Warning: Spoilers for Challengers of the Unknown #1
DarkseidHis powers make him a force to be reckoned with, but the Justice League finally found the perfect defense against him. The New God may be gone, but his impact continues to reverberate throughout the DC Universe, so heroes are preparing to resist his residual energy. To that end, the Justice League's costumes just received an update that Darkseid doesn't stand a chance against.
In Challengers of the Unknown #1 by Christopher Cantwell, Sean Izaakse, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, the Justice League recruits the Challengers to help them investigate anomalies caused by Darkseid's death. As Ace Morgan leaves with Superman, the two wear new purple suits, and Ace comments on how the new Justice League costumes “protect against Omega energy”.
Omega energy refers to the energy that Darkseid produces, which generated the aforementioned anomalies throughout the galaxy. The Justice League's revamped uniforms officially give them immunity – or at least greater durability – against Darkseid's powers, in a major shift in DC lore.
Justice League costume upgrade makes them immune to Darkseid's power
Darkseid's Omega energy is no longer a threat to the Justice League
The new Justice League costumes do more than just show off the heroes under a consistent purple and yellow color scheme. According to Ace, Professor Haley – one of his fellow Challengers of the Unknown – augmented the suits with built-in defense measures against Omega energy. This update is a smart precautionary measure on the League's part, as the heroes will be venturing into areas that have been altered in some way by Darkseid's mysterious alterations. Interacting with these cosmic anomalies can have unforeseen consequences, even for heroes as invulnerable as Superman, so their suits are built to protect them from whatever Darkseid has in store.
The Omega energy produced by Darkseid is extremely dangerous, and overcoming it is a great feat on the part of the Justice League. This power is primarily used to power Darkseid's signature Omega Beams, an attack with which he has devastated the Justice League countless times before. They even went through a power-up where they can erase the existence of anyone they touch. More recently, Darkseid's power has also been revealed to aid in the formation of universes, as demonstrated when the energy left behind by his death creates the Absolute Universe. Evidently, Omega energy has unlimited potential, but the Justice League can no longer be affected by it.
The Justice League is preparing for Darkseid's inevitable return to DC Lore
Darkseid may be dead, but Mister Terrific believes he's coming back
Darkseid's shocking death rid the universe of a powerful threat, but the Justice League isn't breathing a sigh of relief just yet. Mister Terrific, one of the team's smartest characters, speculates in this issue that Darkseid may still be alive in some form – and current DC readers will know he's not wrong. After spawning the Absolute Universe, Darkseid has formed his own legion and appears to be preparing for a battle of multiversal proportions. Likewise, the Justice League is preparing for whatever it may be Darkseid they may be plotting in his absence, and their new uniforms are the first step in mounting a defense should he return.
Challengers of the Unknown #1 is now available from DC Comics.