerful villain with whom to contend.
** The character is introduced in ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]''. Darkseid defies the peace treaty between Apokolips and its sister planet, New Genesis, by searching for the Anti-Life Equation to remake the universe in his image.<ref name="Apokolips…Now!, Part 1">{{cite episode|title=Apokolips…Now!, Part 1|series=Superman: The Animated Series|network=The WB|season=2|number=25|airdate=February 7, 1998}}</ref> Following the repeated failures of his underlings,<ref name="Tools of the Trade">{{cite episode|title=Tools of the Trade|series=Superman: The Animated Series|network=The WB|season=1|number=12|airdate=February 1, 1997}}</ref><ref name="Father's Day">{{cite episode|title=Father's Day|series=Superman: The Animated Series|network=The WB|season=2|number=15|airdate=October 3, 1997}}</ref> Darkseid personally defeats Superman, kills Dan Turpin and nearly succeeds in conquering Earth until New Genesis' forces declare the planet to be under their protection.<ref name="Apokolips…Now!, Part 2">{{cite episode|title=Apokolips…Now!, Part 2|series=Superman: The Animated Series|network=The WB|season=2|number=26|airdate=February 14, 1998}}</ref><ref name="Little Girl Lost, Part 2">{{cite episode|title=Little Girl Lost, Part 2|series=Superman: The Animated Series|network=The WB|season=2|number=28|airdate=May 2, 1998}}</ref> In the series finale, Darkseid has Superman brainwashed into thinking he is his adopted son and invading Earth for him.<ref name="Legacy, Part 1">{{cite episode|title=Legacy, Part 1|series=Superman: The Animated Series|network=The WB|season=3|number=12|airdate=February 5, 2000}}</ref> Superman breaks free of Darkseid's influence and confronts him on Apokolips. Darkseid is defeated, but survives, as his servants come to his aid.<ref name="Legacy, Part 2">{{cite episode|title=Legacy, Part 2|series=Superman: The Animated Series|network=The WB|season=3|number=13|airdate=February 12, 2000}}</ref>
** Darkseid returns in the ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' episode "Twilight". He works with and later betrays Brainiac before being killed when Brainiac's base is destroyed.<ref name="Twilight, Part 1">{{cite episode|title=Twilight, Part 1|series=Justice League|network=Cartoon Network|season=2|number=1|airdate=July 5, 2003}}</ref><ref name="Twilight, Part 2">{{cite episode|title=Twilight, Part 2|series=Justice League|network=Cartoon Network|season=2|number=2|airdate=July 5, 2003}}</ref>
** In the ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'' episodes "Alive!" and "Destroyer", [[Lex Luthor]] accidentally resurrects Darkseid while attempting to revive Brainiac.<ref name="Alive!">{{cite episode|title=Alive!|series=Justice League Unlimited|network=Cartoon Network|season=3|number=12|airdate=May 6, 2006}}</ref> Luthor and [[Metron (character)|Metron]] retrieve the Anti-Life Equation, which the former uses to absorb himself and Darkseid into the [[Source (comics)|Source Wall]].<ref name="Destroyer">{{cite episode|title=Destroyer|series=Justice League Unlimited|network=Cartoon Network|season=3|number=13|airdate=May 13, 2006}}</ref>
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]'', voiced by [[Michael-Leon Wooley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/1010/30/index.htm |title=Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Saturday, October 30, 2010 |website=Comics Continuum |date=October 30, 2010 |access-date=January 15, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2629193/denver-comic-con-2013-looking-at-the-past-and-future-of-young-justice/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228224805/http://www.mtv.com/news/2629193/denver-comic-con-2013-looking-at-the-past-and-future-of-young-justice/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 28, 2016 |title=Denver Comic Con 2013: Looking At The Past (And Future) Of 'Young Justice' |last=Webb |first=Charles |date=June 2, 2013 |website=[[MTV News]] |access-date=May 23, 2017 }}</ref><ref name="btva" />
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Young Justice (TV series)|Young Justice]]'', voiced again by Michael-Leon Wooley.<ref name="btva" /> This version is an ally of [[Vandal Savage]], with whom he made a deal to aid each other in their respective conquests. When Earth and Apokolips are the only two worlds remaining, a final battle would determine who controls the universe.
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Teen Titans Go!]]'', voiced by [["Weird Al" Yankovic]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Puchko|first=Kristy|url=https://www.cbr.com/sdcc-teen-titans-go-producers-talk-weird-al-justice-league-crossover/ |title=SDCC: "Teen Titans Go" Producers Talk Weird Al, Justice League Crossover |work=Comic Book Resources |date=August 2, 2015 |access-date=May 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="btva" /><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Two Parter: Part Two |series=Teen Titans Go! |series-link=Teen Titans Go! |first1=Michael |last1=Jelenic |author-link1=Michael Jelenic |first2=Aaron |last2=Horvath |author-link2=Aaron Horvath |first3=Ben |last3=Gruber |author-link3=Ben Gruber |network=[[Cartoon Network]] |date=November 25, 2015 |season=3 |number=18 }}</ref>
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Justice League Action]]'', voiced by [[Jonathan Adams (American actor)|Jonathan Adams]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Justice League Action |url=http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/justice-league-action-the-fatal-fare/EP025471720032?aid=zap2it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729014843/http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/justice-league-action-the-fatal-fare/EP025471720032?aid=zap2it |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |access-date=June 26, 2017 |work=zap2it.com}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
* Darkseid appears in the ''[[DC Super Hero Girls]]'' episode "My So Called Anti-Life", voiced by [[John DiMaggio]].<ref name="btva" />
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Harley Quinn (TV series)|Harley Quinn]]'', voiced again by Michael Ironside.<ref name="btva" /> This version is a benefactor to [[Harley Quinn]].
** Darkseid appears in ''[[Kite Man: Hell Yeah!]]'', voiced by [[Keith David]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=September 14, 2023 |title='Harley Quinn' Spin-Off 'Kite Man: Hell Yeah!' Ready to Soar with New Teaser |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2023/09/harley-quinn-spin-off-kite-man-hell-yeah-ready-to-soar-with-new-teaser/ |access-date=September 15, 2023 |website=www.animationmagazine.net}}</ref><ref name="btva" />


