History Characters / NewGodsDarkseid

* DarkseidDuplicate: Darkseid has been a characteristic template for several galactic or overlord villains since his inception to the point where there's a trope on that. Perhaps the most famous of them is Marvel Comics' very own [[Characters/MarvelComicsThanos Thanos]]; the two even met one another during a special Marvel/DC crossover where Darkseid dismisses Thanos as a pale imitation.

* YourWorstNightmare: At some point during their final battle in ''The Great Darkness Saga'', Darkseid beats nearly all Legionnaires at once by making their worst nightmares real: Lightning Lad loses his arm again, Duplicate Girl sees her third body die again, Timber Wolf loses his humanity, Dream Girl her beauty...

[[EvilOverlord The Dread Lord of Apokolips]]. [softreturn]

* ForgotAboutHisPowers: Darkseid has a massive list of powers and his experience should place him under the SuperpowerLottery. However, the full extent of his abilities is either poorly understood or unacknowledged by most writers, which results in Darkseid usually being seen as mainly a hand-to-hand combatant, with the Omega Beams being added in for extra measure. Though ''Final Crisis'' have have tried to explain this as a way to state that those times when Darkseid was participating in combat were just avatars of his true selves, hence why they don't use any of their other powers.
* FormulaForTheUnformulable: The Anti-Life Equation is a MacGuffin in Franchise/TheDCU, normally sought out by Darkseid. What, exactly, it is varies Depending on the Writer, but it's generally a mathematical formula for complete mind-control. Somehow.

* EvilGloating: Being an unabashed good who represents tyranny and always being theatrical about his nature. This is to be expected. Case in point...

In popular culture, Darkseid hit the big time in the 1980s when the toy company, Creator/{{Kenner}}, decided he was perfect for their ''Super Powers'' action figure line as the product line's BigBad who was effectively Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine in one as a believable challenge for even Superman.

'''Both''': Ho-ho-ho-ho-[[OhCrap OH CRAP!]]

'''Both''': Do-ho-ho-ho-hoh!\\

'''Both''': Ho-ho-[[OhCrap OH CRAP!]]

* DivineConflict: As the leader of Apokolips and the God of Tyranny, he and his planet have been clashing against New Genesis ever since their inception. Despite a truce involving Highfather and Darkseid giving away each others' sons, their war restarted once Mister Miracle escaped from Darkseid's grasp

* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: The TropeCodifier. Darkseid's ultimate goal is to use the Anti-Life Equation to rob everyone in the universe of happiness and free will, turning them into nihilistic, despairful mind-slaves whose only purpose in life will be to worship him. Apokolips itself is a kind of hellish space-age Greco-Roman world where the majority of the populace exist as slaves working to build a never-ending supply of monuments to him; on the rare occasions when they rebel, Darkseid simply makes those slaves the new slavemasters and due to a lifetime of conditioning they are just as petty and cruel as their predecessors.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He rules Apokolips for this reason. He's one of the only villains who can take on Superman in a fight with the Man of Steel holding nothing back and ''no'' KryptoniteFactor weakening him and his [[GeniusBruiser incredible intelligence]] makes him even more dangerous. When he shows up, it's likely going to take an enormous effort to bring him down.

* ''VideoGame/Injustice2'': In the sequel to the above, he is PromotedToPlayable as the PreOrderBonus character. Voiced by Michael-Leon Wooley again.

* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Not him, of course, but Darkseid does invoke his trope as part of his evil plan in ''ComicBook/LegendsDCComics Legends]]''. Essentially, he sends several of his minions down to Earth to create anti-superhero sentiment in the hopes that the public will start to hate and turn on the heroes and thus take care of the heroes for him. This is ''very'' effective [[NiceJobFixingItVillain until one of the minions slaps a kid, snapping everybody out of it]].

[[Characters/SupermanTheCharacter Clark Kent/Kal/El/Superman]]\\

* LoveRedeems: This ''almost'' happened to him when he fell in love with HotScientist Suli. His [[EvilMatriarch mother Heggra]] had Desaad poison her to put an end to that. Darkseid would later [[SelfMadeOrphan return the favor]] with Desaad's aid. The only remnant of this past love is Darkseid's ''relative'' leniency with his and Suli's son Kalibak. Yeah, Darkseid will brutalize and vaporize Kalibak just like any other minion, but he'll also always bring him back to give him another chance -- eventually.

