View source for New Gods

{{short description|Fictional race appearing in the New Gods comic book series}}
{{other uses|New Gods (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox comics species and title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| group = y
| image = New Gods.jpg
| imagesize = <!-- default 250 -->
| caption = Artwork of the ''New Gods, Magnificent Seven''.<br>Art by [[Alex Ross]].
| publisher = [[DC Comics]]
| debut = ''The New Gods'' #1
| debutmo = February/March
| debutyr = 1971
| creators = [[Jack Kirby]] (writer and artist)
| deities = 
| homeworld = [[New Genesis]], [[Apokolips]]
| members = [[List of New Gods]]
| powers = 
<!-- Series section -->
| title = The New Gods'' or ''New Gods
| cvr_image = New Gods 1971 1.jpg
| cvr_caption = Cover to ''The New Gods'' #1 (February/March 1971)<br>Art by Jack Kirby
| schedule = '''Vol. 1'''<br>Bimonthly<br>'''Vol. 2–4'''<br>Monthly
| format = '''Vol. 1, 3, 4'''<br>[[Ongoing series]]<br>'''Vol. 2''' and '''''Death of the New Gods'''''<br>[[Limited series (comics)|Limited series]]
| limited = Y
| ongoing = Y
| Superhero = y
| pub_series = DC Comics
| 1stishhead = Vol. 1
| 1stishyr = 1971
| 1stishmo = February/March
| endishyr = 1972
| endishmo = October/November
| 1stishhead1 = Vol. 1 continued
| 1stishyr1 = 1977
| 1stishmo1 = July
| endishyr1 = 1978
| endishmo1 = July/August
| 1stishhead2 = Vol. 2
| 1stishyr2 = 1979
| 1stishmo2 = June
| endishyr2 = 1984
| endishmo2 = November
| 1stishhead3 = Vol. 3
| 1stishyr3 = 1989

| 1stishmo3 = February
| endishyr3 = 1991
| endishmo3 = August
| 1stishhead4 = Vol. 4
| 1stishyr4 = 1995
| 1stishmo4 = October
| endishyr4 = 1997
| endishmo4 = February
| 1stishhead5 = ''Death of the New Gods''
| 1stishyr5 = 2007
| 1stishmo5 = Early December
| endishyr5 = 2008
| endishmo5 = June
| issues = '''Vol. 1'''<br>19<br>'''Vol. 2'''<br>6<br>'''Vol. 3'''<br>28<br>'''Vol. 4'''<br>15<br>'''''Death of the New Gods'''''<br>8
| main_char_team = 
| writers = {{Collapsible list|'''Vol. 1''' Jack Kirby, [[Gerry Conway]] <br>'''Vol. 3''' [[Mark Evanier]] <br>'''Vol. 4''' [[Tom Peyer]], [[Rachel Pollack]], [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]]<br>'''''Death of the New Gods''''' [[Jim Starlin]]}}
| artists = 
| pencillers = {{Collapsible list|'''Vol. 1'''  Jack Kirby, [[Don Newton]], [[Rich Buckler]] <br>'''Vol. 3''' [[Paris Cullins]], [[Steve Erwin]], [[Rick Hoberg]] <br>'''Vol. 4''' [[Luke Ross]], John Byrne<br>'''''Death of the New Gods''''' Jim Starlin}}
| inkers = {{Collapsible list|'''Vol. 1''' [[Vince Colletta]], [[Mike Royer]], [[Dan Adkins]] <br>'''Vol. 3''' Bob Lewis, Willie Blyberg <br>'''Vol. 4''' [[Brian Garvey (comics)|Brian Garvey]], [[Bob Wiacek]]<br>'''''Death of the New Gods''''' Matt Banning, [[Art Thibert]]}}
| letterers = 
| colorists = 
| editors = 
| creative_team_month = 
| creative_team_year = 
| creators_series = 
| TPB = Jack Kirby's New Gods
| ISBN = 1-56389-385-1
| nonUS = 
<!-- Category section -->
| subcat = DC Comics
| sortkey = New Gods
| et = y
}}
The '''New Gods''' are a fictional extraterrestrial race appearing in the [[eponym]]ous [[comic book]] series published by [[DC Comics]], as well as selected other DC titles. Created and designed by [[Jack Kirby]], they first appeared in February 1971 in ''New Gods'' #1.