===Film===
After making a series of brief "teaser" appearances throughout ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]'', Darkseid was featured prominently in a pair of popular two-part episodes. "Apokolips...Now!" shows Darkseid leading his forces in an invasion of Earth. Darkseid confronts Superman and offers him a place at his side, but Superman rejects the offer, leading Darkseid to declare: "If you will not be my knight, you will be my pawn." Although Superman is outmatched, Darkseid's plan is foiled by the appearance of armies from New Genesis, the leaders of which declare Earth to be under Highfather's protection. Just as Darkseid leaves, though, in one of the most shocking moments of the series, he tells Superman that no victory comes without a price, and before he steps through the portal to Apokolips, uses his Omega Beams to vaporize [[Dan Turpin]], a hard-boiled police officer who had been Superman's friend, whom Bruce Timm had based on Darkseid's creator Jack Kirby. In the audio commentary for this episode, Timm explains that Turpin's funeral was intended as a tribute to his death, going so far as to hire a real-life [[rabbi]] to deliver the fictional flatfoot's eulogy.
====Live-action====
* In 2014, [[Bryan Singer]] revealed that during early development of the scrapped ''Superman Returns'' sequel, Darkseid was considered to be the main antagonist.<ref>{{cite web|last=Vieira |first=Anthony |url=http://screenrant.com/bryan-singer-superman-returns-criticism-darseid-sequel/ |title=Bryan Singer Responds to 'Superman Returns' Criticism; Wanted Darkseid for Sequel |website=[[Screen Rant]] |date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=October 1, 2016}}</ref>


=====DC Extended Universe=====
Later, in "Legacy," the two-part series finale for ''Superman: The Animated Series'', Darkseid makes good on his promise of making Superman his pawn. He captures the Man of Steel and brainwashes him into thinking that he is Darkseid's adopted son. Darkseid sends Superman on several conquests throughout the galaxy before sending him to invade [[Earth]]. When Superman regains his memory, he finds that he has destroyed parts of [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]], nearly killed Supergirl, and lost the world's trust. Traveling to Apokolips, Superman seeks revenge on Darkseid and engages him in a brutal fistfight. This is the only time Darkseid engages in a direct fight throughout the show, ending with Superman managing to turn Darkseid's Omega Beams back on him. Superman then tosses Darkseid's battered self down to his slaves, telling them that they are now free to do what they want. To his shock and disgust, the slaves pick up Darkseid and carry him away, promising to help him. Darkseid tells Superman that "I am many things, Kal-El... but here, I am [[God]]."
[[File:Darkseid Snyder Cut.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Darkseid as he appears in ''[[Zack Snyder's Justice League]]'' (2021).]]
[[Darkseid (DC Extended Universe)|Darkseid]] is featured in the [[DC Extended Universe]].
* The character is first alluded to in ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]''. During a Knightmare sequence, [[Bruce Wayne (DC Extended Universe)|Bruce Wayne]] experiences a vision of the [[future]] in which Darkseid has taken over the Earth and used the [[Anti-Life Equation]] to manipulate [[Clark Kent (DC Extended Universe)|Superman]] into becoming his servant.
* Darkseid is mentioned in the 2017 [[Justice League (film)|theatrical release]] of ''Justice League'' and appears in [[Zack Snyder]]'s 2021 [[Zack Snyder's Justice League|director's cut]], portrayed by [[Ray Porter]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beasley |first=Tom |date=May 28, 2020 |title=Zack Snyder unveils first look at Darkseid in the Snyder Cut of 'Justice League' |url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/snyder-cut-darkseid-justice-league-085635158.html |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=uk.movies.yahoo.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="btva" /> In the latter version of the film, Darkseid gives his disgraced lieutenant, [[Steppenwolf (DC Extended Universe)|Steppenwolf]], a chance at redemption by using three [[Mother Box|Mother Boxes]] to terraform and conquer the Earth in his name. After the [[Justice League]] defeats Steppenwolf, Darkseid vows to extract the Anti-Life Equation from the Earth himself.
* Darkseid was set to appear in ''[[DC Extended Universe#Canceled and reworked projects|New Gods]]'' prior to its cancellation.<ref>{{cite tweet |author=Ava DuVernay |title=Darkseid is. |number=1156293235062583297 |user=ava |date=July 30, 2019 |access-date=August 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-01|title=Ava DuVernay's 'New Gods,' James Wan's 'The Trench' DC Movies Not Moving Forward at Warner Bros. (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ava-duvernays-new-gods-james-wans-the-trench-dc-movies-not-moving-forward-at-warner-bros-4159843/|access-date=2022-05-09|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>


