History of the New Gods

Legends (1986)

When Marv Wolfman rebooted the DC Universe in Crisis on Infinite Earths, the New Gods were largely absent because of Kirby's ongoing development of the characters. In 1986, after the Crisis, DC relaunched many of its properties. The history of the New Gods was not altered, and many characters were featured in the companion encyclopedia, Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe. The New Genesis entry in Who's Who #16 (June 1986) canonized the events of The Hunger Dogs (though they would be removed from post-Crisis continuity in New Gods v.3).

John Ostrander and John Byrne were the architects behind some crucial post-Crisis pillars, including Superman. They created Legends, which cast Darkseid as the primary villain in a plot to discredit the heroes of Earth. Darkseid unleashed two new monsters from Apokolips, Macro-Man and Brimstone. The 1986 mini-series reintroduced readers to a variety of villains from Apokolips, but more significantly led into the high profile relaunch of Justice League, by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis. Mister Miracle was a member of the new League and Oberon became one of the team's administrators.

During the Legends crossover event, Byrne seeded his Superman titles with New Gods appearances. A trilogy ran through Superman #3, Adventures of Superman #426, and Action Comics #586 (Mar. 1987), wherein Superman was blasted by Darkseid's Omega Effect and transported to Armagetto. He noticed that an asteroid belt circled Apokolips and wondered if New Genesis had been destroyed. (Superman #3) Superman was amnesiac and like Orion before him, became a hero to the Lowlies. He allied with Amazing Grace, who turned out to be the sister of Glorious Godfrey, a servant of Darkseid. (Adventures of Superman #426) Orion and Lightray (who pass the debris field of New Genesis) were sent to rescue Superman, who had been brainwashed by Grace and indoctrinated by Granny Goodness. Orion's Mother Box restored Superman, who managed to out-fly Darkseid's Omega beams and caused them to strike Darkseid himself. The villain was spent, and sent Superman back to Earth. (Action Comics #586) Note: This story arc and the New Gods's appearance in Warlord Annual #6 (1987) reference the destruction of New Genesis. Its debris is depicted in orbit around Apokolips, and the New Gods appear on the now-adrift Supertown.

That same year, Byrne penned a disturbing team-up between Superman, Big Barda, and Mister Miracle in which Barda and Superman were kidnapped by Sleez of Apokolips. (Action #592) Sleez attempted to make pornographic films with them, but even under mind control Superman's moral compass couldn't be totally overcome. They were rescued by Scott, who witnessed them kissing but chalked it up to Sleez's influence. (#593)

Darkseid returned to pit Superman against Wonder Woman in a bid to take over Mount Olympus, home of the Greek gods. (Action #600)

The Forever People v.2 (limited series, 1988)

The formal post-Crisis resurrection of the New Gods franchise began with a Forever People limited series (although Mister Miracle had already joined the Justice League and the New Gods made various other appearances ). The 1977 revivals did not include the Forever People (who were acknowledged as having been "lost") but they made no appearances.

For a thorough summary of the Forever People's fictional history, read the Forever People Profile.

Cosmic Odyssey (1988)

A year after Legends, Jim Starlin and Mike Mignola teamed to create Cosmic Odyssey, a universal epic that gathered heroes from Earth, and the most powerful New Gods from both New Genesis and Apokolips. While the story portrayed Darkseid with a bit more depth, it cast a rather dim light on Orion and Lightray.

Starlin's tale expanded upon — and altered — two fundamental parts of the New Gods mythos: Jack Kirby's origin of the New Gods, and the nature of the Anti-Life Equation. Not much had been previously written about the "Old Gods." They were mentioned in passing and generally regarded as "Asgardians." Later writers would expand upon Kirby's story, but Starlin recast the Old Gods as an evolutionarily advanced galactic society.

Their Utopian empire spanned a dozen star systems and hundreds of planets. When they encountered a non-human race, their hubris led to a great war. Over centuries this race discovered the Anti-Life Equation, and built technology to access its power. When the scientists attempted to use it, their own planet was destroyed and a dark force — the Anti-Life Entity — was unleashed. The Entity swept across the galaxy, consuming it and expanding until it unexpectedly began to contract. The force of this contraction destroyed a 200-square-light-year area of space. This was the destruction of the Old Gods. Two surviving worlds in one system evolved into New Genesis and Apokolips. They eventually learned that the Anti-Life explosion had walled them off from the rest of the universe. Only centuries later did they develop the means to travel outside of it, by combining the technologies of the Mother Box and the Boom Tube.

