Absolute Darkseid is Here - And He Puts a Dark Spin on a Classic Marvel Concept

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Darkseid from the live-action Justic League

DC Comics' Absolute Darkseid has finally been unveiled, and he is bigger than any comic book hero could possibly imagine.

While investigating yet another harrowing mystery in the pages of Absolute Martian Manhunter #5 (by Deniz Camp, Javier Rodríguez, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou), FBI Agent John Jones is struck by an ambulance and slammed into a brick wall. Rather than any accident, however, this is a direct attack being carried out against him. Worse still, John's Martian partner is busy investigating an entirely different mystery elsewhere, and what they find appears to be none other than Darkseid himself in the midst of manipulating their entire reality as if it were a mere child's toy.

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Darkseid Returns in Absolute Martian Manhunter #5

Written by DENIZ CAMP
Art by JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ
Letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU
Main cover art by JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ
Variant covers by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA; LEE GARBETT; RILY ROSSMO; and DUSTIN NGUYEN

Created by the legendary Jack Kirby, the near-immortal ruler of Apokalips known as Darkseid made his first full comic book appearance in the pages of 1971's Forever People #1, which set the stage for many of Kirby's greatest creations to become a part of the wider DC mythos for themselves. In the decades since, Darkseid has been at the heart of numerous major comic book storylines, as well as several major crossover events. While Darkseid's one true mission in life was once his desperate search for the fabled Anti-Life Equation, more recent years have seen the villain take on a different kind of calling as part of the Absolute Universe itself.

It was back in 2024's DC All In Special #1 when Darkseid forcibly bonded himself to the Spectre and launched a direct attack on the then-newly christened Justice League Unlimited Watchtower. In a shocking display of strength, a mystically empowered Superman took it upon himself to seemingly destroy Darkseid entirely. Instead of being obliterated, however, Darkseid's consciousness was untethered from the bounds of the DC Universe, which allowed him to access the previously unreachable Elseworld and merge with the very fabric of its reality, transforming it into the bleak and dreary Absolute Universe fans know today. With the latest vision of Darkseid, readers can begin drawing parallels between the character's current state and Marvel Comics' own Eternity, who stands as the living embodiment of the Marvel Universe in and of itself.

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While Absolute Martian Manhunter #5 has offered fans what might be the biggest development in the Absolute Universe's history so far, readers will have to wait to see the next harrowing chapter of John Jones and the Martian's story play out. Back in late June, Absolute Martian Manhunter writer Deniz Camp shared a post to social media explaining that the series' creative team would be taking a two-month hiatus. Camp wrote that the decision was made "so that the creative team and quality can stay consistent," and promised readers they will "be back after the two month break with another 6 issue arc!"

Absolute Martian Manhunter #5 is available now from DC Comics.

Source: DC Comics