====''Justice League''====
====Animation====
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Superman/Batman: Apocalypse]]'' voiced by [[Andre Braugher]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbr.com/conroy-daly-return-in-supermanbatman-apocalypse/ | title=Conroy, Daly Return In ''Superman/Batman: Apocalypse'' | work=Comic Book Resources | date=June 29, 2010 | access-date=May 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="btva" /> He brainwashes [[Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)|Kara Zor-El]] into replacing [[Big Barda]] as the commander of his [[Female Furies]], only for Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman to journey to Apokolips to free Kara from his influence. Darkseid then ambushes Superman and Kara at their farm in [[Smallville (comics)|Smallville]] but is transported away via [[boom tube]] before he can kill them.
Darkseid later returned in the ''[[Justice League (animated series)|Justice League]]'' episode "Twilight," where he teamed up with [[Brainiac (comics)|Brainiac]] to destroy the Justice League. Now harboring a severe hatred towards Darkseid, Superman initially attacked Darkseid when he arrived in the Watchtower and refused to aid him against Brainiac, justifying his behavior by claiming that Darkseid was only setting up the League to betray them. Ultimately proven correct, Superman had to be dragged away from a fight with Darkseid by Batman, who had actually goaded Superman into helping Darkseid in the first place.
* Darkseid appears in the [[DC Animated Movie Universe]], voiced by [[Steve Blum]] in ''Justice League: War'' and by [[Tony Todd]] for subsequent appearances.<ref name="btva" />
** In ''[[Justice League: War]]'', Darkseid and his forces attempt to invade and terraform Earth only to be sent back to Apokolips via Boom Tube by a group of heroes that band together to form the [[Justice League]].
** In ''[[Reign of the Supermen (film)|Reign of the Supermen]]'', Darkseid is revealed to be the mastermind behind the [[The Death of Superman (film)|previous film]]'s events as he is responsible for the creation of [[Doomsday (comics)|Doomsday]] and the transformation of [[Hank Henshaw]] into [[Cyborg Superman]] as a means of orchestrating a second invasion of Earth.
** In ''[[Justice League Dark: Apokolips War]]'', Darkseid creates an army of "Paradooms" (hybrids of Parademons and Doomsday clones) and brutally kills heroes and villains alike before conquering Earth.<ref name="Trailer">{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/justice-league-dark-apokolips-war-trailer/|title='Justice League Dark: Apokolips War' Trailer Reveals an R-rated DC Comics Epic|last=Mancuso|first=Vinnie|website=Collider|date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> Years later, Superman and the other survivors of the invasion launch a coordinated attack on Apokolips, freeing several mutilated heroes like Cyborg and Batman from Darkseid's influence and using the demon [[Trigon (comics)|Trigon]] against him. Using the connections to the planet, Cyborg sacrifices his life to send himself, Darkseid, Trigon, and Apokolips into oblivion.
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League]]'', voiced by Tony Todd.<ref name="btva" />
* An alternate universe version of Darkseid appears in a flashback in ''[[Justice League: Gods and Monsters]]'', voiced by [[Bruce Thomas (actor)|Bruce Thomas]].<ref name="btva" />
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League: Attack of the Legion of Doom]]'', voiced by Tony Todd.<ref name="btva" />
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans]]'', voiced again by "Weird Al" Yankovic.<ref name="btva" /> After the events of the film, he attacks Jump City, but the [[Teen Titans]] refuse to fight him out of exhaustion.


===Video games===
Following an explosion at Brainiac's headquarters, Darkseid disappeared for a time, evidently dead. In ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'', a civil war broke out on Apokolips between Granny Goodness and [[Virman Vunderbarr]] during his absence.
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Superman: The Game]]''.
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Justice League Task Force (video game)|Justice League Task Force]]'', voiced by [[Matt Uelmen]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/60997/from-tristram-to-torchlight-an|title=From Tristram to Torchlight: An Interview with Composer Matt Uelmen|website=Shacknews|date=23 October 2009 |access-date=Oct 12, 2020}}</ref>
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Superman 64]]'', voiced again by Michael Ironside.
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Superman: Shadow of Apokolips]]'', voiced by [[Kevin Michael Richardson]].<ref name="btva" />
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Justice League Heroes]]'', voiced by [[David Sobolov]].<ref name="btva" /> He is freed from his extradimensional prison by Brainiac, who promises him unlimited power. He takes a Mother Box and a "Sensory Matrix Hypercube" to transform Earth into a New Apokolips and takes Superman as his prize. The League defeat him, sending him back to his prison in the cube, while the Mother Box reverses Darkseid's damage to Earth.
* Darkseid appears as a boss in ''[[Puzzle & Dragons]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=February 8, 2019 |title=Justice League Collab Returns! |url=https://www.puzzleanddragons.us/single-post/2019/02/07/justice-league-collab-returns |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=Puzzle & Dragons |language=en}}</ref>
* Darkseid appears as a boss in ''[[DC Universe Online]]''.
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 4, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - ''Scribblenauts Unmasked'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=IGN}}</ref>


