This Classic Hollywood Western Icon Secretly Inspired DC’s Darkseid & Marvel’s Morbius

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As a movie fanatic, I’m always fascinated by unexpected connections, and this one is wild! It’s rare to see superheroes and classic Westerns overlap, but when they do, it’s usually a huge deal. Turns out, a famous actor from old Westerns actually served as the inspiration for two of the most recognizable villains in both the DC and Marvel universes. It’s a little-known fact, but seriously epic!

Darkseid and Morbius are two of the most famous villains in DC and Marvel comics. Currently, Darkseid is the main villain in DC’s big storyline, DC K.O.

Okay, so we’ve got Morbius, who actually got his own movie in 2022 with Jared Leto in the lead. And of course, everyone knows both him and the Lizard from Spider-Man. But here’s a really cool bit of trivia I just learned: both of these characters were inspired by the same actor – the classic film noir and Western star, Jack Palance! It’s wild to think about that connection, and honestly, adds a whole new layer to appreciating these villains.

How a Hollywood Western Legend Shaped DC’s Darkseid

Jack Palance’s Performances Directly Inspired Jack Kirby’s Ultimate Villain

Jack Palance was a celebrated actor in classic Western films like The Lonely Man, The Professionals, The McMasters, Chato’s Land, God’s Gun, and City Slickers – for which he won an Oscar. He was a major Hollywood Western star for almost sixty years. Surprisingly, Palance also influenced the world of comic books, serving as inspiration for characters like Marvel’s Morbius and DC’s Darkseid.

Mark Evanier, a biographer of comic book legend Jack Kirby, mentioned in 2006 that Kirby was struck by several performances from actor Lee Marvin (often mistakenly referred to as Palance). Evanier explained that Kirby drew inspiration from Marvin’s acting—specifically his poses, gestures, and vocal delivery—when creating the powerful villain Darkseid.

Evanier explained that when J.K. wrote dialogue for his comic book villain, he imagined actor Palance delivering the lines, based on a performance in a film. Considering Darkseid is one of DC Comics’ most famous and menacing characters, it’s a huge compliment that Palance’s powerful acting served as inspiration.

Jack Palance’s Influence on Marvel’s Morbius and Dracula

How a Western Film Icon Helped Shape Marvel’s Most Famous Vampires

Darkseid wasn’t the only character inspired by Richard Palance. Comic artist Gil Kane, known for his work on Morbius with Roy Thomas, revealed he also used Palance as a visual reference. However, Thomas himself credited the 1957 film The Vampire as his primary inspiration for the character.

Morbius essentially combines elements from both these inspirations. Interestingly, Palance’s work also influenced the character of Dracula in Marvel’s The Tomb of Dracula comic series, which ran from 1972 to 1979. This is particularly appropriate since Palance himself portrayed Dracula in the 1974 British television movie Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

The fact that Palance inspired so many comic book creators demonstrates his incredible acting talent and solidifies his place as one of Hollywood’s all-time greats. What’s truly special is that his influence reached beyond Westerns and into the world of comics – something even Western legends like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood didn’t achieve to the same extent.

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2026-02-15 00:54