Lord Darkseid, born Uxas, is a powerful New God who rules over the fiery world of Apokolips. He orders his uncle, Steppenwolf, as his herald and general of his armies, and has them conquer other worlds and terraform them to resemble Apokolips.
Contents
History
Justice League
Around 3000 BCE Darkseid ordered Steppenwolf to lead his armies to Earth to transform the planet into a twisted mirror reflection of Apokolips using the three Mother Boxes. However, he was defeated by the armies of the backwater planet, and a furious Darkseid banished him from the planet.[1]
Knightmare
In a dark possible future, Darkseid killed Lois Lane and made Superman succumb to the Anti-Life Equation. Darkseid and Superman, as Darkseid's new top lieutenant, decimated Earth and conquered the multiverse, leaving only a resistance force led by Batman to oppose them.[2][3]
Zack Snyder's Justice League
  This section of the history covers the events of the 2021 director's cut Zack Snyder's Justice League. Part of this contradicts the cinematic release of the 2017 movie Justice League. All or part of this section may no longer be valid for the rest of the DC Extended Universe. |
Darkseid was obsessed with the Anti-Life Equation, a mathematical formula that destroys free will. Around 3000 BCE, Uxas discovered that Anti-Life was located on the planet Earth, and led an army of Parademons to Earth. Uxas planned to terraform Earth into a twisted mirror reflection of Apokolips using the three Mother Boxes. However, four races - the Amazons, Atlanteans, Old Gods, and humankind - collaborated to stop Uxas, with some help from the Green Lantern Yalan Gur. Uxas was severely wounded by Ares and retreated, on the verge of death. The Mother Boxes were separated and entrusted with the Atlanteans, Amazons, and humans.[2]
When Uxas finally recovered and returned to Apokolips, all the power he once held was now nonexistent, and a bloody war began. By the time Uxas - now calling himself Darkseid - finally reclaimed his power, thousands of years had passed, and he had forgotten the planet with Anti-Life and the location of the Mother Boxes. Darkseid began campaign spanning thousands of years to find Anti-Life again.[2]
At some point, Darkseid's uncle and top lieutenant, Steppenwolf, betrayed his nephew to enemies who hoped to steal his throne. Though Steppenwolf had a change of heart and crushed the rebellion, Darkseid was so furious that he exiled Steppenwolf, tasking him with conquering 150,000 worlds as a debt before he would consider allowing his uncle to return.[2]
In 2015, the Mother Boxes reawakened in the aftermath of Superman's death, and Steppenwolf led an army of Parademons to reclaim them and terraform Earth. After retrieving the second Mother Box, Steppenwolf had a vision in which he discovered the Anti-Life Equation was carved on the surface of Earth. After alerting DeSaad of his discovery, Darkseid agreed to finally redeem Steppenwolf if he did not fail and ordered him to prepare for his arrival.[2]
After Steppenwolf obtained the third Mother Box, he opened a Boom Tube, and Darkseid prepared to step on Earth for his prize. However, before the three Mother Boxes could merge, Steppenwolf was defeated by the Justice League and beheaded by Wonder Woman as Superman and Aquaman threw him through the Boom Tube. Darkseid crushed Steppenwolf's severed head with his foot.[2]
Though angered by his uncle's failure, Darkseid was undeterred; now that he knew the location of the Anti-Life Equation, Darkseid ordered DeSaad to prepare for an invasion of Earth, vowing to reclaim the Equation through "the old ways".[2]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Abilities
Notes
- This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the DC Extended Universe and is an adaptation of Darkseid. The original character was created by Jack Kirby and first appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #134.
- Darkseid was referenced in both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, and finally appeared onscreen in Zack Snyder's Justice League, released on HBO Max in 2021.
- Darkseid was portrayed by Ray Porter through motion-capture performance and voice acting.
Related
- 1 Appearances of Darkseid (DC Extended Universe)
- 2 Images featuring Darkseid (DC Extended Universe)
- 1 Quotations by or about Darkseid (DC Extended Universe)
- Character Gallery: Darkseid (DC Extended Universe)
Footnotes
 This character or group of characters are related to Jack Kirby's Fourth World, either the original concept and group of titles by Jack Kirby, or any of their subsequent adaptations by other creators. This template will categorize articles that include it into the Fourth World Characters category. |
 This character is or was primarily an enemy of the Justice League, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Justice League Villains." |
  This character is or was primarily an enemy of the Green Lantern of Earth, or the Green Lantern Corps as a whole. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Green Lantern Villains." |
