Darkseid’s Back, and He’s Breaking the Entire DC Universe

Darkseid is finally making his long-awaited and highly anticipated return to the DC Universe, playing a major role in the comic publisher’s new initiative launch, ALL IN. Not only will Darkseid return as DC’s biggest and baddest villain, but he will also be responsible for the creation of the Absolute Universe, DC’s answer to Marvel’s Ultimate Universe–and it’s arguably the best thing to happen to comics in years.

Releasing on October 2, 2024, DC All-In Special #1 will bring together all-star creators Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Wes Craig, and Daniel Sampere to kick off DC’s newest initiative, ALL IN, which will define future stories for years to come.

DC ALL-IN SPECIAL #1 (2024)
Release Date:	October 2, 2024
Writers:	Scott Snyder & Joshua Williamson
Artists:	Wes Craig & Daniel Sampere
Cover Artist:	Daniel Sampere & Alejandro Sánchez
Variant Covers:	Wes Craig & Rafa Sandoval
Following the events of Absolute Power, the heroes of the core DC Universe have fought against the deep divisions in the world around them to usher in a new era of unity. And it’s just in time, too—because Darkseid has returned! Superman gathers every DC Super Hero on Earth to hold the line against a vastly different version of the Lord of Apokolips as they raise our cosmic defenses and prepare for war. And when the first blows land, the shock waves will ripple across DC’s core series, shaking the nature of their realities to their very foundation! But a greater threat looms on the horizon in the Absolute Universe. Here, DC’s biggest icons come of age with fewer advantages while facing greater opposition than ever before and retaining the immutable heroism that continues to inspire and entertain fans. But can they really protect the light that shines inside them when the world in which they live is hurtling toward a terrible destiny?

The special will be in flipbook form, with one side focusing on the current DC Universe post-Absolute Power, primarily from Superman’s perspective, with Sampere leading the art. Conversely, the other side will feature art from Wes Craig and be from Darkseid’s point of view, reintroducing him as the greatest villain of the DC Universe. This information, and more, comes from a Snyder and Williamson-led announcement on YouTube.

Darkseid Returns for DC’s ALL IN Initiative This October in a MAJOR Way

Cover B Wes Craig Wraparound Card Stock Variant for DC All-In Special #1

Snyder teases that a game-changing moment in DC’s ongoing crisis event, Absolute Power, will have Darkseid sensing that something has “changed” and is “missing.” While Snyder didn’t provide details on what this “something” could be to avoid spoilers, he revealed that it sets Darkseid on a quest that brings him into contact with Superman’s new and more robust Justice League. The collision between these two forces will reshape the DC cosmology as fans know it. One outcome of this collision is the creation of a dangerous new universe—the Absolute Universe—which will feature wilder, more chaotic, and dangerous versions of fan-favorite characters.

As Snyder explains, the ALL IN initiative will feature two worlds: the current DC Universe and the to-be-formed Absolute Universe. These two planets will be part of one big metaverse. Fans can think of the Absolute Universe as the equivalent of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe. The DC Universe and the Absolute Universe will contrast in that the DCU, as it has been since Doomsday Clock, is based on “Superman Energy,” while the AU is founded on “Doomsday Energy.” In other words, the Absolute Universe is wilder, more chaotic, and dangerous because it is based on Darkseid’s power.

Related

ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN’s New Tattoo Redesign Is the Freshest Take on Diana in Decades

DC has finally unveiled their much-anticipated ABSOLUTE Wonder Woman redesign, set to debut this October as part of their upcoming ALL IN initiative.

When Was Darkseid Last Seen in Mainstream Continuity Comics?

Panel from Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7

Thanks to Snyder, fans know they will get a glimpse of Darkseid in Absolute Power, likely towards the end of the crisis event. However, it has been some time since fans last saw the new god. As most mainstream continuity followers will remember, Darkseid died in Darkseid War but was later revived in a depowered state. He was featured in both Justice League Odyssey and Justice League Incarnate, with the latter debuting his “True Form.” He was last seen in Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, where he returned to Apokolips at full power. ALL IN will, therefore, feature a fully charged Darkseid who has had plenty of time to plot and plan.

DC All-In Special #1 will be released on October 2, 2024, from DC Comics!

Source: DC Comics