DC Reinvents a God-Tier Justice League Enemy, 66 Years After His Debut

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A surprisingly dangerous villain from the Justice League‘s past has appeared in the Absolute Universe. DC Comics has been updating many of its classic villains with frightening new twists recently – the Joker’s terrifying transformation in Absolute Batman #15 is a prime example. However, even with all the challenges the Absolute heroes have overcome, this is just the beginning. With so many villains existing within DC Comics history, practically anyone could emerge as a threat in the Absolute Universe at any moment.

We’re now in the second year of the Absolute Universe, and things are heating up with even bigger dangers ahead. The new series, Absolute Wonder Woman, recently introduced a team similar to the Suicide Squad, and characters like Poison Ivy and Black Adam will be appearing soon. However, the latest issue of the popular Absolute Martian Manhunter comic introduces a completely unexpected and potentially very cunning new villain – one that could be the most dangerous threat we’ve seen yet.

Justice League Villain Despero Returns as Despair-the-Zero

The latest issue of Absolute Martian Manhunter #8, from creators Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, shows Middleton gripped by widespread paranoia, with people reporting on everyone around them. While the FBI is swamped with tips, this allows John Jones to return to active duty. However, Jones is primarily focused on finding his wife. He goes to a bar to think things through, but his personal concerns are constantly interrupted by his Martian side, which urges him to investigate the White Martian’s impact on the town’s residents.

John is too preoccupied with his troubled marriage to continue and asks the Martian for a single night off to try and reconcile with his wife. The Martian agrees and sets off to investigate on his own. Unbeknownst to him, a shadowy group called the Agency is pursuing him. While John attempts to talk things through with his wife, Bridget, the Martian finds himself in a life-or-death struggle with the Agency, who ultimately manage to capture him.

John’s attempts to connect with Bridget fail, and he returns home feeling something isn’t right. He can still sense the thoughts and emotions of others, but they now feel disturbingly dark, filled with both despair and a cruel enjoyment of it. He finally spots a demonic figure in his room and demands to know its identity. The creature reveals it has many names – including Despair-the-Killer and Despair-the-Empty – but it’s ‘Despair-the-Zero’ that truly resonates. The entity then puts its arm around John, declaring itself his new companion.

Despair-the-Zero is Bad News for the Absolute Universe

You probably haven’t heard of “Despair-the-Zero” because that villain doesn’t exist in the main DC Universe. However, there is a villain named Despero, who often fights the Justice League, especially Martian Manhunter. Like the recent changes to Martian Manhunter and the White Martians—who are now less traditional aliens and more like psychic beings—Despero has also been reimagined. This new version, Despair-the-Zero, seems similar to the White Martians in that it thrives on negativity and despair—essentially the opposite of a Martian.

I didn’t fully anticipate seeing this in the story, but I suspected a new version of Despero would appear eventually. Last year’s Free Comic Book Day issue from DC Comics included clues about future events in the Absolute Universe, and one note specifically mentioned “Despair-0”. Considering Despero is a known enemy of Martian Manhunter in the main DC Universe, it’s likely this “Despair-the-Zero” will be a significant character moving forward.

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2026-01-31 21:14