Darkseid’s Killer New Costume Debuts Ahead of His Massive Justice League Battle

Darkseid is. Not only that, but he’s back like never before. As DC rolls out its Absolute Universe, it seems like Darkseid is going to have more of an impact than just as a Justice League space villain. In a recent glimpse of what’s to come, Darkseid has taken a new form that cements him as the greatest foe in DC history.

As part of DC’s All In initiative, fans will get to see two distinct versions of the Justice League with parallel stories entirely their own. But there’s only one Darkseid – and it seems he’s given himself a new edge to win this time around. Darkseid debuts a new costume in unlettered preview pages by Daniel Sampere and Alejandro Sánchez for DC All In Special #1 by Joshua Williamson, Scott Snyder, Sampere, Sánches, Wes Craig, and Mike Spicer.

With his classic Omega sign as the symbol for his Anti-Life and his glowing red eyes that shoot Omega beams, Darkseid has also added a new flair. He comes like the Grim Reaper with a hood and a cape, but instead of a reaper’s scythe, he’s traded his whole arm for a gigantic ax.

Darkseid Is the Justice League’s Reaper

The Justice League Fights Against a New Version of Darkseid

Created by the legendary writer/artist Jack Kirby, Darkseid really hasn’t had too many makeovers. In a world of shifting timelines, Darkseid has essentially remained the same, even in parallel universes. With crackling gray skin and glowing red eyes, he’s like a zombified dictator of death – and this new costume and weapon only increase his Reaper look.

Darkseid is set on breaking the entire DC Universe this time. He’s tried to destroy the world many times before, nearly succeeding in crises like Final Crisis and even as a “minion” in Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths – but it seems he’s had enough of failure. He’s donned a new costume that is the perfect culmination of his foreboding presence, and his ax arm is one of the coolest changes to his character, especially considering he chopped off his own arm himself, as revealed in further unlettered preview pages by Wes Craig and Mike Spicer.

Darkseid Finalizes His Anti-Life Evolution

Darkseid Cuts Off His Own Arm in Panels by Wes Craig and Mike Spicer

Darkseid seems to already feel the tide turning. He likely knows that his death is imminent. His new appearance isn’t just the next step in the evolution of Darkseid’s quest for Anti-Life, it’s showing the future of Darkseid. Even the Reaper must die, as DC has now teased they are killing off Darkseid in the next big event ahead of the debut of the new Justice League title, Justice League Unlimited by Mark Waid and Dan Mora. Anti-Life has never had more symbolism than now, as Darkseid chops off his arm to lose a bit of himself before losing all of himself.

Darkseid is becoming the weapon of death he was always intended to be. But he will leave behind an abyssal vacuum when he dies, and who his replacement is slated to be has not been confirmed by DC yet. For now, fans can enjoy Darkseid at his biggest and baddest ever, as this Grim Reaper comes to chop away the Justice League from history.

DC All In Special #1 is available October 2nd from DC Comics!