Apokolips

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Apokolips as seen from space.

"I am many things, Kal-El, but here...I am God."
— Darkseid^[1]

Apokolips was the homeworld of Darkseid. From there, Darkseid plotted the conquest of the galaxy and was considered to be not only the ruler of his people but a god. He was perpetually opposed by the warriors of New Genesis.

[edit] History

Apokolips was created shortly after the beginning of time. From the same basic matter, a sister planet emerged called New Genesis. New Genesis was a world of life and serenity ― the complete opposite of Apokolips. For this reason above all others, Darkseid had sought to conquer and rule New Genesis since history began.

Darkseid's palace on the surface of Apokolips.

Apokolips was a barren world of rocks and desert, punctuated by firepits which spewed heat and flame from the very molten core of the planet. The subjects of Darkseid were a human-like slave population so terrified and oppressed by their overlord that freedom was a completely alien concept. Superman discovered this truth after defeating Darkseid in personal combat. Instead of celebrating their cruel master's defeat, the slaves of Darkseid collected his injured body and reverentially carried him back to his palace.

Darkseid's shock troopers, the Parademons, enforce his will over the citizens of Apokolips. His immediate lieutenants ― Desaad, Granny Goodness, Virman Vundabar, the Female Furies, Steppenwolf, Kanto, and Kalibak ― largely concern themselves with Darkseid's conquests outside of Apokolips, such as the war against New Genesis and the later invasion of Earth.

Eventually, Darkseid negotiated a peace with Highfather, ruler of New Genesis. To seal their pact, the two rulers exchanged sons and raise them as their own: Highfather recieved Orion, while Darkseid recieved Scott Free. Scott would reject Darkseid's influence and escape with his lover Big Barda, while Orion would take to the ideals of New Genesis and forever oppose Darkseid's ambitions. Despite the pact failing him, Darkseid would uphold the pact, and Apokolips and New Genesis would maintain a long, if tenuous, peace.

A few years after the first invasion, Apokolips came under attack by Brainiac. Darkseid and Brainiac negotiated a deal: if Darkseid could deliver Superman to Brainiac, he would spare Apokolips. Darkseid went to Earth and decieved the Justice League into coming to his aid. After Brainiac lured them to his asteroid, Darkseid subded Superman, then reprogrammed Brainiac to serve him. Batman damaged the control console controlling Brainiac, and Darkseid was killed when the asteroid exploded.

Unclear on what had happened to Darkseid, and with Desaad and General Steppenwolf recently deceased and Kalibak deemed unfit to rule, Darkseid's inner circle took up arms against each other. During this civil war, the major contenders for control were Granny Goodness and Virman Vundabar.

Vundabar soon captured Kalibak to legitimize his claim to the throne. Granny called upon former charges, Scott Free (AKA Mr. Miracle) and Big Barda, to rescue him, giving her control of Apokolips, by taking Scott's manager Oberon hostage. The went go to the Justice League to ask for Superman's help, but the latter was elsewhere and the League could not afford to allow another dictator to rule Apokolips and attack Earth. However, the Flash came with them to save Kalibak from the X-Pit. Vundabar self-destructed the Pit to kill them but they boomed to Earth to imprison Kalibak and had J'onn J'onzz take his place to get back Oberon.

Darkseid was later resurrected by Lex Luthor in his attempt to recreate Brainiac, enhanced by the android's technology. He came back to Apokolips to reassert his rule. He launched an attack on Earth, violating his pact with Highfather. But the League and the Legion of Doom worked together to stand against his forces. The Apokoliptians soon retreat after Darkseid disappeared when Luthor presented him the Anti-Life Equation. The planet's political situation after that is unknown.