====''Justice League Unlimited''====
====''Mortal Kombat''====
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe]]'', voiced by Perry Brown.<ref name="btva" /> After the Mortal Kombat and DC universes are merged, Darkseid is fused with [[Shao Kahn]] to create '''Dark Kahn'''. After Dark Kahn is destroyed, Darkseid is transported to the Mortal Kombat universe and imprisoned in the Netherrealm.
[[Image:Brainseid.png‎|thumb|right|A transformed Darkseid in ''[[Justice League Unlimited]].]]
* Darkseid appears as a skin for [[Geras (Mortal Kombat)|Geras]] in ''[[Mortal Kombat 11]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonthuys |first=Darryn |date=January 16, 2020 |title=New Joker gameplay trailer for Mortal Kombat 11 gives you what you freakin' deserve |url=https://www.criticalhit.net/gaming/new-joker-gameplay-trailer-for-mortal-kombat-11-gives-you-what-you-freakin-deserve/ |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=Critical Hit |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In the [[DC Animated Universe]], Darkseid died off-screen in the ''Justice League'' episode "Twilight" and was reconstituted in the ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'' episode "Alive!".


====Lego====
In the two-part series finale of ''Justice League Unlimited'', [[Lex Luthor]] tries to resurrect Brainiac by having the [[Legion of Doom (comics)|Legion of Doom]] transform their base into a spacecraft to find lost pieces of Brainiac's last base; but with [[Tala (comics)|Tala's]] help, [[Gorilla Grodd]] attempts a coup to retake control of the Legion, leading to a battle between members loyal to Grodd and Luthor.
* Darkseid appears as a playable character in ''[[Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham]]'', voiced by [[Travis Willingham]].
* Darkseid appears as a playable character in ''[[Lego DC Super-Villains]]'', voiced again by Michael Ironside.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nerdist.com/lego-dc-super-villains-trailer-joker/ |title=The Joker Headlines a New Game in LEGO DC SUPER-VILLAINS Trailer |date=May 30, 2018 |website=[[Nerdist Industries|Nerdist]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141210/https://nerdist.com/lego-dc-super-villains-trailer-joker/ |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc18-lego-dc-super-villains-cast-and-devs-dish-on-funever-evil/ |title=SDCC'18: LEGO DC SUPER VILLAINS Cast and Devs Dish on Funever Evil |last=Nieves |first=Davey |date=July 21, 2018 |website=The Beat }}
</ref><ref name="btva" /> He sends the [[Crime Syndicate of America]] to find the Anti-Life Equation, forcing the Justice League and the Legion of Doom to join forces to defeat him. Following their defeat, Darkseid and his minions are brainwashed into reforming.


====''Injustice''====
In the end, Luthor defeats Grodd and disposes of those loyal to Grodd. When the Legion reaches the location, Luthor uses Tala as a magic conduit to restore Brainiac, killing her in the process, but instead resurrects Darkseid, who is now infused with the essence of Brainiac. In a DVD commentary on the episode Alive!, producer Dwayne McDuffie mentions that he imagined Tala ressurecting Darkseid instead of Brainiac intentionally, as "her final 'screw you' to Luthor."
* Darkseid appears as a non-playable character in ''[[Injustice: Gods Among Us]]'' via the Hall of Justice stage. He is also available as a playable character in the game's [[IOS]] version.
* Darkseid is featured as a preorder bonus and later-DLC character in ''[[Injustice 2]]'', voiced again by Michael-Leon Wooley.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=January 17, 2017 |title=Injustice 2 story trailer, Darkseid pre-order DLC and special editions announced |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2017/01/injustice-2-story-trailer-darkseid-pre-order-dlc-special-editions-announced |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Reception==
Darkseid rewards Luthor for his help by giving him and the Legion a quick death. The remnants of the Legion soon appear alive and well back on Earth, having been saved by a [[Force field (science fiction)|force field]] created by [[Sinestro]] and [[Star Sapphire (comics)|Star Sapphire]], and go to the Justice League to warn them of Darkseid.
Darkseid was ranked as the 6th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time by [[IGN]] and the 23rd Greatest Villain of All Time by ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-villains/6.html|title=Darkseid is number 6|publisher=[[IGN]]|access-date=April 5, 2016}}</ref>


==See also==
Darkseid makes his way to Earth, sending his forces around the globe with drilling machines to make it like Apokolips. Darkseid himself eventually engages Superman in a lengthy battle across [[Metropolis (comics)|Metropolis]]. The battle at first leans towards Darkseid's favor until Superman finally decides to "cut loose" with everything he has after witnessing Batman's valiant attempt to fight Darkseid himself. From this point, Superman dominates the battle until Darkseid uses the Agony Matrix, a pain induction weapon, against him, describing its effects: "Direct neuro-stimulation of pain receptors - all of them. Imagine the worst pain you have ever felt in your life, times a thousand. Now imagine that pain continuing forever. Oh, that's right... you don't have to imagine."
* "[[The Great Darkness Saga]]"
* [[List of Superman enemies]]
* [[Thanos]], a [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] character influenced by Darkseid.


==References==
Darkseid is about to cut out Superman's heart with a Kryptonite knife when Lex Luthor appears and shows him the recently acquired Anti-Life Equation, which he attained with the aid of the New God Metron. Although Luthor seemingly perishes with Darkseid in an explosion of light, Batman remarks that they will likely see the two again.
{{reflist}}


===Film===
===Works cited===
* {{cite book |last1=Van Lente |first1=Fred |author-link=Fred Van Lente |last2=Dunlavey |first2=Ryan |title=The Comic Book History of Comics |year=2012 |location=San Diego, California |publisher=IDW |isbn=978-1-61377-197-6}}
Darkseid might be a villain considered to appear in the untitled ''[[Superman Returns]]'' sequel, as director Bryan Singer has stated Superman may fight an alien villain.