* VillainRespect: While Darkseid relationships with his sons are all negative, he admits that the most commendable one is Orion, who, ironically enough, ended up being a hero and the offspring most opposed to him. This is mainly because of all of his sons, Orion was the only one who could have proved his own merits and feats without any incompetence, which Kalibak and Grayven don't possess at all.

** In a more meta-case, while he is often considered to be, and was actually ''designed'' to be, the UltimateEvil for Franchise/TheDCU, there are a few villains who rival or even overshadow him in terms of scope, power, or influence[[note]]Which by no means makes him a pushover: All the following villains are capable of causing [[ApocalypseHow universal-scale-total-extinction-events]] ''at a minimum'', and many of them would call such as act [[ButForMeItWasTuesday "Tuesday"]][[/note]], such as the [[Characters/TheMultiversity Anti-Monitor]], [[ComicBook/BlackestNight Nekron]], [[ComicBook/OurWorldsAtWar Imperiex]], arguably [[Franchise/GreenLantern Krona]], and [[ComicBook/FinalCrisis Mandrakk]], the latter of whom played Darkseid like a fiddle without the latter even knowing about it. However, Darkseid is certainly ''one of'' the most ultimate villains for the verse.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Despite being the UltimateEvil of the [=DC=] Universe, Darkseid is shown to have ''some'' standards, such as the fact that he is disgusted by Sleez, who uses his very useful power of mind control for [[PowerPerversionPotential perverted and petty reasons]] (The most infamous instance was when he forced Big Barda and Superman to star in a porno film). Despite being a ConsummateLiar, he also admits he never lies without a purpose, even if that purpose is just petty enjoyment, and makes it clear his vision of a tyrannical universe ruled in his image is all for the sake of bringing order to a cosmos he sees as evil and chaotic.

* UltimateEvil: He claims himself as this in ''The Great Darkness Saga'', stating that he could never truly be rid of and this his presence would always remain to taunt and haunt everyone. He's also this in ''Series/{{Smallville}}''.

** However, he himself has been on the receiving end of this trope [[TheWorfEffect to show how much of a threat these villains are.]] Examples are Pre-Crisis Anti-Monitor, Doomsday, Mandrakk, Barbatos, pre-HeelFaceTurn World Forger, the Batman Who Laughs, Doctor Manhattan, Perpetua, [[spoiler: and the Great Darkness]]

* FashionVictimVillain: He's the biggest evil in the DC Universe and... his outfit consists of a simple dark indigo tunic with a small miniskirt. Not exactly the sort of outfit you'd expect for a galactic EvilOverlord. Later artists and writers have given Darkseid some clothing alterations to make him look more like a traditional evil tyrant, with [[ShouldersOfDoom large shoulder plates]] being a common addition.

* Fashion-VictimVillain: He's the biggest evil in the DC Universe and... his outfit consists of a simple dark indigo tunic with a small miniskirt. Not exactly the sort of outfit you'd expect for a galactic EvilOverlord. Later artists and writers have given Darkseid some clothing alterations to make him look more like a traditional evil tyrant, with [[ShouldersOfDoom large shoulder plates]] being a common addition.

* FashionVillainVictim: He's the biggest evil in the DC Universe and... his outfit consists of a simple dark indigo tunic with a small miniskirt. Not exactly the sort of outfit you'd expect for a galactic EvilOverlord. Later artists and writers have given Darkseid some clothing alterations to make him look more like a traditional evil tyrant, with [[ShouldersOfDoom large shoulder plates]] being a common addition.

* FashionVillainViction: He's the biggest evil in the DC Universe and... his outfit consists of a simple dark indigo tunic with a small miniskirt. Not exactly the sort of outfit you'd expect for a galactic EvilOverlord. Later artists and writers have given Darkseid some clothing alterations to make him look more like a traditional evil tyrant, with [[ShouldersOfDoom large shoulder plates]] being a common addition.

