Darkseid is DC’s Worst Villain (And I Can Prove It)

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Darkseid is a legendary character in the realm of DC Comics, having been brought to life by Jack Kirby, a creator often hailed as one of the greatest in the medium’s history. He served as the principal antagonist for the New Gods, an innovative cosmology conceived by Kirby. The New Gods may not have enjoyed widespread popularity, but they left a lasting impact on DC followers, particularly Darkseid. Over time, Darkseid morphed into the personification of evil in the DC Multiverse and is one of the select villains who can be called the grand antagonist across the entire DC Multiverse. This notion was reinforced through shows like Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited, as well as comics such as Final Crisis. Currently, Darkseid is believed to be the hidden force behind the Absolute Universe, sparking anticipation among fans about his future actions. For many, he has become their preferred DC villain. However, allow me to offer a different perspective: in my opinion, Darkseid is the worst DC villain.

Darkseid is incredibly powerful, making him an issue for the character’s development. The comic series “Final Crisis” transformed Darkseid into a universal force of chaos and evil, which is an intriguing concept but also poses a problem because it diminishes his appeal as a villain in DC Comics. Despite this, Darkseid’s significance within the DC Multiverse is so profound that he cannot be excluded. Given his prominence in the Absolute Universe, DC now faces the challenge of revitalizing Darkseid to make him an engaging antagonist once again.

Darkseid Is Too Powerful to be Interesting

Among my preferred DC narratives, there’s a common thread: they feature Darkseid, but what ties them all together is the exceptional talent of their creators. Out of the few artists who can effectively portray Darkseid, only two stand out – the late Grant Morrison and Jack Kirby. These brilliant minds have taken the concept of Darkseid, as an embodiment of darkness in creation, and transformed it in ways no one else has. It’s a common error for other creators to use Darkseid merely as a powerful antagonist, which overlooks his true nature. Darkseid is essentially invincible; it’s almost impossible to permanently kill him without weapons that most heroes don’t possess, and even destroying his physical form doesn’t ensure his demise. The comic “Final Crisis” demonstrated that slaying Darkseid requires a series of steps: first, killing his body with a specific weapon, followed by the destruction of his soul using music – an act contrary to Darkseid. Due to the magnitude of Darkseid’s character development, portraying him in standard superhero combat seems absurd. Darkseid is known as one of the Justice League’s most formidable adversaries; however, his power level is so immense that whenever the Justice League defeats him, it somehow feels unconvincing. Over time, Darkseid has been developed to such an extent that witnessing him being defeated in a fistfight appears laughable.

Darkseid’s persistence as a character stems from his divine nature as the embodiment of evil. Unlike ordinary beings, Darkseid can’t truly die because evil itself is eternal. This was evident even after the “Final Crisis” event, where Darkseid reappeared. Every time he seems to be defeated, he invariably returns. This is because heroes can’t vanquish an abstract concept like evil. For instance, Lex Luthor may lose his wealth and freedom when defeated, but Darkseid’s status as a cosmic entity remains unchanged. Even when usurped from his position on Apokolips, he regains it whenever he returns.

Post-“Final Crisis,” portraying Darkseid as the creator of the Absolute Universe has been particularly effective. I believe this is the ideal representation for him, rather than a physical character. Jack Kirby initially designed Darkseid to symbolize the evil within every being in the universe, and Grant Morrison expanded on this theme. This cosmic role fits Darkseid better because it prevents him from becoming an overpowered adversary that lacks compelling conflict.

Darkseid Isn’t a Character Who Works as a Traditional Villain

In many adaptations, Darkseid resembles Marvel’s Thanos within the DC Multiverse, particularly in Zack Snyder’s DCEU. However, they are fundamentally different characters. Thanos is remarkable because despite his immense power, he remains a mortal being, and defeating him seems feasible, even if only temporarily. He regroups, rebuilds, and returns. Darkseid functions differently. Darkseid is not just an immensely powerful entity; he’s a multiversal creator. Defeating Darkseid is extremely challenging, and even if you manage to kill him, his existence persists beyond physical death, making him virtually indestructible.

Transforming Darkseid into the architect of the Absolute Universe and portraying him as the power that perpetuates its despair is a fitting representation of the character. Darkseid transcends conventional villainy and is ill-suited for traditional antagonist narratives. In my opinion, Darkseid serves as an exceptional character within the DC Multiverse; however, his role as a traditional villain is not effective due to his complexities.

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2025-09-05 22:15