Summary

• Darkseid saved the Justice League after they were defeated in 1986's Super Powers #3.
• Darkseid manipulated superheroes to help him regain power on Apokolips.
• Darkseid's power lies in his strategic mind, not just his brute strength.

Justice League more times than anyone can count, but when the Justice League was finally beaten, Darkseid came to their rescue. While he had ulterior motives, it doesn't change the fact that when the Justice League was down, Darkseid was the one who saved them.

Darkseid had just been banished from Apokolips, wandering powerless on Earth with no way home in 1986's Super Powers #3 by Paul Kupperberg and Carmine Infantino. Eventually, Darkseid regained his power but still had no way home. With no other option, he created a team of powerful villains, each specialized for one member of the Justice League, then unleashed them in a surprise attack.

The Justice League was quickly overwhelmed and defeated, and just went hope seemed lost, a brand-new hero called Janus appeared and defeated the evil villains with ease. Naturally, this earned the Justice League's trust — which is exactly what Darkseid planned for.

Darkseid Becomes the Justice League's Savior After Their Massive Defeat

Super Powers #3 (1986) by Paul Kupperberg, Carmine Infantino, Pablo Marcos, Albert De Guzman, and Joe Orlando

While usually known as the ruler of Apokolips, in this series, Darkseid was overthrown by a rebellion led by his son Orion. Darkseid was also stripped of his power and had to rely on his intelligence to have any chance of reclaiming his throne. This banishment resulted in Darkseid hatching his plan to manipulate the Justice League into bringing him to Apokolips. There's no doubt that Darkseid would rather let the Justice League be obliterated, but the destruction of his greatest foes simply didn't serve his goal in this situation. The most shocking thing about Darkseid's plan, though, is that it ultimately worked.

Created by industry legend Jack Kirby as part of his expansive Fourth World saga, Darkseid first appeared in 1970's Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134.

The Super Powers series was created to introduce non-comic readers to specific characters and was loosely based on the 1973 Super Friends cartoon series. The final issue ends with Janus becoming the advisor to Orion, promising to help him rebuild Apokolips. Naturally, Janus' true goal is to overthrow Orion the first chance he gets and resume control of the planet. The following issue see Orion, "Janus," and the Justice League return to Apokolips, where a great battle ensues for the fate of DC's most notorious planet.

Darkseid is the manifestation of tyranny, and the terrifying secret of tyranny is that it doesn't always win through force — sometimes people give themselves to it willingly

Darkseid's Power Means He Would Make the Perfect Superhero

Darkseid's Brilliant Strategic Mind Could Be a Force for Good

While DC loves to portray Darkseid as more powerful than the Justice League, his original strengths were never pure brute force and power. What made Darkseid dangerous in his early days was his ability to scheme and manipulate people. Darkseid is the manifestation of tyranny, and the terrifying secret of tyranny is that it doesn't always win through force — sometimes people give themselves to it willingly. That's why Darkseid saved the Justice League: because they then willingly brought him to Apokolips as he planned to bring the planet back under his tyrannical rule.

Super Power #3 (1986) is available now from DC Comics!