Warning: Spoilers for The New Gods #2Darkseid’s death has shaken the DC Universe to its core, and in his absence he’s left a power vacuum that has yet to be filled - until now. A new villain has arrived to take on theNew Godswith murderous intent, and he’s already proven to be one of the most fearsome beings in the cosmos. As he sets his sights on Apokolips, this terrifying god-killer is ready to prove himself as Darkseid’s dark replacement.
The preview forThe New Gods#2 by Ram V, Evan Cagle, Jesse Longergan, and Francesco Segala opens with an introduction to this sinister foe. Karok Ator, described as a scavenger makes an impression by having little regard for gods. He then engages in battle with a Source-feeder who has been brought to him by scouts.
Karok makes quick work of the wannabe god and kills him moments after their fight commences, displaying his shocking strength.The power at his disposal makes him a worthy successor to Darkseid as a danger to the New Gods, and his conquest has only just begun.
Darkseid’s Replacement Has Arrived as The Scavenger Makes His Dark Debut
The New Gods Face the Ultimate Threat Now That Darkseid Is Gone
Karok Ator is said to go by many aliases, from Karok Deathspeaker to Karok Deen, though the title that best defines him is the simplest yet most foreboding: “The Scavenger”. As stated in the narration of his debut,“The moment this task was set to him…they were, each and every one of them - gods, devils, heroes, and villains - as good as dead, after all.“Most beings in the cosmos would think to honor the gods who rule over them in New Genesis, but to The Scavenger, they are nothing but bodies he will eventually scavenge once he’s finished with them.
2024 Permanently Reinvented Darkseid, Taking Him Beyond Godhood
Darkseid has always sought control over the entire DC Universe, and in 2024 DC Comics finally gave the God of Anti-Life what he wanted.
The Fourth World is in a state of disarray with Darkseid out of the picture, which grants The Scavenger an ideal opening to make his move on New Genesis.Highfather is burdened with prophecies about what’s to come, whileOrionis too preoccupied with hunting down aNew God known as Kamalwho supposedly possesses unmatched potential. New Genesis, therefore, has become vulnerable to attack. The Scavenger is taking advantage of this paradigm shift to eliminate the gods, supplanting Darkseid as the greatest threat facing the New Gods in DC’s current continuity.
The Scavenger Is the First of Many Sinister Foes Emerging
Darkseid was long considered to be one ofDC’s most powerful gods, reigning over Apokolips with an iron fist. Now, in the wake of his death, he has opened the floodgates for new beings to rise from the shadows and fill the void he left behind. Karok is the first to step up and replace him at the top by slaughtering anyone who stands in his way, but it won’t be long before others follow suit.Darkseidis officially out of the picture, and time will tell whether The Scavenger has what it takes to vanquish theNew Godsand replace him.
The New Gods#2is available January 15th, 2025 from DC Comics.
Darkseid
Darkseid is a tyrannical supervillain in DC Comics, ruling the hellish planet Apokolips. He seeks the Anti-Life Equation to control all sentient life and eliminate free will across the universe. With immense strength, energy manipulation, and Omega Beams that disintegrate targets, Darkseid is a relentless foe of Superman, the Justice League, New Gods, and free people everywhere.
New Gods
New Gods is a canceled DC movie based on Jack Kirby’s titular Fourth World characters, which include Darkseid, Mister Miracle, and Big Barda. Despite solid plans to produce the film since 2018 with writers Tom King and Ava DuVernay already attached, the project was scrapped in April 2021.