Metron's curiosity led him to discover the existence of this Anti-Life Entity, which he unwittingly unleashed into the universe anew. Darkseid found Metron catatonic and learned about the Entity as well. (Cosmic Odyssey #1)

Darkseid allied with Highfather who called together a task force powerful enough to stop the Entity. He sent Lonar to Earth to gather its best heroes: Superman, Batman, Martian Manhunter, Starfire, and Green Lantern (John Stewart). Darkseid explained that the Entity itself could not survive in their universe so it had sent Aspects of itself to seed destruction on four worlds: Earth, Rann, Thanagar and Xanshi. If any two of these planets were destroyed, the Milky Way galaxy would collapse. (#2)

On each planet, the Anti-Life Aspects possessed a native and built a doomsday bomb. Superman saved Thanagar but found Orion had killed scores of natives in the meantime. On Rann, the Aspect possessed native lifeform that was flammable. Starfire caused it to explode, taking the doomsday bomb out along with it. (#2-3)

On Earth, Batman outfitted Forager with a black uniform and they tracked their Aspect to Arizona, where there had been large orders of exotic equipment. Their adversary overpowered Batman, breaking bones and nearly strangling Batman to unconsciousness. He was saved by Forager, who sacrificed his own life to destroy the bomb. (#2-4)

Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter went to Xanshi, where the Aspect had taken over the weather control system. John Stewart was overconfident and sent the Manhunter "out of harm's way" while he dealt with the bomb. But the bomb had been colored yellow and he was powerless to stop the detonation. The explosion incinerated the planet Xanshi and turned its heart to anti-matter. It fell into its sun causing that to explode as well. Stewart was understandably wracked with guilt. He intended to commit suicide until the Manhunter intervened and convinced him to rise up to his responsibilities. (#2-4)

Meanwhile, Darkseid plotted to steal power directly from the Entity. He convinced Highfather that they must have a backup plan to destroy the Entity and it would require Jason Blood to reunite with Etrigan the Demon, for the added power. Darkseid connected himself to Etrigan and they traveled into the realm of the Anti-Life. (#3)

Batman secretly enlisted Doctor Fate to follow Darkseid. Fate arrived with Highfather and Orion to find Darkseid attempting to steal the Entity's power. Just then the Aspects returned and attacked them. Doctor Fate linked the five of them to harness their elemental powers together. They staggered the Entity long enough to retreat and destroy the dimension that bridged their two universes. After the heroes returned to Earth, Highfather tasked Orion with returning Forager's body to his people, as a lesson in tolerance. On Apokolips, Darkseid revealed that he now possessed a crystal containing a portion of the Anti-Life. (#4)

Kirby purists take issue with Jim Starlin's retcons. His story clearly cast the New Gods as technologically advanced aliens who resided in the same physical universe as the DC Earth. This perspective somewhat reduced their status as "gods," per se. Some consider the events of Cosmic Odyssey non-canon, but certain plot points such as John Stewart's failure, and the reunification of the Demon did become canonized in DC continuity.

Mister Miracle v.2 (1989–91) + Justice League International (1986–90)

Mister Miracle also enjoyed a surge in popularity after Crisis on Infinite Earths, thanks to his membership in the Justice League title. The character starred in a realaunch of his own series from 1989–1991. It was written by J.M. DeMatteis, who also co-wrote Justice League and relaunched the Forever People. Prior to the series premiere, Mister Miracle starred in a spectacular special by Mark Evanier and Steve Rude. Read about the events involving this character in the Mister Miracle profile.

The New Gods v.3 (1989–91)

» SEE ALSO: Publishing History: Post-Crisis

Evanier's debut issue felt a bit like that of the 1977 revival. In both Orion led a team of New Gods to Earth. His new band included Lightray, Fastbak and Jezebel (who now had white skin). Kalibak and Parademons had landed in Atlanta to install a Morrow Block, which would draw life from the planet. Orion destroyed the Block with his Astro Force and returned to New Genesis. Highfather then ordered Orion to return Forager's body to the Insect Empire, as a lesson in tolerance. (New Gods v.3 #1) Note: The Insect Empire lived on the surface of New Genesis. If The Hunger Dogs had remained in continuity, they would have perished in the planet's destruction.

