Darkseid

**Real Identity:** Uxas

**Appearances (STAS):** Tools of the Trade, Father's Day, Apokolips...Now! Part One, Part Two, Little Girl Lost Part One, Part Two, Legacy Part One and Part Two

**Appearances (JL/U):** Twilight Part One, Part Two, Alive! and Destroyer

**Powers:** Super strength, Near invulnerability, Omega Effect and Agony Matrix

**Family:** Kalibak (son) and Orion (son)

**Voiced By:** Michael Ironside

## Darkseid

### Relatives

Kalibak (son)
Orion (son)
Scott Free (foster son)
Big Barda (foster daughter-in-law)

## Physical description

### Eye color

Red

> I am many things, Kal-El, but here, I am God.
>
>

**Darkseid** was the absolute ruler of Apokolips, would-be conqueror of the universe and one of the greatest enemies of Superman. He psychically fed on the despair and misery of others. Darkseid has conquered and subjugated an unspecified number of planets throughout the universe.

## History

The origins of Darkseid and his rise to power are lost to time, but as long as Apokolips has burned, Darkseid has been the iron fist ruling over its inhabitants.

### Feud with New Genesis

Darkseid seeks to bring the entire universe under his control. To achieve this end, he seeks the cosmic power of the Anti-Life Equation, which theoretically will enable him to control any and all existing life in the universe. Darkseid's perpetual rival is Highfather, the leader of New Genesis ― Apokolips's sister planet. For thousands of years, Apokolips and New Genesis waged war, claiming millions of lives until a truce was finally agreed upon. To seal their bond, Highfather and Darkseid exchanged their infant children: Highfather would look after Darkseid's son Orion and Darkseid would raise Highfather's son Scott Free. Scott, despite the influence of Darkseid and Granny Goodness, grew up to become a freedom fighter in opposition to his adopted father. Orion took to the lessons of New Genesis and became an enemy to Darkseid as well.

### Moving in on Earth

 File:Darkseid pan.png
Though maintaining an uneasy peace, Darkseid still looked to acquire power without Highfather's interference. He soon took notice of the planet Earth, not only for its vast natural resources and vulnerable population but also because a potential rival had appeared amongst the otherwise "unworthy" masses: Superman. In an effort to gauge Superman's power (as well as prepare Earth for his coming) Darkseid aided Intergang by supplying powerful weapons of his world to the greedy human criminals.

Darkseid ordered his servant Desaad to destroy Superman, but his device failed. After his son Kalibak disobeyed orders by battling Superman, Darkseid made his presence known to the Man of Steel, injuring Superman with his Omega Beams before disappearing into a boom tube.

Darkseid would later launch a full attack on Earth, beginning with the massive destruction of a nuclear facility in an effort to recreate the fire pits of Apokolips. Superman was again effortlessly defeated in personal combat and bound to the head of Darkseid's war machine. The invasion would have succeeded if not for the timely intervention of Highfather and the armies of New Genesis. With Highfather declaring that Earth was off-limits, Darkseid grudgingly retreated, but not before murdering Dan Turpin in front of all of Metropolis, then escaping through a boom tube before Superman could get to him.

Darkseid would orchestrate several attacks against Superman, though keeping his word by avoiding a direct invasion of Earth. He dispatched Granny Goodness to build a device that would pull a comet to Earth but was thwarted by Supergirl. His most crushing blow to Superman came when he brainwashed the hero into believing Darkseid had adopted him. He sent Superman to lead an invasion of Earth. Though Superman fought against the conditioning and eventually managed to break free of it, Darkseid had at least partially achieved a victory by shattering the public trust of Superman.

Unfortunately for Darkseid, he had finally pushed Superman too far. The Man of Steel invaded Apokolips, swatting aside the forces between him and Darkseid's palace, clashing directly with the Dread Lord of Apokolips. Darkseid gained the upper hand, telling Superman he would kill more humans, and was about to finish Superman with his Omega Beams when Superman clamped his hands over the overlord's eyes. The backlash of energy exploded against Darkseid's skull, wounding him grievously and knocking him unconscious. Superman threw Darkseid's prone form at the feet of his subjects and declared them free. However, the Lowlies respectfully carried their lord from the battlefield before an astonished Superman, with Darkseid reminding the hero, "I am many things, Kal-El... but here, I am God."

## Powers and abilities

Darkseid was one of the most powerful individuals in the entire universe. His monstrous strength was unparalleled by almost anybody, except Superman, who has proven to be almost as powerful. He had consistently proven himself to be incredibly resistant to almost all forms of physical injury. His speed and stamina are also roughly equal to that of Superman.

