One of the most dangerous powers in the DC Universe is Darkseid’s Omega Effect, which has decimated countless people across the universe. While the origins of this power have been explored in continuity, one universe suggested he gains his power from the exact same place Superman does.
After being freed from a prison in Super Powers #2 by Paul Kupperberg and Carmine Infantino, Darkseid is betrayed by his normally close ally DeSaad. When two mercenaries decide to capture Darkseid for a ransom, they’re only able to bring him down due to DeSaad revealing the source of Darkseid’s power.
While the Omega Effect is usually derived as an anti-version of the Source, in this universe, Darkseid derives his powers from the sun, just like Superman does. After this almost throwaway moment, Darkseid is quickly defeated by Mr. Freeze, who uses his freeze gun to reduce Darkseid’s core temperature and remove all of his powers — a move shockingly similar to what villains in the past, like Killer Frost, have done to Superman.
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In One Universe, Darkseid’s Iconic Omega Effect Comes from the Sun
Super Powers #2 by Paul Kupperberg, Carmine Infantino, Pablo Marcos, Albert T. De Guzman, and Joe Orlando
Originally, Darkseid’s Omega Effect came from the Omega Force, a primal source of energy. Darkseid’s brother, Drax, was set to absorb it, but Darkseid betrayed and killed him, taking the Omega Effect for himself and functioning as a tyrant ever since. This series of events is the usual origin of the Omega Effect, and DC hasn’t explored the origins of Darkseid’s most powerful ability in true depth since. This power is simply something he has that makes him dangerous. But if, like Superman, Darkseid derived his powers from the sun, he could be far more dangerous.
Superman’s biology is affected by solar radiation. Under a red sun, he’s nearly identical to a human being. Under a yellow sun — like Earth’s — Superman is pretty powerful, but under a blue sun, Superman’s power reaches truly absurd levels. If Darkseid derives his power from the sun just like Superman, then it’s reasonable to assume that he has similar weaknesses and strengths. This assumption means that if Darkseid were put under a blue sun, he would become far more powerful than he already is. Considering the strength of his baseline, this idea of Darkseid under a blue sun is pretty terrifying.
Both Superman and Darkseid Are Powered by the Sun
While the Super Powers version of Darkseid is explicitly outside DC’s main universe, a core facet of New Gods lore is that they exist in all universes in some capacity. The Omega Effect already has a pretty clear origin, but if Darkseid ever did find himself drawing power from the sun, it’s likely he’d become significantly stronger than he already is. Superman has always gotten major powers from “sun dipping” or being under a blue sun, and it’s possible that Darkseid could receive the same kind of unbelievable upgrades.
Super Powers #2 is available now from DC Comics.