With issue #2, Jim Starlin's story picked up from this (and from Odyssey) with Orion presenting Forager's corpse to the Prime One (II) and the All-Widow. He stayed for the funeral and met the new Forager (II), a female of the Insect race. Orion had always been told that the Insect race was created by Darkseid to plunder his enemy's food supplies. Orion's friend, Akarl (the brother of Lightray [revealed #9]) and his parents were killed by the Insects in retaliation for Highfather's use of insecticides. Orion's visit changed his feelings towards the Insects and he became determined to broker peace between them and the gods. (#2) Orion escorted Insect leaders to Supertown in the midst of a meeting of the Council of Five, New Genesis' ruling Elite: Highfather, Lonar, Madam Nature (security chief), Teledar (planetary science officer), and the Commander (military chief). The Commander opposed any deal. To settle the matter, the Prime One proposed a duel between Lonar and Forager. Her speed and agility was impressive but Lonar was poised to kill her, and stopped. Metron stepped in to reveal the secret about the Insects: during the wars, New Genesis had created its own mutant monsters, a hybrid god-insect, but its kind escaped. Highfather's agreed that it was time to draft a treaty. (#3)

Peace was doomed when a rebel group of Insects allied with Mantis of Apokolips. They built a nuclear missile silo on Earth, drawing Orion and Forager in to battle. (#4) Mantis' nuclear missiles were launched but Orion diverted them via Boom Tube — back at the Insects on New Genesis. Though he had just campaigned for peace, his rage was quickly directed back at the Insect rebels who helped Mantis. Forager wailed in despair; more than rebels, the bombs had destroyed the entire Insect Empire. (#5)

The six-part "Bloodline Saga" dealt with three overlapping events. Deep under Apokolips lay ruins of the former Asgard (or Third World), where the Old Gods (including Thor) shambled around like zombies called Dreggs. On New Genesis, the Commander began a campaign against Highfather's "dictatorship," seeking more power for the Council, who were elected. And Darkseid kidnapped Eve Donner, which sparked a rescue by Lightray and Orion. They found her, but Darkseid's Omega beams scattered the three of them to places unknown. (#6)

Orion appeared among the Dreggs, where a strange masked figure told him a legend of Wotan, an oracle, and Lokee, who threw the Third World into final chaos. (#7) Lightray found him there and he too saw visions: of Darkseid with his first wife, Suli; of his mother Heggra ordering Desaad to kill her after Kalibak was born; of Darkseid left mistrustful and bitter. Back in Armagetto, Orion and Lightray met a rebel band of Hunger Dogs led by Jovita. Darkseid had sent Tyrus after them with his three-headed hound, Tracker. (#8)

Recent revelations incited Orion to free his mother from Section Zero. He infiltrated a group of men who had been conscripted into Darkseid's army. (#9) Orion resisted Desaad's routine tortures and was assigned to high ranks. (#10) When Orion finally reached Section Zero and found his mother's chambers, it was anything but the reunion of his dreams. Tigra was blasé about his arrival; by this time she was too comfortable with the small amount of luxury afforded to her, even if she was a prisoner. Orion left and told his friends that he hadn't found her. The Commander's rhetoric sowed mistrust of Orion, and of Highfather's reassurances of thereof. The gods voted with their hearts and Highfather was reaffirmed by a wide majority. On Apokolips, Kalibak took long-delayed revenge for his mother's death by killing Desaad. When Darkseid discovered this, he was so angered he killed Kalibak as well (but admitted that he would probably have to resurrect them both again). (#12)

Eve Donner suffered from mood swings yet fell in love with Lightray, whose aloofness only fueled her depression. When she confronted him, he confirmed his attraction to her with a kiss. Eve was kidnapped a second time and unknowingly returned to Earth with a being called the Reflektorr. (#13) This parasite reflected one's fears and traveled like a virus (it had previously taken the form of the Dark and tormented the Forever People). (#14)