 File:Omega Beam.png
Darkseid usually avoided hands-on conflict via the use of his deadly Omega Beam. The Omega Beam is emitted as red beams of light from Darkseid's eyes and affect their targets according to Darkseid's whim.

The Omega Beam can project as concussive force, intense heat, or a beam of disintegration. Their power level is relative to the target, as Superman seems to be able to survive what is presumably the full force of the Omega Beam. Average beings (such as the unfortunate ***Dan Turpin***) are often disintegrated instantly. The beam can also be used to teleport certain beings, a trick that Darkseid often employs to dispatch disgraced servants to the slave mines of Apokolips.

## Background information

* Darkseid has often opposed Superman in DC comic books. However, Apokolips and New Genesis were originally meant to be stand-alone creations as part of a conclusive storyline. However, since Jack Kirby left DC Comics before the story's end, the tale (most notably Orion's quest to destroy his father Darkseid) was left unfinished, thus the Fourth World as a whole was folded into the mainstream continuity of DC. In the 1985 series *Crisis on Infinite Earths*, Darkseid was a pivotal figure (in addition to Superman) in stopping the ultimate destruction of all creation. However, Darkseid did not perform this deed out of heroism or selflessness — it was merely a necessary action to preserve Apokolips: saving the universe (and/or multiverse) was merely a side effect.

* The DCAU does not mention Orion and Kalibak's mothers by name. In the comics, Kalibak is the son of Darkseid's first wife, Suli, with Orion as the son of Darkseid's second wife, Tigra. Darkseid was genuinely in love with Suli, who was assassinated by Desaad on the orders of Darkseid's mother Heggra, the previous ruler of Apokolips, who did not approve of the match, thus Darkseid was then forced into a loveless arranged marriage with Tigra. Steppenwolf is Heggra's brother and Darkseid's uncle. Darkseid was not the first male ruler/sovereign (king) of Apokolips. The first king was Yuga Khan, Darkseid's father. Darkseid also has a third son, Grayven, by an unknown mother.

## Appearances

### *Superman: The Animated Series*

* "Tools of the Trade"
* "Father's Day"
* "Apokolips... Now!"
* "Little Girl Lost, Part II"
* "Legacy"

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 ***Fogel, Rich*** (writer) & ***Geda, Curt*** (director) (February 5, 2000). "Legacy, Part II". *Superman: The Animated Series*. Season 4. Episode 2 (airdate). Episode 49 (production). ***Kids WB!***.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 ***Fogel, Rich*** (writer) & ***Riba, Dan*** (director) (February 7, 1998). "Apokolips... Now!, Part I". *Superman: The Animated Series*. Season 2. Episode 25 (airdate). Episode 33 (production). ***Kids WB!***.
3. ↑ ***Evanier, Mark*** (writer) & ***Geda, Curt*** (director) (February 1, 1997). "Tools of the Trade". *Superman: The Animated Series*. Season 1. Episode 12 (airdate). Episode 12 (production). ***Kids WB!***.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 ***Evanier, Mark***, ***Gerber, Steve*** (writers) & ***Riba, Dan*** (director) (October 3, 1997). "Father's Day". *Superman: The Animated Series*. Season 2. Episode 15 (airdate). Episode 28 (production). ***Kids WB!***.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 ***Fogel, Rich*** (writer) & ***Riba, Dan*** (director) (February 7, 1998). "Apokolips... Now!, Part I". *Superman: The Animated Series*. Season 2. Episode 25 (airdate). Episode 33 (production). ***Kids WB!***.
6. ↑ ***Dorkin, Evan***, ***Dyer, Sarah***, ***Dini, Paul***, ***Burnett, Alan*** (writers) & ***Geda, Curt*** (director) (May 2, 1998). "Little Girl Lost, Part II”. *Superman: The Animated Series*. Season 2. Episode 27 (airdate). Episode 37 (production). ***Kids WB!***.
7. ↑ ***Fogel, Rich*** (writer) & ***Geda, Curt*** (director) (February 5, 2000). "Legacy, Part I". *Superman: The Animated Series*. Season 4. Episode 2 (airdate). Episode 49 (production). ***Kids WB!***.

## External links

* Darkseid at Wikipedia

Template:NewGods

## Biography

Darkseid is the dictator of the planet Apokolips and rules with an iron fist and absolute authority over his subjects. An outside analysis would view his rule as a dictatorship operating on a virtual slave state. Darkseid maintains several roles to his subjects; master, god and executioner. Darkseid many centuries ago, usurped control of Apokolips from his uncle, Steppenwolf and instigated a bloody war with the New Gods of Genesis.

