DeSaad

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox comics character DeSaad (also spelled Desaad) is a supervillain, appearing in books published by DC Comics. He is one of the followers of Darkseid from the planet Apokolips in Jack Kirby's Fourth World meta-series.<ref name="dc-ency">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>

As DeSaad serves as Darkseid's master torturer, his name refers to the Marquis de Sade. At one point, DeSaad had an assistant named Justeen, a reference to de Sade's novel Justine, although she bore little resemblance to the title character.

Steve Byers portrays DeSaad in the television series Smallville. The character made his cinematic debut in Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), portrayed through voice and motion capture by Peter Guinness.

Publication history

DeSaad first appeared in Forever People #2 (April/May 1971) and was created by Jack Kirby.<ref name="Guide">Template:Cite book</ref>

Fictional character biography

File:Youngdesaad.PNG
Darkseid with a young DeSaad, art by Colleen Doran.

DeSaad was originally a New God from New Genesis who was manipulated by Darkseid, leader of Apokolips. Darkseid tricked DeSaad into believing that his cat had killed his other pet, a bird. Goading the boy to avenge the bird, Darkseid manipulates the youth into burying the cat alive. The bird returns, having flown off; in a rage, DeSaad kills the bird and leaves New Genesis to become Darkseid's lackey.<ref>Eclipso #10 (August 1993)</ref>

DeSaad is seemingly killed during an attempt by Darkseid to penetrate the Source. He is subsequently found to have "bonded" with Orion, causing the latter to become cruel and manipulative. The two are later separated. While missing, DeSaad's second-in-command, Justeen, plots to overthrow him and become closer to her beloved Darkseid.<ref>Orion #1 (June 2000)</ref>

In Countdown to Final Crisis, DeSaad captures and tortures Martin Stein, attempting to take the power of Firestorm for himself. When Jason Rusch arrives to rescue Stein, DeSaad hijacks the Firestorm matrix and takes control of it.<ref>Countdown to Final Crisis #25 (November 2007)</ref> He is defeated and separated from the Firestorm matrix by Atomic Knight, but flees before he can be captured.<ref>Countdown to Final Crisis #24 (November 2007)</ref> After disrupting a battle between Darkseid and Mary Marvel, DeSaad gives Darkseid a compound that was unsuccessfully used to access the Anti-Life Equation. DeSaad is then released from Darkseid's service, but he has transported the Pied Piper to Apokolips as Brother Eye arrives. DeSaad claims the Piper can channel the Anti-Life Equation and control the planet. Before the Piper can do so, Brother Eye finishes assimilating Apokolips. After recovering, DeSaad confesses to masterminding the Trickster and the Piper's ordeal.

In Salvation Run, DeSaad oversees the training of the New Gods of Apokolips on a planet where Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad had dumped the exiled villains. When he discovers them on this planet, he arranges for the Parademons to eliminate the least powerful villains so that he can train the stronger ones for an unknown goal. Ultimately, the villains escape back to Earth.<ref>Salvation Run #1-7 (November 2007 – June 2008)</ref>

Following Death of the New Gods, many of the fallen Apokoliptian gods had taken on human forms. DeSaad, posing as Doctor Bud Fogel, raises the public against Lex Luthor's Everyman experiments, eventually trapping and capturing Infinity, Inc. DeSaad makes further appearances in the series Terror Titans, where he conditions the Infinitors to fight in the Dark Side Club's metahuman tournament. After the brainwashed superhumans break free of the Anti-Life Equation, DeSaad is electrocuted and captured by Static.

The New 52

DeSaad is reintroduced following The New 52 relaunch, which rebooted the continuity of the DC Comics universe. During Darkseid's first incursion on Earth, DeSaad appears in Apokolips discussing with Steppenwolf about cloning the DNA of a captured and tortured Superman to create a new race of Parademon.<ref>Justice League (vol. 2) #6 (April 2012)</ref> Five years later, he impersonates Michael Holt, attempting to capture Power Girl.<ref>Worlds' Finest #11 (June 2013)</ref>

Powers and abilities

As a New God, DeSaad is nigh-immortal, being long-lived and immune to diseases and toxins. DeSaad is a brilliant inventor of weapons and a master of torture. DeSaad has created many torture machines and devices.

In The New 52, DeSaad is strong and resistant enough to lift several tons easily and face powerful beings like Power Girl. In addition, he has a high level of invulnerability and is functionally immortal. DeSaad's powers include telepathy, absorption and control of emotions. DeSaad is able to enter people's minds to manipulate their emotions and feed on their worst feelings; even without manipulating them, he becomes more powerful. He has demonstrated the ability to create illusions either in its real form or in the form of other people. Another of his powers is the absorption of energy; he can feed on different types of energy and even manipulate it.

Other versions

  • An alternate universe variant of DeSaad makes a cameo appearance in JLA: The Nail #1.<ref>Justice League: The Nail #1 (August 1998)</ref>
  • An elderly DeSaad appears in Kingdom Come as a servant of Orion.<ref>Kingdom Come #2 (June 1996)</ref>
  • L'ok D'saad, a fusion of DeSaad and Marvel Comics character Loki, appears in the Amalgam Comics one-shot Thorion of the New Asgods.<ref>Thorion of the New Asgods one-shot (June 1997)</ref>

In other media

Television

Film

File:DeSaad, Zack Snyder's Justice League, May 2021.jpg
DeSaad as depicted in Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Video games

Merchandise

References

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Template:New Gods Template:Darkseid Template:Earth-Two Template:Infinity Inc. Template:Superfriends series Template:Jack Kirby

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