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DeSaad
DeSaad
	DeSaad as depicted in Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey #1 (April 1994). Art by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Forever People #2 (May 1971)
Created by	Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter ego	DeSaad
Species	New God
Place of origin	Apokolips
Team affiliations	Darkseid's Elite
Notable aliases	Doctor Dezard, the God of Torture, the Grand Director
Abilities	Immortality; Superhuman strength, endurance and reflexes; Powers of telepathy, emotion manipulation and absorption; Energy absorption and teleportation; Brilliant inventor of weapons and torture devices;

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.^[2]

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 portrayed 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.^[3]

Fictional character biography

Darkseid with a young DeSaad, art by Colleen Doran.

DeSaad's first recorded appearance in the history of the DC Universe was as a hanger-on at the side of Drax, heir to Apokolips. He had already taken his "god-name", which he claimed to have taken in tribute to a being from the future "who has taught me much in my chosen field".

DeSaad's origins were revealed during Darkseid's chess game with Eclipso. After Eclipso told Darkseid of how he had caused the Biblical Great Flood, Darkseid shared how he had corrupted an innocent youth by tricking him into believing the youth's 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 returned, having flown off, and in a rage, the youth killed the bird and left New Genesis to become Darkseid's lackey.^[4]

DeSaad appeared to be helping Drax with his attempt to master the Omega Force. In fact, he was plotting with Drax' brother, Uxas. As a result, Drax was presumed killed and Uxas mastered the Omega Force, taking the god-name Darkseid. DeSaad went on to serve as Darkseid's torturer.^[2]

DeSaad is a backstabber and a coward. He is naturally treacherous, but is sufficiently afraid of Darkseid that he will not turn against his master unless someone else takes the lead (and will probably switch sides again if it looks like they will fail). He spent some time posing as Darkseid to keep Intergang going. While Darkseid had been involved with Intergang as part of his search for the Anti-Life Equation, DeSaad simply wanted to cause suffering.

DeSaad was seemingly killed during an attempt by Darkseid to penetrate the Source. He was subsequently found to have "bonded" with Orion, causing the latter to become cruel and manipulative. They were later separated. While missing, his second-in-command, Justeen, plots to overthrow DeSaad's position and become closer to her beloved Darkseid.^[5]

In the Superman/Batman story "Torment", Darkseid tasks DeSaad with retrieving Highfather's staff from the Source Wall to restore Darkseid's waning power. He works with the Scarecrow to brainwash Superman before betraying Darkseid and attempting to take the staff's power for himself. The Omega Effect, however, possessed a horror within it that even DeSaad could not stand and Darkseid simply siphoned the energy off of him.

At the end of Countdown to Final Crisis #25, DeSaad captures Martin Stein and takes the power of Firestorm for himself. The Atomic Knights defeat him and separate him from the Firestorm Matrix, but he flees before he can be captured. 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. They are then attacked by an OMAC and the Piper is captured. DeSaad continues to pursue the Piper and convinces him to finally play, but the Piper's first act is to try to kill DeSaad.

Also during Countdown in Detective Comics #837, it is revealed that he is supplying the Amazon Women's Shelters with special drugs from Apokolips.

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.^[6]

Following Death of the New Gods, many of the fallen Apokoliptan 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.^[7] This version of DeSaad has been seen in the Terror Titans miniseries, conditioning the Infinitors to fight in the Dark Side Club's metahuman tournament. After the brainwashed superhumans break free of the Anti-Life Equation and begin to destroy the arena, DeSaad is electrocuted and captured by Static.

In Final Crisis #6, Mary Marvel has been possessed by DeSaad. It is not known what has happened to DeSaad after Freddy Freeman as the new Shazam changes Mary to normal in the same issue. In Final Crisis: Secret Files, it was revealed that he was the one who brought Libra back to cohesion after the villain disembodied himself using a Transmortifier device.

The New 52

During Darkseid's first incursion on Earth during The New 52 (a reboot of the DC Comics universe), DeSaad appears in Apokopolis discussing with Steppenwolf about cloning the DNA of a captured and tortured Superman for a new race of Parademons.^[8] Five years later, he impersonates Michael Holt, attempting to capture Power Girl.^[9]

Powers and abilities

Although DeSaad does not have great powers, he is still immune to all diseases and toxins and is extremely long-lived. He is also stronger and more resistant than a human of his weight and build. DeSaad is a brilliant inventor of weapons and a master of torture. DeSaad has created many torture machines and devices. His most spectacular achievement is "Happyland", an amusement park that served as a prison for his victims. The prisoners were anguished over the seeming indifference of the park's customers to their plight, unaware that DeSaad's technology caused the visitors to see them as something other than what they were. As the closest assistant to Darkseid, DeSaad is familiar with the functioning and resources of the planet.