After being transformed by the Godwave, Darkseid attained super strength, near invulnerability and the Omega Effect, a devastating laser beam projected from his eyes that can instantly vaporize almost any organiz material.

Eventually, the war between Apokolips and New Genesis reached a stalemate of equal bloodshed. Darkseid and Highfather came to a truce and exchanged sons in what was known as "The Pact." Darkseid continued his conquest relatively unchecked. His ultimate goal is to obtain the solution to the Anti-Life Equation. With it, Darkseid would have control over all living things and the power to destroy the forces, of what he views as, of the chaotic universe. He would then rebuild a new order in his image.

In modern times, Darkseid focused his attention on the planet Earth. He set forth an elaborate plan to turn the core of the planet into a radioactive hot zone similar to Apokolips. To avoid the attention of the New Gods, Darkseid decided to manipulate a human into performing the initial phases of the plan. He chose the head of Metropolis' Intergang, Bruno Mannheim. Through his agent, Kanto, Darkseid supplied Mannheim with Apokoliptian technology. However, Darkseid encountered opposition in the form of Superman.

Darkseid assigned his lackey, DeSaad to gauge Superman's powers and skills. DeSaad sent forth the Scream Machine to Earth but it was easily destroyed. Darkseid went forth unabated. He guided Mannheim to the Ayers Island Power Plant with an incinderary to take out the cooling system. The radioactivity would melt through the Earth's core and create burn holes. Superman still managed to prevent the cataclysm. Darkseid appeared and beat Superman with ease. However, the people refused to surrender and were led by Inspector Dan Turpin. The New Gods appeared in time and declared Earth was under their jurisdiction. Darkseid left without further conflict but took the life of Turpin before his departure.

Darkseid decided to subtly influence control of Earth. He assigned Granny Goodness to arm runaways with weaponry and steal technology of Earth origin. In secret, she built the Doomsday Magnet. It would attract the passing Fleischer's Comet and cause a devastating impact. Darkseid planned to step in and help rebuild. A fledgling Supergirl, with Jimmy Olsen, stumbled upon the plot. Goodness summoned her Female Furies squad for aid but Superman arrived. He was overpowered and taken to Apokolips to view Earth's destruction. Supergirl arrived and helped Superman escape and save Earth.

Superman became the primary target of Darkseid's next plan. He lured Superman into a deep space trap with a false distress call. Granny Goodness was then charged with erasing Superman's memory and making him believe he was the adopted son of Darkseid. Together they would bring order to a lawless universe. Eventually, Darkseid would order Superman to invade Earth and taint his public image in the process with a legacy of hate and fear. Lois Lane managed to jog his memory but a Kryptonite warhead, courtesy of Lex Luthor and General Hardcastle, ended the invasion. Superman was charged with treason and held captive until Lane snuck in and freed him and an ailing Supergirl. Superman decided to return to Apokolips and take down Darkseid once and for all. Superman came close until he witnessed Darkseid's human slaves come to his aid. Supergirl convinced Superman to return home and clear his name.

Years later, Darkseid allied himself with Brainiac. In reality, Darkseid wished to subvert Brainiac in an effort to expedite his search for the solution to the Anti-Life Equation. The combined intervention of the Justice League and Orion prevented Darkseid from achieving his means to an end. He was left to die in the self-destruction of Brainiac's base. His death sparked a civil war on Apokolips between his elites, Granny Goodness and Virman Vunderbarr, to consolidate power.

Lex Luthor attempted to reconsitute Brainiac from debris floating in space. He was unaware that Darkseid's remains were also present. Instead of Brainiac, Darkseid was resurrected. After destroying the Legion of Doom base, Darkseid returned to Apokolips and quelled the civil war. Darkseid rallied his people in a new campaign, to take Earth, New Genesis and then, find the Anti-Life Equation. The remnants of the Legion of Doom and the JLU and several unaffiliated super heroes stood against him. While battling Superman, Darkseid unleashed a new ability called the Agony Matrix. It is an electrical impulse that directs neural stimulation of pain receptors 1000 fold and in a continuous fashion. Darkseid also fashioned a custom made Kryptonite Dagger to deliver the killing blow to Superman. Lex Luthor intervened with ultimate knowledge and offered the Anti-Life Equation to Darkseid. The two disappeared and their survival is unknown. The forces of Apokolips retreated and retreaded into civil war.