* GreaterScopeVillain: He has become eventually this to all the DC Universe.
* GroundhogDayLoop: PlayedForHorror; this is essentially what the Omega Sanction does to those who are dragged into it via a hit from an Omega Beam. One would wake up to an ideal world, but eventually come to realize something is wrong about it before misfortune continues to build up before the affected is subjected to a CruelAndUnusualDeath and the process is repeated with continuously worse results overtime.

* InformedAttribute: He's said a few times to be the DCU's ultimate villain both in-universe and out. This continued even after Superman thrashed him several times solo (most notably in ''Apokolips Now!''), with other characters like Doomsday occasionally doing the same thing, and after big threats like the Anti-Monitor, Imperiex, Brainiac 13, Superboy-Prime, Mandrakk, and Future's End Brainiac constantly upstaged him. Given that Apokolips' technology isn't that impressive compared to several other civilizations in the universe, and Darkseid's physical prowess of "nearly as strong as Superman" [[UniquenessDecay became nothing special]] in the context of the high-tiers (several characters ''in Superman's own rogues gallery'' could match or overpower him such as Doomsday, Brainiac, Mongul, Zod, and Cyborg-Superman, to say nothing of other heroes on his level like Captain Marvel)... his reputation became hard to take seriously. ''Final Crisis'' was partly dedicated to explaining away his previous defeats by putting forward the idea that the "true" Darkseid existed as a multiversal being and the Darkseid that the heroes (and readers) actually encountered was an avatar. Though this hasn't really been referenced since.

* InTheBlood: This arguably applies not just to him, but the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil entire population of Apokolips]]. Most noticeable is Orion, who without the Mother Box exhibits his father's AxCrazy nature, but not his self-control.
* InvincibleVillain: Problem with the character is that it's either Badass Decay or this trope, more commonly the latter. Even when written right, Darkseid is so powerful that most things can't even phase him, much less beat him. Read the Earth-2 series for an example of this trope in full force.

* {{Jerkass}}: As a GodOfEvil, being personally abrasive and unpleasant in any given social situation is just proper attention to detail in spreading as much misery as possible, and he happily obliges.

* FasterThanTheyLook: Darkseid usually gives out the impression of being a Mighty glacier, being lax with his combat stance and not putting much effort in his speed. In reality, he's [[LightningBruiser ridiculously fast and reflexive]]; he deliberately half-asses his effort because he's aware that he's too powerful to be fought back by most enemies he comes across, hence his supposedly slow fighting style.

* TheParanoiac: Shows many signs of a paranoiac {{Sadist}}. Though always a total bastard, Darkseid became insanely mistrustful and paranoid after his mother Heggra, who had manipulated and controlled him his entire life, murdered the only woman he ever loved via Darkseid's own underling Desaad, with Darkseid responding by ordering Desaad to murder Heggra back, and then treating him and every other underling with even more cruelty and mistrust than before. Questioning Darkseid is an instant death-sentence, and his ultimate ambition is to control all life everywhere and eradicate TheEvilsOfFreeWill including love, happiness and hope, turning it into a bleak, miserable dystopia where everyone suffers and worships him as God. He fits six of the seven criteria; the only thing he misses out on is ConspiracyTheorist, and that because everyone on Apokolips ''is'' conspiring against him, but most are [[TheDreaded far too terrified]] to actually ''try'' anything, so he rarely takes such plots seriously.

* SoProudOfYou: He has this opinion towards Orion, which is surprising as not only do they fight to the death anytime they meet, but that Orion despises Darkseid just as much as Superman does. Despite having no compunctions on killing his son, Darkseid credits Orion for being accomplished and strong as well as earning those merits through his own work and commitment, which is the reason why he sees Orion as his favourite son in spite of his opposition.

* FromNobodyToNightmare: ''Comicbook/ForeverEvil2013'' reveals his new origin in the Comicbook/{{New 52}}. [[spoiler:Many millennia ago, Uxas was an ordinary mudfarmer, who put the Old Gods against each other, and when they were weakened by their war he took the opportunity to kill them and take their power for himself. Izaya was married to Darkseid's sister, who got critically hurt during the Old Gods war with each other and he begged his god to save her. Due to Izaya still having faith, The Lord of The Sky passes on one final blessing to him. Since then, Izaya was the Highfather and him and Darkseid were the ComicBook/NewGods.]]

