DeSaad explained

Character Name:	DeSaad
Real Name:	DeSaad
Publisher:	DC Comics
Debut:	Forever People #2 (May 1971)
Creators:	Jack Kirby
Species:	New God
Homeworld:	Apokolips
Alliances:	Darkseid's Elite
Aliases:	Doctor Dezard, the God of Torture, the Grand Director^[1]
Powers:	Immortality Superhuman strength, endurance and reflexes Telepathy Energy absorption and teleportation Brilliant inventor of weapons and torture devices

DeSaad (also spelled Desaad) is a supervillain, appearing in books published by DC Comics. He is one of the followers of Darkseid from the planet Apokolips in Jack Kirby's Fourth World meta-series.^[2]

As DeSaad serves as Darkseid's master torturer, his name refers to the Marquis de Sade. At one point, DeSaad had an assistant named Justeen, a reference to de Sade's novel Justine, although she bore little resemblance to the title character.

Steve Byers portrays DeSaad in the television series Smallville. The character made his cinematic debut in Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021), portrayed through voice and motion capture by Peter Guinness.

Publication history

DeSaad first appeared in Forever People #2 (April/May 1971) and was created by Jack Kirby.^[3]

Fictional character biography

DeSaad is originally a New God from New Genesis before Darkseid corrupts him into serving him.^[4] Afterwards, DeSaad assists Darkseid in killing his brother Drax, and becomes his torturer.^[5]

In the Superman/Batman story "Torment", Darkseid tasks DeSaad with retrieving Highfather's staff to restore his power. He betrays Darkseid and attempts to take the staff for himself before Darkseid siphons its energy.

In Countdown to Final Crisis, DeSaad captures Martin Stein, one half of the hero Firestorm, and steals his power. The Atomic Knights defeat DeSaad and separate him from the Firestorm matrix, but he escapes.

In Salvation Run, DeSaad trains the Apokoliptian New Gods on a planet where Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad has exiled several villains.^[6] In Death of the New Gods and Final Crisis, DeSaad respectively possesses an unnamed man and Mary Marvel.^[7]

In The New 52 continuity reboot, DeSaad contemplates incorporating Superman's DNA into a new type of Parademon.^[8] Five years later, he impersonates Michael Holt in an attempt to capture Power Girl.^[9]

Powers and abilities

As a New God, DeSaad is nigh-immortal and possesses superhuman strength and durability. He is additionally a skilled inventor and torturer. In The New 52, DeSaad is given the additional abilities of telepathy and energy absorption.

Other versions

• An alternate universe variant of DeSaad makes a cameo appearance in JLA: The Nail #1.^[10]
• An elderly DeSaad appears in Kingdom Come as a servant of Orion.^[11]
• L'ok D'saad, a fusion of DeSaad and Marvel Comics character Loki, appears in the Amalgam Comics one-shot Thorion of the New Asgods.^[12]

In other media

Television

• DeSaad appears in the Super Friends franchise, voiced by René Auberjonois.^[13]
• DeSaad appears in the episode "Father's Day", voiced by Robert Morse.
• DeSaad appears in Justice League (2001), voiced again by René Auberjonois. In his most notable appearance in the episode "Twilight", Darkseid kills him for criticizing his master's military action to gain the Anti-Life Equation.
• DeSaad appears in the tenth season of Smallville, portrayed by Steve Byers. This version owns a fetish club franchise called "Club DeSaad" and possesses several psionic powers, such as telekinesis, which he uses to manipulate and corrupt people. Throughout the series, he serves Darkseid until he is killed by the Green Arrow in the series finale.
• DeSaad appears in Young Justice, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. This version is an ally of the Light and a weapons supplier for Intergang.
• DeSaad appears in Justice League Action, voiced by Jason J. Lewis. This version commands several spaceships crewed by Parademons and wields a Mother Box housed in his belt.
• DeSaad appears in , voiced by Phil LaMarr.

Film

• DeSaad appears in , voiced by Bruce Thomas. This version oversees the process that transforms captured species into Parademons. He is later killed by Superman, who became unstable and aggressive after being partially subjected to the process.
• An alternate universe variant of DeSaad makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in .
• DeSaad appears in , voiced by James Arnold Taylor.
• DeSaad was meant to appear in Justice League (2017), voiced and motion-captured by Peter Guinness, before his scenes were removed from the theatrical cut.^[14]
• DeSaad appears in Zack Snyder's Justice League, portrayed by McGuiness.^{[15] [16]} This version serves as an intermediary between Darkseid and Steppenwolf, the latter of whom DeSaad displays disdain towards.

Video games

• DeSaad appears in via DLC, voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.
• DeSaad appears as a boss in DC Universe Online.
• DeSaad appears as a character summon in .^[17]
• DeSaad makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Darkseid's ending in Injustice 2.
• DeSaad appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.^[18]

Merchandise

• DeSaad received a figure in Kenner's Super Powers Collection.
• DeSaad received a figure in Mattel's DC Universe Classics line.^[19]
• DeSaad, based on his appearance in Zack Snyder's Justice League, received a 1/4 scale polystone sculpture from Wētā Workshop Collectibles.

References

1. O.M.A.C. (vol. 4) #1-4
2. Encyclopedia: Wallace . Dan . Demons Three . Dougall . Alastair . The DC Comics Encyclopedia . 98 . . New York . 2008 . 978-0-7566-4119-1 . 213309017.
3. Book: Cowsill . Alan . Irvine . Alex . Korte . Steve . Manning . Matt . Wiacek . Win . Wilson . Sven . The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe . 2016 . DK Publishing . 978-1-4654-5357-0 . 88.
4. Eclipso #10
5. Orion #1 (June 2000)
6. Salvation Run #1-7 (November 2007 – June 2008)
7. Infinity, Inc. (vol. 2)
8. Justice League (vol. 2) #6 (April 2012)
9. Worlds' Finest #11 (June 2013)
10. JLA: The Nail #1
11. Kingdom Come #2
12. Thorion of the New Asgods #1
13. Web site: DeSaad Voices (Superman) . November 1, 2023 . Behind The Voice Actors. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
14. Web site: Colbert . Stephen M. . November 7, 2019 . Justice League: Zack Snyder's Cut Cast Darkseid's Servant Desaad . May 22, 2020 . Screenrant.
15. Web site: Jacobs . Eammon . August 22, 2020 . Justice League Zack Snyder Cut Trailer Reveals Darkseid & DeSaad . August 23, 2020 . HeroicHollywood.
16. Web site: Dandy . Jim . August 22, 2020 . Justice League: DeSaad Revealed in Snyder Cut Trailer . August 23, 2020 . denofgeek.
17. Web site: Eisen . Andrew . October 2, 2013 . DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide . July 13, 2024 . IGN . en.
18. Web site: Michael . Jon . Veness . John . November 2, 2018 . Characters - LEGO DC Super-Villains Guide . July 15, 2024 . IGN . en.
19. http://www.oafe.net/yo/dcuc12_des.php OAFE - DC Universe Classics 12: Desaad review

External links

• Animated series bio at World's Finest