Darkseid is. The ruler of Apokolips is a force of nature who wants to rule over everything not just on his planet, not only in his universe but everything in every universe. When Darkseid starts his conquest, his mere presence demands the attention of many, which includes the Justice League. DC has shown the raw and evil power of Darkseid in many forms. Due to this treatment and Darkseid’s wickedness it’s no wonder why many fans view Darkseid as perhaps the biggest bad in the DC universe. So, it makes sense if DC were to build up to him or just quickly include him in a story or an arc where Darkseid wreaks havoc. That has been done before. It has been attempted in different mediums. But despite Darkseid serving this role, James Gunn recently has made it clear that Darkseid is not part of the formula right now. Darkseid is a strong, important role in the DC universe. DC has shown case that but in other areas, he seems to be stuck in the corner.
The areas where DC has used Darkseid’s reign of terror is in Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited. In both series, Darkseid popped up every once in a while, and generated mass destruction. When his fate was unknown in an explosion in Justice League, Superman was concerned, unsure about Darkseid’s survival. When Batman tried to reassure Superman that even Darkseid couldn’t survive something like that, in a rare instance, Superman subtly snapped at Batman. Darkseid had Superman spooked. Then in Justice League: Unlimited, the series concluded with a gigantic battle against Darkseid. His boosted power and his army of Parademons forced all heroes of Earth to unite against him. It wasn’t until Luthor baited him with the anti-life equation that Darkseid was defeated. But each of those outings, Darkseid got the respect because he was portrayed accurately. DC was willing to show a lot of his character especially in Justice League: Unlimited.
Some stories concluded with him, others began with him. When DC rebooted with the New 52, the first Justice League story – Justice League: Origins – had Darkseid as the villain. He was built up in the arc until he clashed with the Justice League. He was able to knock Superman out for a moment and was thrashing the rest of the League around until Batman got Superman back from one of Darkseid’s ships. The DCAMU started its run adapting the same book into Justice League: War. The story followed the same plotline which meant Darkseid pummeled the League. Then the New 52 and the DCAMU ended with Darkseid. In Justice League: Apokolips War and Justice League: The Darkseid War, each story concluded the universe with titanic battles against Darkseid. From the beginning, everything for those universes built up to Darkseid, showing how much of a huge threat he is.
Young Justice and Smallville both attempted to use Darkseid as the common universal threat. The end of Young Justice: Invasion, Darkseid was teased and hinted that he was the puppet master behind some of the big events in that season. The main villainous group, answered to him. He was sprinkled in throughout subsequent seasons but with the series effectively canceled, that interpretation of Darkseid won’t come to the light. Smallville ended its ten-year run by including Darkseid in the last season. Young Clark Kent and many of his allies fought Darkseid and his forces. But this version of Darkseid was more of an unseen force. He was a presence that possessed others, like a wraith, to gain a physical form. So, this version of Darkseid was different from previous ones. But Smallville was still a story that treated Darkseid as a formidable threat. The fact that a television show had the courage to still adapt Darkseid to some extent shows again, that Darkseid is a well-respected character that DC allows to be adapted.
Despite the attempts and successes of using Darkseid, DC is also hesitant in some other areas. Darkseid has been the villain of the story in different forms, but a film adaption has always felt like catching smoke. Of course, Darkseid did appear in Zack Snyder’s Justice League and was set up as a powerful evil force whose arrival was inevitable. As was his victory. But that story has officially concluded with just the tease of his arrival. But if that story had a chance, it would have been the longer overdue film adaption of Darkseid. Giving fans of his, a gift that they have been anticipating for some time. When the DCU was announced as well as some of the projects in Chapter 1, something that whispered was ‘who is going to be the big bad?’. Many assumed the DCU will run like the MCU where a huge, present and constant threat will loom over everything. But James Gunn was quick to shut that presumption down saying that the DCU won’t operate like the MCU which also meant, a big bad being a part of the formula was not present. He doubled down on that thought recently saying Darkseid will not be the main big bad. He cited that Snyder’s use of him is still fresh and that Darkseid is too similar to Thanos. So, while DC tends to use Darkseid elsewhere, that true big screen adaptation for Darkseid still remains elusive. Darkseid has all the elements to instantly be shot up the ranks for the best villains of all time. That infamy will sky rocket if DC were to use him in a big screen outing. Yet, it’s that exact version that DC has been coy about.
There have been a few iconic DC villains that have been adapting in film multiple times. There have even been a few obscure villains and even heroes that have been brought to the big screen. Yet, one of DC’s most evil and constant threats in the universe is sidelined. Everywhere else, the Justice League at some point must face off with Darkseid. Or at least he makes himself known to Superman. Seems like all roads lead to him. But films tend to make detours. Failed and successful attempts at the Justice League didn’t have him in the story and Darkseid was going to arrive in Zack Snyder’s vision for the Justice League but again it never came.
The inclusion and usage of Darkseid in a film has hit a brick wall. This is where a creative way of thinking could get the solution. When Thanos arrived on scene, he was already a full threat. Gunn has said the DCU will run like Star Wars rather than the MCU. When Darth Vader arrived on scene, he was fully realized. The difference is that the Star Wars franchise took time to explore Darth Vader before he became Darth Vader. So, DC could use Darkseid in a similar way. Films, maybe even dedicated films to him, could show how Darkseid came to be. Have a few projects at time show the evolution of Darkseid. Have one show how he came to power. Another, show his war against the New Gods and New Genesis. And another perhaps hinting that the physical body that everyone sees is just an avatar of his true abstract form. In this way, instead of just being a big bad, a punching bag for the heroes, Darkseid could be used more as a true character. That strategy is something the MCU didn’t do and still isn’t doing. This method could be something that is a little more exclusive to DC. And this is how DC could maximize the usage of Darkseid.
Darkseid is a major force in the DC Universe. In the areas that DC has used him, he excels. He terrifies and makes it known that he is a legitimate threat. Those outings give the characters tons of respect. But in the one area where characters make a giant leap to become household names, DC has not fully utilized him in film. The latest chance for him to have that opportunity is in the DCU but those chances have been slimmed down. It’s not like Darkseid is character that is buried deep below a roster. He is known. DC just needs to take that additional step to use him a bit more.