* InadequateInheritor: He doesn't seem to think ''any'' of his lieutenants are worthy of ruling his empire once he's gone - especially not his son, Kalibak.

* TakingYouWithMe: Willing to do this to ''all of reality'' after being mortally wounded in ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis''.

* Bookends: Specifically for the ''ComicBook/New52''. Darkseid is the first villain fought by the Justice League and one of the very last by ''ComicBook/DarkseidWar'' before the DC Universe is rebooted again with ''ComicBook/DCRebirth''.

* AmbitionIsEvi: Darkseid is ''dedicated'' to finding the Anti-Life Equation and he has never stopped in his search. Considering the number of years he's spent fighting New Genesis and the superheroes of Earth, Darkseid has affirmed that he will retrieve the equation, no matter how long it takes or how hard it is, believing that succeeding in doing so would give him the decisive victory he needs against his opposition and becoming the ultimate source of authority in the multiverse.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Darkseid is willing to make alliances with friends or foes if there is something mutual to accomplish and is just as willing to throw their temporary alliance off the bridge once it serves his purpose. Of course, Darkseid plays it rather carefully, using ExactWords partly to deceive whoever he works with and partly to insult and troll them once the betrayal is unveiled. Heck, Darkseid is so familiar with this trope that he's aware of being in the receiving end of it by Desaad countless times, but considers the attempt beneath him as he's aware that Desaad is too weak and spineless to really carry out such betrayal.

* StrawNihilist: When your ultimate goal is to essentially eradicate free will and individuality from every living being because you legitimately believe it to be a bad thing, this is your perspective on life in a nutshell. Darkseid is a misanthropic nihilist and is utterly shameless about it to the point where he would do whatever he can to shove his philosophy onto others as his way of spiting others and to prove his point.

* TooPowerfulToLive: Finally crossed the line in ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis''.

* TubeTravel: Boom Tubes are a creation of the New Gods that are shaped like, well, tubes. This is Darkseid's preferred way of travelling, casually creating Boom Tubes if he wants to exitApokolips and enter another world.
* UltimateEvil: On ''Series/{{Smallville}}''.

** When Franchise/{{Batman}} forced Darkseid to release ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} by threatening to blow up Apokolips (and proving to Darkseid that he wasn't bluffing), Darkseid didn't take it very well. He vented his frustration by beating the crap out of Batman (who only survived thanks to a Mother Box) before giving into Batman's terms.
** Darkseid had an even bigger one during the ''ComicBook/OurWorldsAtWar'' event, in ''Wonder Woman'' Vol. 2 #173, after Franchise/WonderWoman and ComicBook/{{Raven}} restored his powers, and did it in such a way that a bit of Wonder Woman's inherent love and compassion found its way into Darkseid's soul. Darkseid could only stand still, [[StunnedSilence shocked to silence]], when he realized that Franchise/WonderWoman had hurt him in the worst way possible.

* VillainRespect: While Darkseid relationships with his sons are all negative, he admits that the most commendable one is Orion, who, ironically enough, ended up being a hero and the offspring most opposed to him. This is mainly because of all of his sons, Orion was the only one who could have proved his own merits and feats without any incompetence, which Kalibak and Grayven don't possess at all.
* VillainTeamUp: Few that aren't subordinate to him try like Brainiac but it ends poorly.

* PlanetBaron: He has ultimate authority over Apokolips and governs it with as much savagery and brutality as he could, ensuring that the planet maintains it's nature as DC's planetary version of {{Hell}}.

** There are very few methods he won't resort to to conquer or destroy the universe. TimeTravel, however, is one of them. There are simply too many ways it can go wrong to justify its use.
** His disgust of Desaad isn't because EvenEvilHasStandards. It's because Desaad is a petty sadist while Darkseid has far grander goals in mind. He thinks Sleez is a moron because he once mind-controlled Superman yet the best he could come up with was making him star in a porno.