DeSaad

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]

DeSaad
DeSaad as depicted in Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey #1 (April 1994). Art by Dan Jurgens and Brett Breeding.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Forever People #2 (May 1971)
Created by	Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter ego	DeSaad
Species	New God
Place of origin	Apokolips
Team affiliations	Darkseid's Elite
Notable aliases	Doctor Dezard, the God of Torture, the Grand Director[1]
Abilities	Immortality Superhuman strength, endurance and reflexes Telepathy Energy absorption and teleportation Brilliant inventor of weapons and torture devices

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

Darkseid with a young DeSaad, art by Colleen Doran.

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.^[2][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.
• DeSaad appears in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Father's Day", voiced by Robert Morse.^[13]
• DeSaad appears in Justice League (2001), voiced again by René Auberjonois.^[13] In the episode "Twilight", Darkseid kills DeSaad for criticizing his 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 Green Arrow in the series finale.
• DeSaad appears in Young Justice, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.^[13] 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.^[13] This version commands several spaceships crewed by Parademons and wields a Mother Box housed in his belt.
• DeSaad appears in Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, voiced by Phil LaMarr.

Film

DeSaad as depicted in Zack Snyder's Justice League.

• DeSaad appears in Justice League: War, voiced by Bruce Thomas.^[13] 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 Justice League: Gods and Monsters.^[13]
• DeSaad appears in Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League, voiced by James Arnold Taylor.^[13]
• 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] He would later appear in the director's cut Zack Snyder's Justice League.^[15][16]

Video games

• DeSaad appears in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham via DLC, voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.
• DeSaad appears as a boss in DC Universe Online.
• DeSaad appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[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.