View source for Darkseid

{{short description|DC Comics character}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|character_name = Darkseid 
|image = Justice_League_Odyssey_Darkseid.jpeg
|caption = Textless variant cover of ''Justice League: Odyssey'' #21 (June 2020). Art by Will Conrad.
|publisher = [[DC Comics]]
|debut = ''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #134 (December 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]]<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>
|alter_ego = Uxas
|species = [[New Gods|New God]]
|homeworld = [[Apokolips]]
|alliances = [[Darkseid's Elite]]<br>[[Female Furies]]<br>[[Intergang]]<br>[[Secret Society of Super Villains]]<br>[[Legion of Doom]]<br>[[Injustice League]]
|aliases = Lord of Apokolips<br>God of Evil<br>Anti-Life God<br>Boss Dark Side 
|powers =
{{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). 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==
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 |last=Young |first=Paul |date=March 30, 2014 |title=Real Life Inspirations Behind Some of the Best Comic Book Villains |url=https://screenrant.com/best-comic-book-villains-real-life-inspiration/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref>

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 |author-link=Robert Greenberger |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |author-link2=Martin Pasko |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |pages=71–73}}</ref>

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."<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>

==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 |author-link=Jeff Rovin |title=[[The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains]] |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |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.

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]], who he married. 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 (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 [[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===
{{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. Darkseid places the [[Daxamite]]s under his control and uses them in an attempt to conquer the universe. However, he is eventually defeated by the Legion and many of their 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>

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.

===The Seven Soldiers and "Boss Dark Side"===
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 (character)|Metron]] used a wheelchair, the [[Black Racer (DC Comics)|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.<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===
{{Main|Final Crisis}}
As prophesied, Orion returns to Earth via boom tube for his final battle with Darkseid. During the fight, Orion kills Darkseid 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).<ref name=":0">{{cite comic |date=April 2008 |title=[[Countdown to Final Crisis]] |story=Darkseid Equals Death |issue=#2 |writer=[[Paul Dini|Dini, Paul]] |cowriters=[[Sean McKeever]], [[Keith Giffen]] |penciller=[[Scott Kolins|Kolins, Scott]] |inker=Kolins, Scott}}</ref> 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 (team)|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 is revealed that Darkseid had employed the [[Terror Titans]] to capture the Teen Titans and use them in his club fights.

In ''Final Crisis'', Darkseid begins to take over Earth and corrupt the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|multiverse]] with the aid of Libra, who 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 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 far from complete as Turpin's mind and soul, while corrupted by Darkseid's essence, remains in 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, who is transformed to resemble him. 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) uses the [[Lasso of Truth]] to bind Darkseid, effectively freeing humanity from the Anti-Life Equation. In his final effort, Darkseid's 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 (DC Comics)|Doctor Impossible]] manipulates the [[Crime Syndicate of America]] into helping him resurrect Darkseid via a machine that draws energy from the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|multiverse]]. 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>

===The New 52===

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 (DC 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 (character)|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]]'' 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>

In the New 52 continuity, there is only one set of New Gods across the multiverse. As Darkseid invades Prime Earth in ''Justice League'', he sends 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]] 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 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 resurrects 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.

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>

===New Justice===

{{see also|New Justice}}
After countless alien planets being held captive by [[Brainiac (character)|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 (Teen Titans)|Starfire]], and [[Jean-Paul Valley|Azrael]] to the Ghost Sector in an attempt to use their powers to conquer the multiverse.<ref>{{Cite comic |date=November 2018 |title=Justice League Odyssey |story="Ghost Sector, Part 1" |issue=#1 |volume= |publisher=[[DC Comics]] |location=New York, NY |writer=[[Joshua Williamson|Williamson, Joshua]] |penciller=[[Stjepan Šejić|Šejić, Stjepan]] |inker=Šejić, Stjepan}}</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.

===Infinite Frontier ===
In ''[[Infinite Frontier]]'', Darkseid is trapped in Earth-Omega following the restoration of the multiverse. He regains 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=Terror |first=Jude |date=February 26, 2022 |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=April 2, 2023 |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |language=en}}</ref> He is freed after [[Nightwing]] fends off the Great Darkness and returns to Apokolips.

=== DC All In ===
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. He travels to another universe and corrupts it with his influence, transforming it into the [[Absolute Universe]].<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> Darkseid's death brings imbalance to the universe, leading to the events of ''[[New Gods (vol. 5)|New Gods]]'' (vol. 5).

==Powers and abilities==
As a [[New Gods|New God]], Darkseid is one of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe, with immortality, strength, and several other powers and abilities.