==Video games==
*Darkseid appears as the primary villain in the video game [[Justice League Heroes]].
*Darkseid is a playable character in [[Justice League Task Force (video game)|Justice League Task Force]].

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [[DCDatabase:Darkseid|DCDP: Darkseid]] - DC Database Project
* {{official website}}
* [http://supermanica.info/wiki/index.php/Darkseid Supermanica: Darkseid] Supermanica entry for the Pre-Crisis Darkseid
* [http://darkmark6.tripod.com/fourthworldind.htm Index to the Earth-1 Fourth World stories]
* [https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Uxas_(New_Earth) Darkseid (New Earth)] at DC Comics Wiki
* [https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Uxas_(Prime_Earth) Darkseid (Prime Earth)] at DC Comics Wiki
* [[wikia:dcanimated:Darkseid|Darkseid's Bio]] from the [[wikia:dcanimated|The DCAU wiki]]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=lEWHfXUwUAwC&dq=darkseid&pg=PP149 The Legion Companion]
* [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=109050 COUNTING DOWN TO COUNTDOWN I: DARKSEID AND THE FOURTH WORLD]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=sgd_BwAAQBAJ&dq=darkseid&pg=PA67 100 Things Avengers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die]
* [http://www.comicboards.com/newgods/view.php?trd=040620012237 Darkseid respect thread]
* [https://deadline.com/2019/07/new-gods-jack-kirby-jim-starlin-challenge-dcs-darkseid-is-a-dead-ringer-for-marvels-thanos-1202657958/ Deadline]
* [https://screenrant.com/darkseid-villain-origin-dc-comics/ Screenrant]
* {{Comicbookdb|type=character|id=277|title=Darkseid}}
* {{DCDP|Darkseid}}
* {{Dcauw|Darkseid}}


{{Darkseid}}
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[[tr:Darkseid]]

Latest revision as of 16:50, 9 December 2024

Darkseid
Textless variant cover of Justice League: Odyssey #21 (June 2020). Art by Will Conrad.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSuperman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (December 10th 1970)[1]
Created byJack Kirby[2][3][4]
In-story information
Alter egoUxas
SpeciesNew God
Place of originApokolips
Team affiliationsDarkseid's Elite
Female Furies
Intergang
Secret Society of Super Villains
Legion of Doom
Injustice League
Notable aliasesLord of Apokolips
God of Evil
Anti-Life God
Boss Dark Side
Abilities
See list
    • Genius-level intellect
    • Master tactician
    • Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, and reflexes
    • Immortality
    • Invulnerability
    • Skilled hand-to-hand combatant
    • Omega Effect
      • Omega Beams
      • Flight
      • Telekinesis
      • Telepathy
      • Dimensional travel
      • Matter and energy manipulation

Darkseid (/ˈdɑːrksaɪd/)[5] is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer-artist Jack Kirby, the character first made a cameo appearance in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (December 1970), before being fully introduced in Forever People #1 (February 1971).

Formerly known as Uxas, Darkseid is a New God and the tyrannical ruler of the planet Apokolips. His ultimate goal is to find and gain control over the Anti-Life Equation to enslave the multiverse by eliminating all hope and free will in sentient beings. Regarded as one of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe, Darkseid serves as one of Superman's greatest adversaries and the archenemy of the Justice League.

Darkseid has been adapted in various media incarnations, having made his live-action feature debut in the 2021 DC Extended Universe film Zack Snyder's Justice League, portrayed by Ray Porter. Michael Ironside, Andre Braugher, Tony Todd, and others have provided the character's voice in media ranging from animation to video games.

Publication history

[edit]

Darkseid was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby to serve as the chief antagonist of his "Fourth World" metaseries. The character was first seen briefly in a series of cameos that started in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 (December 1970), before making his first full appearance in Forever People #1 (February 1971). Kirby modeled Darkseid's face on actor Jack Palance and based his personality on Adolf Hitler and Richard Nixon.[6][7]

Though Darkseid was originally conceived as the primary villain for the New Gods, he would eventually be established as an archenemy of Superman and the Justice League.[8]

Darkseid has had a large influence in pop culture and other comics; most notably, Kirby's creation is credited as the inspiration for Marvel Comics' high-profile villain Thanos by his creators.

Mark Evanier, who spent several years as Kirby's assistant, has stated that 'Darkseid' is pronounced "As if spelled 'dark side,' as in 'the dark side of man's nature'", noting that this was "how Kirby always pronounced it around me"; however, Evanier has also stated that "at least once, when some fan who pronounced it 'dark seed' was excitedly telling [Kirby] his theories about the character, [Kirby] went along with it, rather than correct the kid."[9]

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Prince Uxas, the son of King Yuga Khan and Queen Heggra and the second-in-line to the throne of Apokolips, plotted to seize control over the planet from his older brother, Drax.[10] When Drax attempted to claim the fabled Omega Force, Uxas murdered him and claimed its power for himself. His skin turned to stone, and Uxas rechristened himself as Darkseid.[11][12][13][14] At some point, he fell in love with an Apokoliptian scientist and sorceress named Suli, with whom he had a son, Kalibak. However, Heggra ordered Desaad to poison Suli out of the belief that she was corrupting her son.

