First Appearance: Justice League (2011) #6
In #1: During the final battle of Metropolis, Steppenwolf joins the battle with reinforcements via a Boom Tube, running at and impaling Wonder Woman on his sword. He then calmly watches as the Parademons swarm around Superman, connecting wires to his face and causing the hero to explode, silencing his threat of killing him and he answers with a smug smile that "Kal" would not.
In #0: In a flashback to the third year of the Apokolips War (six years before the current story line) he can been seen standing with Darkseid and Desaad in an energy shard, who are towering over people with their heads bowed in defeat.
In #8: Steppenwolf is given freedom around Dherain by the monarch King Marov, who says it is his country for as long as he needed it and called him a friend. He congratulates Marov on his skill with World law, stating that the treaty that allows him to seclude himself from any interventions of the World Army was most brilliant, especially considering that Steppenwolf had aid from Marov during his invasion. Marov tells him that will stand, unless Steppenwolf decided to use his country for any more unrest. Marvov pours him a glass of champagne, which he says he has never tasted before, however it was not in his nature not to try new things. Marov invites him to dinner, which he says he has grown accustomed to enjoy the idea of even though not needing to. He tells Marov that he has found many things to enjoy in the five years he has been on the planet (Earth 2), who questions him on whether that was the end for him and if he were to be stuck from reaching Apokolips for the rest of his life. Steppenwolf explains that the Boom Tube technology was not easily created and it had increased in difficulty after Batman sacrificed himself on the last day to seal off the planet from any other incursion. Steppenwolf walks away to the window stating at first he was devastated about not being able to return, but currently he didn't mind as time heals wounds and the planet may hold new interests for himself.
Steppenwolf puts his helmet on, suddenly turning darker and stating that all his men were dead or "as good as." Marov asks what he is talking about and Steppenwolf tells him the ones that Marov had tasked to attack him, asking not to insult him by lying. He reveals that his forces are still on Earth, who haven't been captured or killed by the World Army, who had just fled or went into hiding, with only one loyal enough to stand at his side. He goes on to explain that it is a girl from Earth, who was taken from her home and mother and was trained to be a warrior on Apokolips, already coming from the finest warrior race in the world... "She is from Amazon Island and her mother was the greatest of them all." Marov asks how and why would Fury (Wonder Woman's daughter) would possibly work with Steppenwolf after he was responsible for killing Diana, but Steppenwolf just smirks and says he reached her at an "impressionable age." Marov drops the act stating he would enjoy the poetry of him dying by Apokoliptian weaponry, but Steppenwolf replies that men who see poetry as war "seldom do" fight. Marov blasts Steppenwolf down, activating an Apokoliptian armour suit, stating their pact was over as he had all the weapons he needed and would prefer to have the bounty that was on Steppenwolf's head.
Steppenwolf leaps into battle with Fury, shouting that Marov had made a great error by inviting him to Dherain in the first place. He reveals that he has a plan of his own and wants the throne that Marov sits on and has an interest on the treaty, longing to see if it will stand with the death of Marov and himself in charge. After killing everyone except Marov, Steppwolf hurls his axe at Marov, decapitating him and shouting that kings fell all the time. He praises Fury in her theatrical methods and her head count and asks her to end it. He corrects her when she assumes he means more combat and stating that "words will suffice." He addresses the Dherain people, lifting Markov's head and claims that he was a leader, a fighter and a protector and that he killed him. They bow down to him as Fury shouts that they should "All hail the king."
Two weeks later he listens to Fury's council, saying that dedicating Marov with a statue was the best way to gain the people support, looking like a worthy successor rather than a tyrant. He muses that he has been mastering and shaping minds for years, but now he wants more fun conquering the world and that he should start preparing for the World Army who will come for him.
In #11: Steppenwolf remains in St. Draemyre since gaining the throne, summonig Fury to his side. He tells her that the "lost son of Apokolips" has been located after hiding from him for the last year after his escape and telling her that he wants him recaptured. Fury asks whether he needed her to help with his plan, but he tells her that as his strongest "link" in his army he needs her elsewhere, using the Dherain army that she had personally trained. He tells her he wants her to go and bring "him" back to the remains of Gotham, calling him the "Lost son of the Highfather." (Mr. Miracle)
In #14: Steppenwolf is begrudigly listening to the bells of the St. Draemyre churches with annoyance, always hating them and wishing to tear them down. An officer reports to him the "Wonders" are attacking "outlaying defense convoys." Steppenwolf smiles saying he thought no less would intervenee, telling the officer to "release the hounds." (Refering to the Hunger Dogs.)
In #15: Steppenwolf makes a cameo, smiling during Mr. Terrific saying that Steppenwolf is goading the World Army to attack.
In #16: Steppenwolf launches his army to fight the World Army and kill any he can find. He recalls vaguely the first man he killed, while the others are more of a blur, thinking back to his time as Darkseid's Grand High Marshall of War and his many battles for Apokolips. He states that this time he is fighting for himself, using the three Hunger Dogs who were also lost from Apokolips.
