As DC’s New God of Evil and Tyranny, it’s shocking that Darkseid would admire any of the Justice League‘s heroes, but there is one member of the team he’s admitted to seeing in a positive light in the past. Of course, a compliment from the most evil being in creation is nothing to be proud of, and this admiration eventually had twisted consequences that no-one saw coming.
Darkseid is the ruler of Apokolips, and one of the most powerful beings in the universe. Not only is he incredibly powerful, but he is as vicious, cruel, and cunning as any threat the Justice League has ever faced. Over the years, he has faced the League many times in the course of his quest to conquer Earth and gain his ultimate goal, the Anti-Life Equation. In a way this makes the multiversal entity of pure evil the most qualified to judge the strengths and weaknesses of each member of the team. Darkseid even joined the Justice League for a brief time during the Justice League Odyssey storyline, and he has fought each of the League’s most powerful members on several occasions, most notably Superman and Wonder Woman, who he has battled to a draw on several occasions. Fights between Darkseid and the Man of Steel are particularly known for coming down to the wire and testing Clark’s limits and yet despite the unstoppable power of members like Superman, Wonder Woman and others, power isn’t the deciding factor in winning Darkseid’s acclaim.
As revealed in Superman/Batman #12, by Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner, the hero that Darkseid admires is none other than Batman. In the issue Darkseid has brainwashed Supergirl, and Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Dark Knight are on Apokolips to rescue her. Though both the Last of Krypton and the Princess of Themyscira each have the strength and will to fight, it’s Batman who ultimately succeeds in forcing Darkseid to release his control over Kara Zor-El. The Caped Crusader arms hellspore bombs – which are capable of destroying Apokolips – and threatens to use them unless the Dark God surrenders Supergirl and promises not to try and reclaim her. After beating Batman into a wall, Darkseid finally relents and admits his admiration for Bruce Wayne, “Had the Kryptonian or the Amazon taken this gamble, they would have lost. … But you. A human. You kill your own kind to win battles. It is… an admirable quality.”
Darkseid Respects Batman’s Ruthlessness
It’s a very telling statement by Darkseid, who respects Batman’s willingness to sacrifice others for his aims more than Superman or Wonder Woman’s raw power. He also suggests this is a trait particular to humanity, suggesting a kinship between the god of evil and the human race. It’s a dark insult that Darkseid calls Batman admirable, and it led to a horrific consequence when – during his Final Crisis takeover of reality – Darkseid attempted to grow his own clone army of Batmen to do his bidding. Thankfully, when Darkseid’s minions attempted to give him an army of the one human he respects, they were unsuccessful, as the clones couldn’t cope with gaining all Batman’s memories at once. However, Batman’s allies still had to face at least one clone with his abilities after his seeming death.
Batman is the hero who will do what others won’t, and while that has saved the Earth – and the rest of the Justice League – countless times, it turns out it’s also a quality that Darkseid admires him for – perhaps the worst insult that’s ever been handed to Gotham’s Dark Knight, casting doubt on the very nature of his heroism.
