Superman finally kills Darkseid solo, showing off his new magic-based powers

Warning: Contains spoilers for All in Special #1!After decades of battling each other for the fate of the universe, Superman Has finally killed Darkseid. Not only that, but The Man of Steel has accomplished the impossible by finally embracing magicTransforming his long-term weakness into a wonderful new strength. However, killing the embodiment of evil is no simple matter, and by killing such a crucial cosmic being, Superman has unleashed something much, much worse on the DC multiverse.

The action takes place in today’s history-making DC All In Special By Joshua Williamson, Scott Snyder, Daniel Sampere and Dan Mora. The issue tells two stories that meet in the middle – the Justice League facing a vicious attack from Darkseid, and Darkseid preparing to attack the team by bonding with the Specter – the embodiment of God’s wrath. Darkseid attacks just as the Justice League is launching a new Unlimited era, uniting their powers like never before. When he strikes, he does not meet the heroes he expects, but instead Superman charged with the magical energies of backwards-talking sorcerer Zatanna.

Using Zatanna’s magic, Superman was able to forcibly separate Darkseid and the Specter in an attack of intense willpower. Because Darkseid was so completely bound to Spectre, the separation kills him while also tearing a hole in time and space. As he dies, Darkseid declares, “Thank you…” Darkseid finished. Put a new spin on his intimidating motto “Darkseid is.”

Superman uses magic to finally beat Darkseid

But the rebirth of the Dark God is redefining DC lore

As cool as it is to see Superman defeat Darkseid so completely, that’s not where the story ends. In Darkseid’s part of the story, readers know that he was real Trying to die. With DC’s reality now separated from the wider multiverse, Darkseid has gained a clear vision of his cosmic purpose – he exists to embody evil and death, keeping the endless potential of reality in check. However, while he will never die due to his cosmic role, he will also never win. Darkseid wants more, rejects his family and army on Apokolips by killing his son Kalibak and sets out to change the cosmic order.

Darkseid uses all his cosmic knowledge to forcibly bond with the Spectre, using the godlike being’s cosmic knowledge to discern how to change his place in the multiverse. He then attacks the Justice League, confirming his death. Fans see that as well as Zatanna’s magic, The Specter gives Superman his power to defeat DarkseidDestroying the being that fans have known as DC’s ultimate villain since 1970.

However, with Darkseid dead, the spirit of Uxus is released (Darkseid’s mortal identity before he achieved godhood.) This new, godlike echo of Darkseid passes through the rift in reality caused by his death, taking complete control of the mysterious reality DC fans Know how the alpha world. As Darkseid passes, he reflects:

I open up about it. To death. And as I finish, I start again, but this time… alone. Bound by no relationship to Earth, to the Kryptonians, to anything. If the world is driven by life, by hope… then this one would be driven by challenge, by turmoil…

The new Darkseid remakes the whole world in his image, Creating a reality where evil is triumphant in every element of its being. The issue ends with the Justice League’s Buster Gold traveling to this reality, only to encounter a gigantic army of corrupted heroes, now reborn as Darkseid’s personal guard. The reborn Darkseid, now more powerful than before, towers above as the one true god of this new world.

DC just launched its Absolute Universe

New versions of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman arise

Darkseid’s new reality is DC’s Absolute Universe – A new continuity that will star all new versions of iconic heroes and villains. This issue gives fans a look at the absolute Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, making it clear that these are dark new versions stripped of all their advantages, fighting a likely losing battle against an entire reality constructed around the supremacy of evil. Years of DC stories will take place in the new Absolute Universe, which will run parallel to DC’s mainstream titles. It’s a really huge shake-up of the DC brand as fans know it.

Thanks to those Absolute power Happening, DC’s heroes now find themselves separated from the rest of the multiverse, with only time travelers now able to travel to Darkseid’s absolute reality. This sets up a huge new status quo where DC’s mainstream and absolute continuities exist in a good vs. evil fringe, while the rest of the multiverse is unfettered by the core world that usually keeps it in order.

Superman finally embraces Magic

While the consequences are dire, Superman has finally beaten Darkseid

As very consequential as Darkseid’s death is for the DC brand, it is still worth marking the historic occasion of Superman beating the god of evil as he has never been beaten before. In DC lore, Superman has no special protections against magic, turning it into a major vulnerability surpassed only by Kryptonite. However, during the events of Absolute powerSuperman was forced to rely on magic to turn the tide against Amanda Waller’s forces.

Zatanna guided Superman through the multiverse, helping him escape the endless dark roads and reunited with Lois Lane, leading Superman to explain, “I love magic!” Those are three words Superman fans never expected him to say, given his past disdain for the mystical, however All in Reveals he’s actually living through them. Zatanna empowering Superman with magic is a completely unexpected power-up, celebrating the Man of Steel’s new appreciation for the dark arts.

Indeed, Superman embracing magic is part of the spirit of DC’s new All in Initiative, which establishes a fresh status quo after the events of Absolute power. The opening of this issue makes it clear that the Justice League is back, bigger than ever. But beyond that, their new Justice League membership cards are enhanced with advanced tech, alien insight, and mystical power, making them much more than just the key card to the Justice League’s new base. One of the best new features of the cards is the ability to combine heroes whose powers can be used to make each other stronger. All in Shows exactly how this will work as Zatanna finally makes Superman strong enough to face Darkseid one-on-one.

While it’s likely that Zatanna’s Superman power-up will fade soon, the moment is a declaration of what fans can expect to see, as the new, more united Justice League begins to explore new ways for heroes to outdo each other Better.

Superman vs. Darkseid just changed everything

A new era begins as all old rules crumble

As strong as Superman is, he was never in Darkseid’s weight class. Darkseid is a multiversal being – a version of him exists in every reality, with each drawing from the same core god of evil and control. Or at least, so it was. With the DC Universe now separated from the Multiverse, Darkseid is reduced to a single entity, and Superman’s magical upgrade evens the odds, allowing him to finally defeat his most despicable villain.

However, with his death, the God of Evil has taken on a new form, focusing his power on warping one reality entirely to his will rather than trying to control the entire multiverse at once. The Absolute Universe is a huge challenge, and it will create heroes and villains the likes of which DC fans have never seen before. However, with a newly united and ambitious Justice League flexing their muscles by upgrading Superman with magic, Darkseid Still facing off against the greatest heroes in any reality, united like never before.

All in Special #1 is available now from DC Comics.