WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Batman #152 & Justice League Unlimited #1 & DC All In Special #1!DC has been teasingDarkseid’sreturn since mid-July, and with the release of a recentAbsolute Powertie-in, it’s official—the New God is back after a two-year absence. Though his appearance in this issue is brief, it marks the start of a chain of events that will reshape the DC Universe and leave a lasting impact for years to come.
Darkseid’s brief appearance inBatman#152 is just the tip of the iceberg, signaling the monumental role the New God will play in shaping DC’s future.
Batman#152 by Chip Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne, Adriano Di Benedetto, and Romulo Fajardo Jr. delivers a pivotal chapter inDC’sAbsolute Powercrisis event. With most of DC’s heroes de-powered or imprisoned, the remaining Justice League members and their allies are racing to find any advantage.
Batman and Catwoman, in particular, take on a dangerous mission to steal a powerful weapon rumored to be in Amanda Waller’s possession, only to discover that she’s secured a Mother Box and hidden it on Lobo’s home planet, Czarnia. Andwhere there’s a Mother Box, Darkseid is never far behind—a fact that soon proves true.
Darkseid Returns to the DC Universe InBatman#152 (2024) By Chip Zdarsky
Amanda Waller’s Stolen Mother Box Calls Darkseid’s to Lobo’s Home Planet
Batman#152 picks up where the previous issue left off, withBatman and Catwoman battling Waller’s Suicide Squadwhile racing to disarm the timer attached to the Mother Box and steal the New Genesis super-computer. Despite Selina’s efforts, the timer hits zero before she can disarm it. Surprisingly, instead of an explosion, the tomb’s shielding protecting the Mother Box is knocked out, leaving the two heroes momentarily puzzled. Bruce quickly connects the dots,realizing that without the shielding, the Mother Box would act as a beacon, summoning Darkseid to their location.
This realization proves correct whenDarkseid arrives on Czarnia, forcing Batman and Catwoman to flee for their lives.As they run, Bruce scrambles to activate the Mother Box, hoping it will transport them back to Earth and away from the relentless New God. He eventually succeeds, transporting them to the island where theyshared significant moments duringBatman#79—a place with deep emotional ties for both. As they land safely, Selina expresses disbelief that they survived. Bruce grimly replies,“We should be [dead], but we’re not. And if that’s the case, then he wanted us to live. This isn’t over…”
DC Is Setting Darkseid Up To Play a Major Role In Their Upcoming ALL-IN Initiative
Darkseid Will be Responsible For Creating the ABSOLUTE UNIVERSE
Thanks to various teasers from DC, fans know Batman is spot on when he says their encounter with Darkseid is far from over. Anticipation for Darkseid’s return has been building ever sinceScott Snyder and Joshua Williamson revealed during a YouTube announcementthat a game-changing moment inAbsolute Powerwill have Darkseid sensing something has"changed"and is"missing.“While the specifics of this"something"remain unclear,it will set Darkseid on a quest that leads him into conflict with Superman’s new, more powerful Justice League.
Snyder also emphasized that this clash will be more than just another battle—it will completely reshape the DC cosmology.One of the most significant outcomes will be the creation of a dangerous new reality: the Absolute Universe. This universe will be home to darker, morechaotic versions of beloved heroes like Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman, all of whom will headline their own titles. This new world, part of DC’s ALL-IN initiative launching in October, will exist alongside the main DC Universe, adding a new dimension to DC’s storytelling.
In essence, DC is creating a two-planet metaverse. Fans can think of the Absolute Universe as a counterpart to Marvel’s Ultimate Universe. What makes this development even more intriguing is thatDarkseid himself will be responsible for its creation. Though the details remain a mystery,this new world will be powered entirely by"Darkseid energy,“a stark contrast to the"Superman energy"that sustains the current DC Universe.Hence, Darkseid’s brief appearance inBatman#152 is just the tip of the iceberg, signaling the monumental role the New God will play in shaping DC’s future.
DC Has Already Revealed Darkseid’s Final Fate In theJustice League UnlimitedPreview
Spoiler Alert: It All Ends (& Begins) With Darkseid Dying–But Not Before He Gets an Awesome Ax-Arm
Some fans may be surprised to learn that despite Darkseid’s major return to the DC Universe, his resurgence will be short-lived, asDC has already revealed plans to kill off the New God.This spoiler comes directly from the solicitations for Mark Waid and Dan Mora’sJustice League Unlimited#1, which state,“Darkseid’s death has triggereda massive power vacuum in the DCU, and Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman must unite like never before and expand the Justice League to encompass every hero championing the forces of good in the face of incredible evil!”
While revealing such a significant event in the solicitations feels surprising, it’s likely there’s more to Darkseid’s death than initially meets the eye. Even if DC does permanently put the iconic villain to rest, fans still have much to anticipate.One of the most intriguing teases isDarkseid cutting off his own armand replacing it with a giant ax—a wild development previewed in Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Wes Craig, and Daniel Sampere’s upcomingDC All In Special#1. This issue, set to release on October 2, will officially kick off DC’s ALL IN initiative, promising even more shocking twists ahead.
Is DC REALLY Killing Off Darkseid, And If Yes, What Are the Chances of Him Coming Back?
Catching Up With the New Gods: When Was the Last Time Fans Saw Darkseid in the DCU?
While killing off Darkseid is undeniably significant news, especially following his recent return, it’s not the first time the New God has faced death. Mainstream continuity followers will recall that Darkseid was previously killed off in the Darkseid War but was later revived in a depowered state. Most recently, Darkseid was seen inDark Crisis on Infinite Earths#7, where he returned to Apokolips at full power. Given his history of overcoming death, there remains some hope forDarkseidenthusiasts that this iconic villain might not face a permanent end in DC’s ALL IN initiative.
BATMAN #152 (2024)
Darkseid
Darkseid is a tyrannical supervillain in DC Comics, ruling the hellish planet Apokolips. He seeks the Anti-Life Equation to control all sentient life and eliminate free will across the universe. With immense strength, energy manipulation, and Omega Beams that disintegrate targets, Darkseid is a relentless foe of Superman, the Justice League, New Gods, and free people everywhere.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