Following Suli's death, Darkseid's heart grew even colder and his disdain for his mother intensified when she forced him to marry a woman named Tigra, with whom he had another son, Orion. Seeking vengeance against Heggra for killing the one he loved, Darkseid ordered Desaad to poison her so he could finally become the supreme monarch of Apokolips. Darkseid then tried to force Tigra to eliminate Orion, but the latter was ultimately traded with Highfather's son, Scott Free, as part of a peace treaty between the warring planets of Apokolips and New Genesis.[15] This trade eventually became a setback for Darkseid, with Orion growing up to value and defend the ideals of New Genesis as a powerful champion in opposition to his father. The prophecy foretold that Darkseid would meet his final defeat at the hands of Orion in a cataclysmic battle in the fiery Armaghetto of Apokolips. Likewise, Darkseid and his training minion, Granny Goodness, were unable to break Scott Free's spirit after a long, torturous upbringing and Free ultimately managed to escape Apokolips, taking with him the Female Fury Big Barda, as his wife. Free, now known as the superhero Mister Miracle, and Barda began living on Earth, and Darkseid used this "betrayal" as a pretext to declare the treaty with New Genesis abrogated so the planets could resume their conflict.

Darkseid's goal was to eliminate all free will from the universe, supplanting the Presence as its Supreme Being. To this end, he sought to unravel the mysterious Anti-Life Equation, which gives its user complete control over the thoughts and emotions of all living beings in the universe. Darkseid had tried on several other occasions to achieve dominance of the universe through other methods, most notably through his minion Glorious Godfrey, who could control people's minds with his voice. He had a special interest in Earth, as he believed humans possess collectively within their minds most, if not all, fragments of the Anti-Life Equation.

Darkseid intended to probe the minds of every human to piece together the Equation. This has caused him to clash with many superheroes of the DC Universe, most notably the Kryptonian Superman. Darkseid worked behind the scenes, using superpowered minions in his schemes to overthrow Earth, including working through Intergang, a crime syndicate which employs Apokoliptian technology and later becomes a religious cult that worships Darkseid.

The Great Darkness Saga

[edit]
Main article: The Great Darkness Saga

One thousand years in the future, Darkseid has been absent for centuries and is almost completely forgotten. He returns and comes into conflict with that era's champions, the Legion of Super-Heroes. After using both scientific and magical methods to enhance his power, Darkseid transposes the planets Apokolips and Daxam—which places Daxam under a yellow sun and gives each of its inhabitants Kryptonian-like superpowers equal to those of Superman. Placing the Daxamites under his mental thrall, he uses them in a massive attempt to conquer the known universe. However, he is eventually defeated by the Legion and many of its allies.[16][17][18][19][20][21]

Seeing other deities as a threat, Darkseid invades Themyscira to discover the secret location of the Olympian deities, planning to overthrow the Olympians and steal their power. Refusing to aid Darkseid in his mad quest, the Amazons battled his Parademon troops, causing half of the Amazon population's death. Wonder Woman was able to gain her revenge against Darkseid for killing so many of her sisters by placing a portion of her own soul into Darkseid. This supposedly weakened the god's power as he lost a portion of his dark edge.

The Seven Soldiers and "Boss Dark Side"

[edit]

In Grant Morrison's 2005 Mister Miracle limited series, it was revealed that Darkseid had finally discovered the Anti-Life Equation, which he then used to destroy the Fourth World altogether. The New Gods fled to Earth, where they hid. Highfather and his followers were now a group of homeless people. Metron used a wheelchair, the Black Racer was an old white man in a wheelchair, DeSaad was an evil psychiatrist, Granny Goodness was a pimp (or "madam") for the Female Furies and Darkseid himself was now an evil gang leader who is referred to only as "Boss Dark Side". It is revealed that Darkseid actually gave the Sheeda North America in return for Aurakles, Earth's first superhero.[22] This was, in turn, purely for Darkseid to get Shilo Norman, whom he considers the "Avatar of Freedom", in his clutches so that he could eventually destroy the New Gods.

Final Crisis

[edit]
Main article: Final Crisis

As prophesied, Orion returns to Earth via boom tube for his final battle with Darkseid. During the massive fight, Orion ultimately kills him by ripping his heart out, which created a firepit of Apokolips from Darkseid's chest cavity (in reference to the prophecy of their final battle). As Darkseid dies, a battered, wounded Orion walks away from the battlefield having "won" the battle against his father once and for all. However, Darkseid's life essence endured even the death of his body and fell back in time, where he was reborn as "Boss Dark Side", aided by his resurrected minions and the supervillain Libra.

Once again bound to the form of a human, "Boss Dark Side" began to appear in a number of titles in the run up to Final Crisis. In The Flash vol. 2 #240, he led an army of fanatics, their will broken by the "spoken form" of the Anti-Life Equation, to kidnap the Tornado Twins. In Birds of Prey #118, he runs his Dark Side Club where superhumans fight to the death, brainwashed by drugs produced by Bernadeth. In Teen Titans #59, it was revealed that he had employed the Terror Titans to capture the Teen Titans and use them in his club fights.