He is attacked by Green Lantern, but is saved by Brutaal. They team up to beat him to death, before spotting the camera of Lee Travis, who has been filming the battle and speaks to the camera, boasting on how he has defeated the heroes. He says that before he was fighting in the name of Darkseid, but now he fighting for himself. However Brutaal appears behind him and cuts him in half with a blast of heat vision, calling him an idiot and fool.
In #17: Steppenwolf is shown dying in a flashback, which in doing so released a powerful blast of energy destroying an entire country in flames.
First Appearance: Earth 2 (2012) #15.1
Five Years before the current time line, Desaad's first victim was fast asleep, drunk in a chair on the beach of Hawaii. Desaad, having pulled himself from the sea after being transported from Earth 2 to Prime Earth is weak from hunger and decides to feed on his fear and pain. He senses that this man has lost much already and has little he can snack on, but says it's more than the shark he had killed had contained. Desaad scratches his forehead and he wakes up in fear and pain, killing the victim and feasting on the agony he caused.
First Appearance: Justice League (2011) #6
Desaad makes a cameo in #0, in a flashback 6 years before the current time line of Earth 2, where Mr. 08 is talking about multiple worlds where they have lost and won against the armies of Apokolips. An energy shard depicts Desaad standing at the side of Darkseid and Steppewolf, towering over a large group of people, who all have their heads bowed in defeat.
In #15.1, a flashback shows he drags himself onto the shore of Hawaii. He was just about to be given a group of survivors from Earth 2, when he fell through a Boom Tube and was transported to Prime Earth. He is met with a shark, which he kills and throws the dead body onto the beach. However he mutters that it was hardly worth killing. He crosses the beach, where he comes across a man asleep and drunk. He scratches the man's forehead, saying there is not much to feed off him, but there is more than the shark, using his powers to steal his fear and leave him dead on the beach.
Hours later, Desaad makes his way to a Honolulu Hospital, sensing all the pain present and saying it will be enough to restore him back to his old self. He goes towards the staff entrance, where he uses mind control to get past a security guard, who also let him into the building, before sending him off to kill people for his own pleasure. A doctor tells him to go to the visitor's lounge as they are working, calling him "Halloween." Desaad goes to a medical box, where he gives a blade to the doctor and gets him to slit open his hand.
Four years later in the Congo, Desaad is building a tower and "basic" Apokoliptian technology, however it is hard for him to get all the materials he needed. He compares human to insects, living so fast but doing so little with there lives. Cutter, one of Desaad's henchmen reports that they have developed powerful I.E.D.S into the Afghan War that cause much pain and death that takes hours. He says its adequate, but asks what of "the general," remarking that he has a scent similar to Steppenwolf and calling the latter a "false disciple of the master" who hid behind his armies. Desaad sees that the general he wanted to corrupt was, but expresses that Cutter failed to have someone corrupted in Holt Industries so he could gain access to the Quantum Tunneller. He turns to a hologram of a man reading a newspaper, stating that he was close to mastering Boom Tube technology but doesn't have the power source he needs. He questions if Darkseid has left him for dead, before fearing that Darkseid might think him to a traitor for fleeing. He yells at Cutter to bring him the Tunneller.
When Desaad finds out about both Holt and the Tunneller going missing he screams in fury, smashing the sphere he was looking through, creating a Boom Tube and telling them to return to him. He declares that Holt is out of his reach for that moment in time.
A year before the current history of Prime Earth, Desaad has humans strapped to chairs, where he is using their fear to try and power machinery. He claims they are instruments that are to be used by himself. He questions why is unable to control some people, slapping Cutter and ordering him to try again with readying his mind. He walks away wishing him to be more compliant like Ryouta, entering a chamber where he is experimenting on him. He smirks, asking if he feels the radiation filling him and watches calmly as Ryouta brakes free and demands that the pain is stopped. Desaad questions this, telling him pain is what will free him from humanity. He asks if he wanted to be more than human and in his employment and he bows down, titling Desaad as his "master." He walks away, sighing that "they brake so easily." He orders Cutter to fully irradiate Ryouta and then send him to destroy the Tunneller as it is no use to him (but doesn't want it to end up in the hands of Power Girl and Huntress).
He takes an interest in the artist, summoning a Boom Tube as he had earned "personal consideration." He arrives at the artists house, where the artist is too lost in his work to notice the appearance of Desaad. He decides not to be hasty with the artist, moving away and stating that first the world's beauty will be destroyed and then finally he will return for the artist.
In the present day, Desaad prayed to a large statue of Darkseid in his tower, wishing that Darkseid would come and fetch him and that he is loyal, growing stronger to stand at his side on Apokolips.
First Appearance: Justice League (2011) #6
Darkseid makes a cameo in #0, when Mr. 08 is talking about the discovery of more worlds than just Earth 2 that have battled with Apokolips (either winning or loosing) an energy shard shows a picture of Darkseid, Steppenwolf and Desaad towering over a race of people, who all have their heads bowed in defeat.