Darkseid's best-known and most-used power is shooting Omega Beams from both of his eyes. Powered by a cosmic energy source called the "Omega Effect", the beams are an intense form of heated energy that can act as a concussive force, can disintegrate organisms or objects, can cause a target to have never existed and can resurrect fallen beings killed by them. During the Final Crisis, Darkseid used his Omega Beams to grant power to Mary Marvel and her powers afterwards were based on Anti-Life rather than magic. Darkseid has pinpoint control of this energy and can direct the beams to travel in straight lines, curve around corners and even pass through matter or other forms of energy. Some super-powered beings, such as [[Superman]] and [[Doomsday (DC Comics)|Doomsday]], can resist the Beams, although in the case of Superman, with a great deal of pain. Orion and [[Wonder Woman|Diana]] were able to deflect them, [[Firestorm (character)|Firestorm]] once used his powers to redirect them, and, in a crossover story, [[Galactus]] was unaffected by them. Darkseid sometimes uses the beams to punish those who fail him but are too valuable to kill outright, returning them to life when he requires them again.

Darkseid can teleport himself or others through time and space.<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>

Darkseid's Omega Sanction traps organisms in a series of alternate realities in which they die. Upon their death, they are resurrected in a new reality, in which they die in a worse and more painful manner than the previous.

Darkseid is depicted as immensely strong. He has effortlessly broken a [[Green Lantern|Green Lantern Ring]] with his bare hands, easily overpowered two Kryptonians simultaneously and defeated the entire Justice League. He can move at great speed, once catching Superman off-guard,<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> and can react in nanoseconds.<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> Even without his full power and strength, Darkseid has held his own against an Olympian God, such as Zeus. He can increase his physical size, his true form as a New God being almost incomprehensibly massive.<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>

Darkseid has powers of [[telepathy]] and [[telekinesis]], and he can create psionic avatars.<ref name="Jack Kirby's Fourth World">''Jack Kirby's Fourth World''</ref>

In "The Great Darkness Saga", Darkseid displayed a range of deity-like powers, such as transposing the positions of two planets in different solar systems, taking mental control of the entire population of a planet, instantly absorbing all the information from another being's mind, pronouncing a curse, manifesting the worst fears of other beings as realities, and easily defeating incredibly powerful beings, such as [[Lar Gand|Mon-El]], [[Mordru]], and the [[Time Trapper]]. He has also displayed godly powers by sensing the death of his son, Orion<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> and fluctuations of the energy of the "Godwave".<ref name="Genesis #4" />

Darkseid is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant, who has been trained in the [[The Art of War|art of war]] on [[Apokolips]]. His [[combat]] skills combined with his superhuman powers make him one of the strongest beings in the [[DC Universe]]. He is proficient in the use of several different types of weapons, even though he rarely uses them, due to his other powers like the Omega Beams.

Despite Darkseid's extraordinary physical powers, he rarely engages himself personally in confrontations, as he prefers to use his superhuman intelligence to manipulate or control others to his ends.<ref name="Doomsday: Year One Annual">''Doomsday: Year One'' Annual</ref>

As the ruler of Apokolips, Darkseid has access to all of its military and technological resources.

While Darkseid is a deity and immortal, having lived for several hundred thousand years, he is not invincible and has been killed on several occasions.<ref name="Doomsday: Year One Annual" /> Darkseid is able to drain the life force of other godly beings to rejuvenate himself or return to his full power. Demi-gods are capable of slowly rejuvenating Darkseid, but a god such as Zeus can return Darkseid back to his original form by draining the demi-gods.<ref name="Wonder Woman Vol 5 37" />

==Other versions==
===Injustice: Gods Among Us tie-in===
Darkseid appears in the ''[[Injustice: Gods Among Us]]'' prequel comic.

===Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe===
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]].

===''DC X Sonic the Hedgehog''===
Darkseid is the main antagonist of the crossover comic series ''[[DC x Sonic the Hedgehog]]''. He arrives in [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic]]'s universe via the Ragna Rock to obtain a new source of power from the seven [[Chaos Emeralds]], leading Sonic and his friends to team up with the Justice League to stop him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DC'S JUSTICE LEAGUE AND SONIC THE HEDGEHOG TEAM UP FOR GLOBAL COLLABORATION ACROSS COMIC BOOKS AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS |url=https://www.dc.com/blog/2024/09/24/dc-s-justice-league-and-sonic-the-hedgehog-team-up-for-global-collaboration-across-comic-books-and-consumer-products |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=DC |language=en-us}}</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
====Live-action====
* Darkseid appears in the [[Smallville season 10|tenth and final season]] of ''[[Smallville]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Peterson |first=Brian |date=July 25, 2010 |title=SDCC 10: Smallville - Darkseid, Blue Beetle and More Are Coming! |url=https://ign.com/articles/2010/07/25/sdcc-10-smallville-darkseid-blue-beetle-and-more-are-coming |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105035549/https://ign.com/articles/2010/07/25/sdcc-10-smallville-darkseid-blue-beetle-and-more-are-coming |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=October 6, 2018 |website=[[IGN]]}}</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 to confront [[Clark Kent (Smallville)|Clark Kent]], who seemingly destroys 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>