The New 52

In The New 52, DeSaad reappears with the status of a New God, but much more powerful and showing new abilities. DeSaad is strong and resistant enough to lift several tons easily and can face powerful beings like Power Girl. In addition, he has a high level of invulnerability and is functionally immortal. The new 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, as was demonstrated when he absorbed energy from a particle accelerator on Earth-2. Although it is not explained, DeSaad can open a "Boom Tube" to other dimensions at maximum power.

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of DeSaad makes a cameo appearance in JLA: The Nail #1.^[10]
An elderly DeSaad appears in Kingdom Come as a servant of Orion.^[11]
An alternate universe variant of DeSaad, amalgamated with Marvel Comics' Loki, called L'ok D'saad appears in the Amalgam Comics story Thorion of the New Asgods.^[12]

In other media

Television

DeSaad appears in the Super Friends franchise, voiced by René Auberjonois.^[13]
DeSaad appears in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Father's Day", voiced by Robert Morse.^[13]
DeSaad appears in Justice League, voiced again by René Auberjonois.^[13] In his most notable appearance in "Twilight", Darkseid kills him for criticizing his military action to gain the Anti-Life Equation.
DeSaad appears in Smallville, portrayed by Steve Byers. This version owns a fetish club franchise called "Club DeSaad" and possesses several psionic powers, such as telekinesis, which he uses to manipulate and corrupt people. Throughout the series, he serves Darkseid until he is killed by the Green Arrow in the series finale.
DeSaad appears in Young Justice, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.^[13] This version is an ally of the Light and weapon supplier for Intergang.
DeSaad appears in Justice League Action, voiced by Jason J. Lewis.^[13] This version commands several spaceships crewed by Parademons and wields a Mother Box housed in his belt.
DeSaad appears in Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, voiced by Phil LaMarr.

Film

DeSaad appears in Justice League: War, voiced by Bruce Thomas.^[13] This version oversees the process that transforms captured species into Parademons. He is later killed by Superman, who became unstable and aggressive after being partially subjected to the process.
An alternate universe variant of DeSaad makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Justice League: Gods and Monsters.
DeSaad appears in Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League, voiced by James Arnold Taylor.^[13]
DeSaad was meant to appear in Justice League (2017), voiced and motion-captured by Peter Guinness, before his scenes were removed from the theatrical cut.^[14] Nonetheless, DeSaad appears in the director's cut, Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021).^[15]^[16] This version serves as an intermediary between Darkseid and Steppenwolf, the latter of whom DeSaad displays disdain towards.

Video games

DeSaad appears in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham via DLC, voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.
DeSaad makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Injustice 2 via Darkseid's ending.
DeSaad appears as a boss in DC Universe Online.
DeSaad appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[17]
DeSaad appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.^[18]

Merchandise

DeSaad received a figure in Kenner's Super Powers Collection.
DeSaad received a figure in Mattel's DC Universe Classics line.^[19]
DeSaad, based on his appearance in Zack Snyder's Justice League, received a 1/4 scale polystone sculpture from Wētā Workshop Collectibles.

References

^ O.M.A.C. (vol. 4) #1-4
^ ^a ^b Wallace, Dan (2008). "Demons Three". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC 213309017.
^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 88. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
^ Eclipso #10
^ Orion #1 (June 2000)
^ Salvation Run #1-7 (November 2007 – June 2008)
^ Infinity, Inc. (vol. 2)
^ Justice League (vol. 2) #6 (April 2012)
^ Worlds' Finest #11 (June 2013)
^ JLA: The Nail #1
^ Kingdom Come #2
^ Thorion of the New Asgods #1
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Desaad Voices (Superman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 1, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
^ Colbert, Stephen M. (November 7, 2019). "Justice League: Zack Snyder's Cut Cast Darkseid's Servant Desaad". Screenrant. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
^ Jacobs, Eammon (August 22, 2020). "'Justice League' Zack Snyder Cut Trailer Reveals Darkseid & DeSaad". HeroicHollywood. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
^ Dandy, Jim (August 22, 2020). "Justice League: DeSaad Revealed in Snyder Cut Trailer". denofgeek. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
^ Michael, Jon; Veness, John (November 2, 2018). "Characters - LEGO DC Super-Villains Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
^ OAFE - DC Universe Classics 12: Desaad review