In Final Crisis, Darkseid has begun to take over Earth and corrupt the Multiverse with the aid of his herald Libra, a reborn supervillain and antichrist-like figure who soon converts much of the Secret Society of Super Villains to his cause with the aid of the Crime Bible and the Holy Lance. Darkseid is also joined by the souls of his fellow evil New Gods, who, like Darkseid, now possess either modified human bodies or the bodies of other superpowered beings, such as Mary Marvel.

Darkseid also arranges for detective Dan Turpin to be lured into the Dark Side Club, where Turpin is turned into Darkseid's "final host", as his Boss Dark Side body has begun to mummify due to Darkseid's foul astral presence. With his legion of followers and allies aiding him as he undergoes his latest "rebirth", Darkseid successfully conquers the Earth with the unleashing of the Anti-Life Equation onto mankind. However, the rebirthing process is still far from complete as Dan Turpin's mind and soul, while corrupted by Darkseid's essence, still remains in firm control over his body. However, at the same moment Shilo Norman, the "Embodiment of Freedom" is shot by S.H.A.D.E. operatives, thus signalling the "Victory of Evil". Darkseid wins control over Turpin's body, now twisted in a close copy of his Apokoliptan former appearance, and wearing an updated version of his battle armor. Darkseid then gains the fullest of his power, his "fall" having the effect of compressing and crumpling spacetime around Earth.

After escaping from captivity, Batman shoots Darkseid with the same radion bullet that killed Orion, while Darkseid simultaneously hits Batman with the Omega Beam, sending him back in time and then "infecting" Batman with Omega energy that will cause him to jump forward in time, with disastrous results when he reaches the present. Darkseid is mortally wounded, but not before his Omega Sanction teleports Batman into prehistoric times. Remains believed to be Batman's (later revealed to be the last of the many Batman clones that Darkseid created) are found by Superman, who confronts Darkseid. As Darkseid mocks his old enemy for failing to defend Earth, it emerges that in Darkseid's fall through the multiverse, he created a doomsday singularity that now threatens all of existence. When Superman attempts to physically assault him, Darkseid reveals that he now exists inside the bodies of all those who fell to the power of the Anti-Life Equation and that killing Darkseid will kill humanity. Darkseid then reloads the gun that was used to shoot him, to kill Orion by way of firing the bullet backwards in time (a move Superman deems to be suicide due to the paradoxical nature of his actions: the bullet used to kill Orion is ultimately fired at him by Batman and is now poisoning him to death).

Before Darkseid can use the Omega Effect to kill Superman, Barry Allen and Wally West lead the Black Racer to Darkseid and making contact with him frees Turpin from Darkseid's control. Wonder Woman (having been freed from possession by one of Darkseid's minions) then uses her lasso of truth to bind Darkseid's spirit form, effectively freeing humanity from the Anti-Life Equation and being controlled by Darkseid. In his final effort, Darkseid's disembodied essence appears and tries to seize the Miracle Machine Superman has created; however, Superman uses counter-vibrations to destroy him. Furthermore, the last piece of Darkseid's plan fails when Batman escapes the Omega Sanction.

Doctor Impossible later manipulates the Crime Syndicate of America into helping him resurrect Darkseid via a machine that draws energy from the Multiverse itself. The resurrection backfires and creates a new being known as the Omega Man.[23]

The New 52

[edit]

In September 2011, The New 52 rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Darkseid's name is first invoked by a Parademon in Justice League #1.[24] He is later mentioned again in Justice League #2,[25] and in Justice League #3 Darkseid makes his first appearance in the series, seen in a vision by Victor Stone after he is injured by an exploding Mother Box.[26] In the final pages of Justice League #4, Darkseid himself appears.[27] In Justice League #5, the League confronts him but they are overpowered by him, when he severely hurts Superman with his Omega Beams and breaks Green Lantern's arm.[28] Finally, in Justice League #6, Darkseid is driven out when Cyborg activates the invaders' Mother Boxes and Superman forces him through a boom tube. The incidents that occur in these issues make Darkseid the first foe the newly formed League faces as a team. The issue also reveals DeSaad and Steppenwolf, referring to Darkseid's daughter and their ceaseless search for her across countless worlds.[29] Darkseid's daughter escapes containment in Justice League of America's Vibe #7 after the dampeners on her cage are temporarily disabled.[30]

In the New 52 continuity, there is only one set of New Gods across the 52 Multiverse. So as Darkseid invades Prime Earth in Justice League, he sends his lieutenant Steppenwolf to do the same, with greater success, on Earth 2, resulting in the deaths of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, and stranding Helena Wayne and Kara Zor-L on Prime Earth. Five years later, Darkseid once again invades Earth 2, which never fully recovered from his armies' earlier assault, and it is revealed that he and Highfather of New Genesis struck a deal allowing him the unchallenged right to invade Earth 2.

In Darkseid #1, his background story was revealed. Formerly a farmer named Uxas, he hated the deities of his world. So he traveled up to their mountain while they slept and tricked them all into fighting each other. As they were all weakened from the war, he killed them one by one with his scythe (similar to Kronos of Greek mythology) and stole their power, before destroying his world and creating Apokolips.

In Justice League: The Darkseid War (after the retirement of the "New 52" imprint), Darkseid comes into conflict with the Anti-Monitor. Darkseid's daughter Grail leads the Anti-Monitor, who is revealed to be a scientist named Mobius, to Darkseid for the former to kill the latter. Mobius believes that with the death of Darkseid, he will be free from being the Anti-Monitor. After an intense battle, the Anti-Monitor fuses the Black Racer with Flash and sends it after Darkseid. Using the fused Flash and his own powers, he kills Darkseid. With Darkseid dead, the universe is unbalanced as it has lost its God of Evil. Lex Luthor later fuses with the Omega Sanction, becoming the new ruler of Apokolips.

