When it comes to famous comic book villains, there are few that reach the heights of DC’sDarkseidand Marvel’sThanos. These two characters are constantly compared to one another for being cosmic-level villains who often seek control over or the destruction of the universe. But DC has just permanently ended any possible comparisons between the two by making Darkseid aGalactus-level villain.
As DC prepares to reveal theAbsolute Universe to excited fans- as well as the beginning of the DC All In initiative, which will revitalize the main continuity - the publisher has been drip-feeding information leading up to the release ofDC All In Special#1. ScreenRant recently attended a DC roundtable where key writer Scott Snyder revealed thatDarkseid is not only back and stronger than ever, but he’s been boosted to an entirely new level as a Galactus-level threat.This new power increase comes from Darkseid’s desire to now be the end of all things:
Now that the Multiverse is locked away, he has the opportunity to gather all those into himself, and become something almost like a Darkseid Prime, or kind of a huge Darkseid Omega, a Galactus-level villain.
While Darkseid has been seeking control over the universe for decades, it seems that he’s changing his goals and instead becoming an avatar of destruction. Wanting to destroy every universe in the multiverse,Darkseid has become far more than Thanos ever was, instead becoming much closer to a Galactus type of villain. With a new power boost to Darkseid’s Omega Beams and his desire to end the legacy of heroes, Darkseid’s destructive power has reached a cosmic level that only Galactus could match.
Darkseid Is Officially Declared a Galactus-Level Threat
DC All In Special#1 by Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Wes Craig, Daniel Sampere, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, Mike Spicer, and Alejandro Sánchez
Thanos is one of the biggest villainsin the Marvel Universe and has increased in popularity thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which built him up as a villain over the course of a decade. Many fans might think that Darkseid and Thanos are pretty similar, but the truth is a bit more complicated. While Thanos may be more popular in the minds of the public now,Darkseid was actually the original character, with Thanos being based on him. Their levels of power are also completely incomparable. While Thanos is definitely strong, it’s hard to compete with Darkseid, who is much more comparable to Galactus, especially now.
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When it comes to cosmic beings in the Marvel Universe, one of the most powerful of all is Galactus.Galactus is a being who wields the Power Cosmic, allowing him to do essentially whatever he wants. He travels around the universe using his cosmic power to consume planets, completely destroying them. It’s a level of power thatThanos simply doesn’t have without the Infinity Gauntlet.It makes Galactus an extremely fearsome character, and according to Snyder, Darkseid is now on that level.
Darkseid Is Reaching a New Level of Power in the Revamped DC Universe
Thanos Just Can’t Compare Anymore
Darkseid was always stronger than Thanos, with his impressive New God physiology and his control over the Omega Effect. Even with the Infinity Stones, it would be a challenge for Thanos to defeat Darkseid. With the Multiverse being locked away, Darkseid has come to realize that he can grow even more powerful by absorbing the aspects of himself across the multiverse, as revelaed by Snyder:
But instead, in this moment when the Multiverse has kind of broken away in Absolute Power, he discovers that he has a role in the universe to end everything.
This will transform him into a Darkseid Prime, making him a truly multiversal villain, which he’s never been before in his long history.
Darkseid becomes a villain capable of destroying entire universes.
WhenDarkseid first appeared, a creation of comics legend Jack Kirby, he was much more a schemer type of character. He preferred to avoid direct combat when possible, even preferring to use trickery to defeat his son Orion. Over the years, as Darkseid started to interact more with Superman and the Justice League, DC decided to buff up his physical power.
Years after his original Fourth World appearances, Darkseid became significantly stronger andbegan using his Omega Beams more liberally. Now it seems that DC is taking that strength to its absolute conclusion as Darkseid becomes a villain capable of destroying entire universes as he realizes that his role in the Multiverse is to be the one who ends everything.
Panels fromBatman#152 by Chip Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne, Adriano Di Benedetto, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Clayton Cowles
WithDarkseid and Thanos both occupyingsimilar spaces in DC and Marvel’s cosmic hierarchy, it’sunlikely that the comparisons between the two will end anytime soon, even as Darkseid embraces a new role within DC, both in the main continuity - which will continue in DC’s regularly published line as part of the DC All In initiative - and in the Absolute Universe. Darkseid will surely also play a role inThe New Godsby Ram V and Evan Cagle, a new Fourth World title launching as part of All In this December.
But with Darkseid’s new power increase, that Thanos comparison isn’t really accurate anymore. Instead of comparing the Mad TitanThanosto the New GodDarkseid,this new power boost shows thatGalactusis the true Marvel equal to the God of Anti-Life.
DC All In Special#1is available October 2nd, 2024 from DC Comics!
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.
Galactus
Thanos
Hailing from the planet Titan, Thanos is a primary antagonist throughout the canon of Marvel Comics. First appearing in The Invincible Iron Man, Thanos is a powerful and calculating warlord primarily concerned with earning the affection of Death herself. In many of his tales, Thanos seeks to gather the six infinity stones in order to lay waste to half of all life in the universe.
