Supervillain Origins: Darkseid

Supervillain Origins: Darkseid

This evil god is one of Superman’s greatest enemies. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we will explore the comic book origins of Darkseid.

As with most comic book characters, there are often re-imaginations and different versions to a character’s past. We have chosen to primarily follow the storyline, which unfolded in 1971’s The Forever People #1, and was then expended upon in The New Gods #1.

In his first major appearance, Darkseid was revealed to Superman as the most powerful menace threatening the universe. The tyrannical leader of the planet Apokolips, he is a being of massive power only interested in acquiring the means to end any and all life in the universe.

A mysterious new threat, his origin and motivations were elaborated on in The New Gods #1. That comic started from the very beginning by exploring how Darkseid and the other new gods, both good and bad were created in the aftermath of the old gods, who perished in an epic battle against evil.

While the war cost the old gods their lives and the life of their massive homeworld, the destroyed planet’s rubble eventually formed two new planets.

After eons had passed, the new gods eventually spawned on the planets surfaces. One of the two planets became a lush utopia on which the gods built a golden land called New Genesis.

The other planet remained a desolate world filled with evil called Apokolips, which came under the rule of the powerful new god, Darkseid.

While New Genesis housed the actual origin source of all life, a power called “The life equation”, Darkseid eventually dedicated himself to seeking the opposing equation which would have the power to eliminate life entirely.

When new genesis’ bravest warrior god Orion discovered this threat, he journeyed to Apokolips to defeat this rising evil.

However, once we arrived he discovered that Darkseid had ventured to the planet Earth, discovering that the anti-life equation formula has formed within the mind of an unsuspecting human.

Once on Earth, Darkseid built the Mass-Director Unit, a device capable of scanning the minds of all humans. Before he could enact his plan, he was followed to Earth by Orion, who confronted Darkseid about his intentions to break the long held peace between the two god planets.

After being defeated and returning to Apokolips, Darkseid continued to seek means to gaining the anti-life equation. As a result, he created such things as his notorious Fear machine which could zap terror into victims, and waged regular campaigns against Earth.

After several battles with Orion, Darkseid was revealed to be his estranged father, turning their battles into a family feud.

Despite this link, Darkseid eventually killed Orion. However, he soon found that himself opposed by a new enemy: Superman and the other members of the Justice League.

A being lives outside the rules of time and space, Darkseid, like the other new gods, didn’t just get created by the life equation, but gained his power from living near to it. This made him and those like him all but immortal, invulnerable and super strong. Moreover, Darkseid is telepathic, incredibly intelligent and controls advanced technology. Among his greatest powers is the Omega effect, which lets him focus energy from his eyes to teleport or destroy his targets.

During his many battles, his only weakness has been revealed to be a rare substance called Radion, mean that Superman himself can do little more than slow him down.

Over the years, Darkseid has appeared in various media, ranging from countless DC comics to crossovers and various cartoon series, eventually appearing as the villain in the tenth season of Smallville.

Are you a fan of the stone faced god with the annihilation obsession? Would you like to eventually see him battle Superman and the Justice League on the big screen? For more exciting comic book origins, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.