Villains don't get nastier than Darkseid, the cold and malevolent master of Apokolips. Jack Kirby knew he was creating a superpower to dealt with when he concocted this master manipulator. Darkseid's goals are so much more insidious than his agents that the menace he embodies becomes ever increasing as the Fourth World books unfolded. He never seems under threat, or would admit to same, and he has a profound sense of superiority to his opponents, though he'd not be dumb enough to underestimate them if he could avoid it.
Most comic book villains are flawed by their very nature and you can see how they can be defeated ultimately. I never grokked how Darkseid was going to be stopped...ever.
Above are three more of Jack Kirby's most evil characters. Maximus, Loki, and Doctor Doom -- a gallery of fiends if ever there was one. These portraits capture the cold cruel essence of each. The grim confidence of Darkseid, the gleam of madness of Maximus, the leer of command of Loki, and the bored but deadly ennui of Doom all send a shiver. But Darkseid is the ultimate in evil.
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In Norse mythology Loki is the god of mischief - he's devious and a troublemaker but he's not evil.
ReplyDeleteI always loved those Kirby splash pages. I especially remember the Maximus one from Marvel UK's Mighty World Of Marvel comic in 1976.
Loki's pretty evil in the early issues of Thor under Kirby. I do rather like how they've given the character some twists since moving him to the TV screen. He's simply not to be trusted in any way.
DeleteOne thing most later depictions of Darkseid miss is his consummate ability as a master planner. Kirby always emphasized that aspect, but too often later authors show him being outmaneuvered too easily. It didn't help that some raconteurs upped Darkseid's physical power so that he could go toe to toe with Superman. I don't think Kirby ever implied that Darkseid was that powerful, though we might have seen some evidence of his combat power had JK gone with his original idea of having Orion and Darkseid contend in Armagetto. The eighties HUNGER DOGS seems to have renounced that original concept for a different one.
ReplyDeleteExactly. They make him into a powerhouse because that's easier to write I think. Kirby's Darkseid avoided personal battle and got others to do his dirty work. He stood back, despite having the Omega power. He was a schemer.
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