After killing the Anti-Monitor using an Anti-Life Equation-powered Steve Trevor, Grail would later resurrect Darkseid through the newborn child of Superwoman. The child has the same powers as his father Mazahs, with the ability to steal the powers of others. Stealing the new "God" abilities of the Justice League, Grail fuses them with the child and brings Darkseid back to life. However, he is under her complete control. Grail later attempts to redeem herself by seemingly killing Darkseid with the Anti-Life Equation. However, it is later revealed that she reincarnated him back as a baby with the intention of teaching him differently.

In DC Rebirth, Darkseid kills Zeus and absorbs his power to return to his original form.[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]

New Justice

[edit]
See also: New Justice

After countless alien planets being held captive by Brainiac's race are freed, they venture into an unknown area of outer space called the "Ghost Sector." After remembering a prophecy his father told him, and noticing the crack in the Source Wall, Darkseid lures Cyborg, Starfire, and Azrael to the Ghost Sector in an attempt to use their powers to conquer the Multiverse.[39]

Being successful with the team's entrapment, Darkseid reveals to Cyborg that a bond was established between them, when Cyborg merged with Darkseid's Mother Box. According to the prophecy, the alien worlds were hidden because of the Old Gods they worshipped.

Infinite Frontier

[edit]

In Infinite Frontier, Darkseid is trapped in Earth-Omega following the restoration of the multiverse. He regained his original form by fusing with his alternate universe counterparts. Darkseid's former henchmen reunite with him on Earth-Omega and remain by his side as he gains a new follower named X-Tract, Cameron Chase's Earth-Two counterpart.[40]

Darkseid battles the Justice League Incarnate, but is defeated by the Great Hand and sent to a mysterious place where he is controlled by Pariah and the Great Darkness.[41] He is freed after Nightwing fends off the Great Darkness and returns to Apokolips.

DC All In

[edit]

In DC All In, Darkseid bonds with the Spectre using the Miracle Machine before allowing himself to be killed in battle with the Justice League to become unbound from time and space.[42][43][44] He travels to another universe and corrupts it with his influence, transforming it into the Absolute Universe.[45][46][47]

Powers and abilities

[edit]

As a New God, Darkseid is nigh-immortal and possesses immense physical abilities. He can harness the Omega Effect to generate disintegrating energy beams capable of instantly killing or resurrecting others. Furthermore, Darkseid can teleport and possesses telepathy and telekinesis.[38][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]

Other versions

[edit]

Injustice: Gods Among Us tie-in

[edit]

Darkseid appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic.

Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe

[edit]

Darkseid appears in the crossover comic Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe. He battles Superman and He-Man before being killed by the latter, after which he is transformed into pure knowledge and claimed by the elders of Grayskull.

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Live-action

[edit]

Animation

[edit]
Darkseid as he appears in Superman: The Animated Series

Film

[edit]

Live-action

[edit]
  • In 2014, Bryan Singer revealed that during early development of the scrapped Superman Returns sequel, Darkseid was considered to be the main antagonist.[78]
DC Extended Universe
[edit]
Darkseid as he appears in Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021).

Darkseid is featured in the DC Extended Universe.

Animation

[edit]

Video games

[edit]

Mortal Kombat

[edit]
  • Darkseid appears in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, voiced by Perry Brown.[60] After the Mortal Kombat and DC universes are merged, Darkseid is fused with Shao Kahn to create Dark Kahn. After Dark Kahn is destroyed, Darkseid is transported to the Mortal Kombat universe and imprisoned in the Netherrealm.
  • Darkseid appears as a skin for Geras in Mortal Kombat 11.[87]

Lego

[edit]

Injustice

[edit]
  • Darkseid appears as a non-playable character in Injustice: Gods Among Us via the Hall of Justice stage. He is also available as a playable character in the game's IOS version.
  • Darkseid is featured as a preorder bonus and later-DLC character in Injustice 2, voiced again by Michael-Leon Wooley.[90]

Reception

[edit]

Darkseid was ranked as the 6th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time by IGN and the 23rd Greatest Villain of All Time by Wizard magazine.[91]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sacks, Jason; Dallas, Keith (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s. TwoMorrows Publishing. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-1605490564.
  2. ^ Jack Kirby at the Grand Comics Database.
  3. ^ Van Lente & Dunlavey 2012, p. 115.
  4. ^ McAvennie, Michael "1970s" in Dolan, p. 145 "As the writer, artist, and editor of the Fourth World family of interlocking titles, each of which possessed its own distinct tone and theme, Jack Kirby cemented his legacy as a pioneer of grand-scale storytelling."
  5. ^ Schwartz, Roy (May 19, 2021). Is Superman Circumcised?: The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero. McFarland. ISBN 9781476644417 – via Google Books.
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  7. ^ "Real Life Inspirations Behind Some of the Best Comic Book Villains". ScreenRant. Mar 30, 2014. Retrieved Oct 12, 2020.
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  11. ^ Byrne, John (w), Byrne, John (p), Byrne, John (i). "Apokolips Then" Jack Kirby's Fourth World, no. 2 (April 1997). New York, NY: DC Comics.
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Works cited

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