====Animation====
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Super Friends]]'', voiced by [[Frank Welker]].
[[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>
** 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 |date=October 30, 2010 |title=Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Saturday, October 30, 2010 |url=http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/1010/30/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103082852/http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/1010/30/index.htm |archive-date=November 3, 2010 |access-date=January 15, 2011 |website=Comics Continuum}}</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 |date=August 2, 2015 |title=SDCC: "Teen Titans Go" Producers Talk Weird Al, Justice League Crossover |url=https://www.cbr.com/sdcc-teen-titans-go-producers-talk-weird-al-justice-league-crossover/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917210835/https://www.cbr.com/sdcc-teen-titans-go-producers-talk-weird-al-justice-league-crossover/ |archive-date=September 17, 2016 |access-date=May 9, 2022 |work=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
* 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}}</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=[[Animation Magazine]]}}</ref><ref name="btva" />

===Film===
====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 |date=February 1, 2014 |title=Bryan Singer Responds to 'Superman Returns' Criticism; Wanted Darkseid for Sequel |url=http://screenrant.com/bryan-singer-superman-returns-criticism-darseid-sequel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202110355/http://screenrant.com/bryan-singer-superman-returns-criticism-darseid-sequel/ |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |access-date=October 1, 2016 |website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref>

=====DC Extended Universe=====
[[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 [[Superman (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]]es 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 |last1=Couch |first1=Aaron |last2=Kit |first2=Borys |date=April 1, 2021 |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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507234029/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ava-duvernays-new-gods-james-wans-the-trench-dc-movies-not-moving-forward-at-warner-bros-4159843/ |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |access-date=May 9, 2022 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>

====Animation====
* Darkseid appears in ''[[Superman/Batman: Apocalypse]]'' voiced by [[Andre Braugher]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 29, 2010 |title=Conroy, Daly Return In ''Superman/Batman: Apocalypse'' |url=https://www.cbr.com/conroy-daly-return-in-supermanbatman-apocalypse/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726013811/https://www.cbr.com/conroy-daly-return-in-supermanbatman-apocalypse/ |archive-date=July 26, 2017 |access-date=May 9, 2022 |work=[[Comic Book Resources]]}}</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 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 (DC 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 |last=Mancuso |first=Vinnie |date=March 4, 2020 |title='Justice League Dark: Apokolips War' Trailer Reveals an R-rated DC Comics Epic |url=https://collider.com/justice-league-dark-apokolips-war-trailer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305163852/https://collider.com/justice-league-dark-apokolips-war-trailer/ |archive-date=March 5, 2020 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</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 himself to send himself, Darkseid, Trigon, and Apokolips into oblivion.
** A young Darkseid appears in a flashback in ''[[Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths]]''
* 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" />

===Video games===
* 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 |last=Breckon |first=Nick |date=October 23, 2009 |title=From Tristram to Torchlight: An Interview with Composer Matt Uelmen |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/60997/from-tristram-to-torchlight-an |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615003226/https://www.shacknews.com/article/60997/from-tristram-to-torchlight-an |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |access-date=October 12, 2020 |website=[[Shacknews]]}}</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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815143502/https://www.puzzleanddragons.us/single-post/2019/02/07/justice-league-collab-returns |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011130702/https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |archive-date=October 11, 2013 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref>

====''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.
* 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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323152342/https://www.criticalhit.net/gaming/new-joker-gameplay-trailer-for-mortal-kombat-11-gives-you-what-you-freakin-deserve/ |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=Critical Hit |language=en-GB}}</ref>

====Lego====
* 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 |last=Nieves |first=Davey |date=July 21, 2018 |title=SDCC'18: LEGO DC SUPER VILLAINS Cast and Devs Dish on Funever Evil |url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc18-lego-dc-super-villains-cast-and-devs-dish-on-funever-evil/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722033330/http://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc18-lego-dc-super-villains-cast-and-devs-dish-on-funever-evil/ |archive-date=July 22, 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''====
* 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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118014923/https://www.gematsu.com/2017/01/injustice-2-story-trailer-darkseid-pre-order-dlc-special-editions-announced |archive-date=January 18, 2017 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Reception==
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==
* "[[The Great Darkness Saga]]"
* [[List of Superman enemies]]
* [[Thanos]], a [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] character influenced by Darkseid.

==References==
{{reflist}}

===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}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=lEWHfXUwUAwC&dq=darkseid&pg=PP149 The Legion Companion]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=sgd_BwAAQBAJ&dq=darkseid&pg=PA67 100 Things Avengers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die]
* [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}}

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