Desaad was particularly unlucky during this time; he was killed and reanimated several times by Darkseid but he never learned to tame his compulsion towards furtive schemes. Even after he was regrown from an infant clone by Darkseid's Omega power, he impersonated Darkseid on Earth for his own ends. Desaad was addicted to the suffering of others; to that end, empowered a serial killer on Earth called the Poet. (#15)

Metron and Fastbak discovered an ancient sword among the ruins of the Old Gods, and Darkseid sensed its power as well. They were forced send it to Earth where it transformed TV personality John Hedley into an Old God. Highfather reclaimed the sword while Orion fought Infernus. (#16)

A five-part story introduced Darkseid's father, Yuga Khan, supreme conqueror and first leader of Apokolips. It wasn't a crossover, per se, but it guest starred Lar Gand (aka Mon-El of the Legion of Super-Heroes and L.E.G.I.O.N.). Yuga Khan had sought the ultimate knowledge of the Source and was imprisoned alongside the Prometheans. After eons he somehow amassed enough power to free himself, sending ripples through the Fourth World. He drained Darkseid of his own powers and cut off all energies from the Source. Darkseid empowered a new assassin, Necromima who was obsessed with death and the Dreggs. (#17) She was sent after Orion's friend Victor Lanza, but Lanza died protecting his son from a gun blast. (#18)

This story arc introduced the idea that the gods literally could not kill their parents or their children (ignoring that Darkseid had recently killed Kalibak). For this reason, Darkseid needed a more creative way to destroy Yuga Khan. When Khan finally alighted on Apokolips, he snuffed out the fire pits bound Darkseid. (#19) Khan also confronted Desaad for having killed his wife Heggra on Darkseid's order. On New Genesis, the Commander mounted an attack, against Highfather's will; he and his troops were massacred by Khan. Orion was forced to ally with Darkseid, who told him that the only way to defeat Khan was to kill Darkseid. (#20) If Orion to kill Darkseid on some nonphysical plane, then this ancient truth would be broken and Darkseid could in turn slay his own father. They used the power of the Lump to leave their bodies but Orion deduced Darkseid's plan and refused to make the kill. Meanwhile Khan had grown overconfident and prepared to enter the Source once again. As before, he was imprisoned by it. (#21)

Around this time, Mister Miracle ?? and retired his membership in the Justice League. Orion and Lightray joined in his stead. (Justice League America #42)

New Gods was suffering from an identity crisis. Issue #17 proclaimed a "new era" and the next issue sported a new cover logo. Paris Cullins' was billed as the primary creator but no major changes were evident. Cullins disappeared from the series after #19, which probably accounts for the three-month publishing gap between issues #20 and #21. Mark Evanier is on record about having disagreed with his co-plotter about the direction of the book. Cullins had also been pencilling it from the beginning and the quality of the art varied dramatically.

Gentle Desdamona was once Metron's "mate." She fell in love with the scientist years earlier, but things turned sour when he bargained with Darkseid for the X Element. Because of it, Steppenwolf attacked New Genesis and several children under Desdamona's care were killed. She refused to see him again, save for the occasional chance meeting at the children's memorial. Note: Steppenwolf's attack in this story was staged during the pact between Highfather and Darkseid, which would have been cause for war. And there are other plot points (involving the acquisition of the X Element) that do not fit into the New Gods chronology. (#22)

Darkseid sent the brute Agogg after Ellis Ames, who had been diagnosed with AIDS. Ames sacrificed himself and managed to frame Agogg for his death. Darkseid was so angered that he killed Agogg. (#23)

The Forever People returned when Desaad threatened a nuclear disaster. He demanded that Beautiful Dreamer and Big Bear surrender their daughter, Maya, to him or risk the deaths of thousands. (#24) Dreamer nearly gave in until the Black Racer acquired the control codes for the nuclear reactor. (#25) During this event, Tyrus was sent after another human on Earth. At the same time, the Asgardian Thor unearthed his mystic hammer and was awakened on Apokolips. Thor's power brought enlightenment to Tyrus, who defected to New Genesis. (#26)

The final story was true to formula. Another lackey called Dispatcher was sent to collect Anne Flaherty on Earth, but she was killed by a drunk driver. Lightray became obsessed with the woman's untimely passing and asked Metron to help revive her with his "Liferock." (#27) Flaherty's soul was summoned but she resisted and collapsed into dust. (#28)