Double-Sized Issue Reviews!

This article contains spoilers for DC All-In Special #1 (2024) by Joshua Williamson, et al.

It is finally here—a beginning and an ending at DC Comics, something which anxious readers and speculators have been waiting to cross off their pull lists. You know what I am talking about: DC All In Special #1 (2024), the story to kick off the Absolute Universe. 

Let’s cut to the chase: Darkseid ENDS. That is right. Our lord of darkness and evil has finally kicked the bucket. And funny enough, he seems to take a certain joy in his curtain call. In his final act, Darkseid merged with The Spectre (a being commonly referred to as the wrath of god) and attacked the newly formed Justice League—which led to his sudden end. Darkseid is. Darkseid was…

…Darkseid will be.

While Darkseid was merged with the Spectre, it was revealed to the audience that Darkseid is a universal force, meaning he can never die—Darkseid will always exist in some form and the universe will make sure of it. It was expounded that Darkseid’s purpose in the universe is to hold back progress, to hold back change. In this sense, Darkseid is a living Source Wall (the wall at the end of the DC Universe). And in Darkseid’s death came Darkseid’s rebirth, though this rebirth happened in another universe. A universe infused with the entropy of lord Darkseid. The ABSOLUTE Universe, home to alternate versions of DC’s most iconic heroes, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, and The Flash—though all these heroes are radically different from the heroes we know. 

Another notable event in the special was the formation of a new Justice League—though unlike other iterations of the league, this one included nearly every hero in the DC Universe. It reminded me of all the other formations of the league. Including the battle with Starro which brought together the original league. And the Tornado’s Path, which created a league including Black Lighting, Red Arrow, Black Canary, and Vixen. And we can’t forget Darkseid’s invasion of Earth in the opening pages of Justice League (The New 52). This certainly rivals all the other iterations of the league!

Now, All In is serving as an entry point for non-comic readers. If that happens to be you, you’re probably rather confused about all of these dense concepts. I suggest reading other formations of the Justice League to familiarize yourself with the characters. Justice League: Origin (2011) will help you learn about Darkseid and his missions in life (and now death).  

Overall, I give this issue four stars. It’s an interesting take on Darkseid and a solid launching point for the future of DC in 2025!

I hope you will stick around for the coming reviews! And thank you for reading this recap!

(OH, and Legion Of Super-Heroes fans, prepare to feel pain)