First Appearance: Justice League (2011) #6
Desaad is first seen in issue #6, where he is torturing Superman on Apokolips after he was brought to him due the Harvesting Command Towers on Earth not having the right equipment to deal with Kryptonian physiology. He expresses his pleasure at repeatedly cutting Superman's flesh, but is reprimanded by Steppenwolf as feeling pleasure was considered to be forbidden on Apokolips. Steppenwolf tells him that Superman was not there for his personal amusement, but was the going to be the new breed of soldier for Darkseid's army in conquest and the search for Darkseid's daughter. Desaad comments on the fact that Darkseid won't stop until she was located and retrieved and Steppenwolf tells him that they won't either. He has Superman trapped, using his powers to torture him.
Later when Cyborg remotely triggers the Mother Boxes on Earth, Desaad and Steppenwolf's are also activated and create Boom Tubes. Desaad is confused and scared, (still holding a knife he was using on Superman) and shouts that they are under attack. He orders Steppenwolf to secure Superman, but before they can do anything else they are sent through a boom tube, where they trapped on Earth 2 with no way to get back to Earth.
First Appearance: Justice League (2011) #6
Steppenwolf first appeares in #6, overseeing Desaad as he tortures Superman. He barks at Desaad stating shouldn't feel pleasure as it is forbidden, when the later tells him that he is enjoying cutting Superman's flesh repeatedly. Steppenwolf tells Desaad that he wasn't brought for him and that he was going to become the new breed of soldier for Darkseid in the hunt of conquest and his daughter. Desaad comments that Darkseid won't stop his search and Steppenwolf says that they shouldn't either, repeating the phrase "All hail Darkseid."
When Cyborg remotely activates the Mother Boxes, he activates Steppenwolf and Desaad's as well. Desaad hysterically orders him to secure Superman, but before he can do anything else both he and Desaad are sent through Boom Tubes and are trapped on Earth 2 with no way of ever getting back to Apokolips.
First Appearance: Justice League (2012) #3
Darkseid makes a cameo appearance in #3, where Victor Stone somehow sees him standing on the mountains of Apokolips, beneath the red sky and setting sun, with Parademons flying around him.
In #4, Darkseid arrives to Prime Earth using a Boom Tube, just seconds after Cyborg warns Aquaman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, the Flash and Superman that he was coming. Batman questions who Cyborg was referring to, but his question is answered. Green Lantern comments that he was the "bad guy" and Batman sarcastically says that it was a good guess. He slams the ground to knock the heroes off their feet, introducing himself to the heroes.
In #5, Darkseid takes the opportunity, while the heroes are down to fire Omega Beams at air force vehicles and destroy them Flash comes to and begs him to stop. He turns his focus to the Flash and he nervously calls to the others to see if they were conscious and could possibly help him, joking that he wasn't good at making small talk. Superman answers, but before he can do anything, Darkseid fires more Omega Beams at him. The Flash grabs Superman and speeds off, but the beams are locked onto them after they split up. The Omega Beam chasing the Flash killed a Parademon after he had vibrated through the Parademon, causing the beam to mistake it's target. The beam following Superman hits him, knocking him unconscious and causing him to be captured.
Darkseid then goes to face the other heroes, strong enough to withstand an energy construct from Green Lantern before sending him flying backwards. He easily throws Lantern back at the others when he gets back up and attacks again. Darkseid snatches his ring arm and brakes it, before storming off.
In #6, Darkseid continues his assault on downtown Metropolis, killing anyone h can find. Darkseid is about to kill David Graves and his family, who were present at the time, but is distracted by green fire works in the distance and is attacked by the the heroes present. Wonder Woman uses her Lasso of Truth to pull Darkseid down to his knees and interrogate him on why he was invading the Earth. He replies that it was "for her", however he doesn't elaborate who "her is." (His daughter)
Wonder Woman tells him to fight stating that she was bored. He fires at her, roaring that both Superman and Earth was his. But Wonder Woman blocks with her Bracelets of Submission, leaping at Darkseid and shouting that the world "belongs to no one and everyone." She stabs Darkseid in one of his eyes and while staggering in pain has the other one stabbed by Aquaman and the trident of Neptune. Wonder Woman asks what that they can do as Darkseid was still standing and Cyborg suggests sending him home by opening a Boom Tube and forcing him back to Apokolips. Cyborg opens multiple Boom Tubes after remotely triggering all the Parademons' Mother Boxes as Darkseid pulls the weapons from his eyes.
Flash is trying to pull Darkseid through the Boom Tube as Superman and Batman arrive back on Earth, shouting that they will "all fall." Darkseid claims that he needs Superman and in fury they fight with Superman struggling to push him through. However Darkseid gets the upper hand and grabs him, shouting that he is coming with him, but Superman tells him that he won't be.
Cyborg manages to close and destroy all the Boom Tubes, sending him back to Apokolips and cutting him off during his threat of returning.