==Publication history==
===Volume 1 (1971)===
{{stack|[[File:New Gods 7.jpg|thumb|150px|Cover to ''The New Gods'' #7 (February–March 1972), featuring "The Pact"<br>Art by [[Jack Kirby]] and [[Mike Royer]].]]}}
The New Gods are natives of the twin planets of [[New Genesis]] and [[Apokolips]]. New Genesis is an [[idyll]]ic planet filled with unspoiled forests, mountains, and rivers and ruled by the benevolent [[Highfather]], while Apokolips is a nightmarish, polluted [[dystopia]] filled with machinery and fire pits, ruled by the tyrannical [[Darkseid]]. The two planets were once part of the same world, a planet called ''Urgrund'' ([[German language|German]] for "primeval ground"), but it was split apart millennia ago after the death of the Old Gods during [[Ragnarök]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=oldgods|title= The Unofficial Old Gods Biography|publisher= DCU Guide|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120327015433/http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=oldgods|archive-date= March 27, 2012|url-status= dead|access-date=2010-10-19}}</ref>
The characters associated with the New Gods are often collectively referred to as "[[Fourth World (comics)|Jack Kirby's Fourth World]]". Unhappy with [[Marvel Comics]] at the time, as he had created or co-created a plethora of characters without having copyright or creative custody of them, he turned to rival publisher DC Comics, with his sketches and designs for a new group of heroes and villains.<ref name="fwo1">{{cite book |last= Evanier |first= Mark |author-link= Mark Evanier |chapter= Afterword |title= Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume One |publisher= DC Comics |year= 2007 |location= New York, New York |pages= [https://archive.org/details/jackkirbysfourth0001kirb/page/388 388–396] |isbn= 978-1401213442 |chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/jackkirbysfourth0001kirb/page/388}}</ref> As author Marc Flores, who writes under the [[pen name]] Ronin Ro,<ref>{{cite news |url =https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C01E3DA153BF932A05752C0A9639C8B63 |title= MediaTalk; Who Deserves The Credit (and Cash) For Dreaming Up Those Superheroes? |first= Nat |last= Ives |date= January 31, 2005 |newspaper= [[The New York Times]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140802063404/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C01E3DA153BF932A05752C0A9639C8B63 |archive-date= August 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> described:
{{blockquote|text=The idea of the New Gods had come to Jack years earlier, when he was plotting 90 percent of the "Tales of Asgard" stories in ''[[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]''. He wanted to have two planets at war and end with [[Ragnarok]], the battle that would kill Thor's lucrative pantheon. Instead, he tried the idea in his [[Inhumans]] stories. Now he was presenting it in its original context. Though he wouldn't ever say it publicly, the ''New Gods'' books started right after the gods in ''Thor'' killed one another. The first page of ''Orion of the New Gods'' showed the same scenes from ''Thor''—a planet torn in half and armored gods holding swords and dying on a fiery battleground.<ref>{{Cite book |last= Ro |first= Ronin |title= Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and the American Comic Book Revolution |page= 148 |publisher= [[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |date= July 2004 |location= London, United Kingdom |isbn= 1-58234-345-4}}</ref>}}
Kirby began the "Fourth World" in ''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #133 (October 1970).<ref>{{cite book |author-link= Paul Levitz|last=Levitz|first= Paul|chapter= The Bronze Age 1970–1984|title= 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking|publisher= [[Taschen]]|year=2010|location= Cologne, Germany|isbn= 9783836519816|page= 447|quote= Kirby began introducing new elements to the DC Universe, building toward the introduction of a trio of new titles based on a complex mythology he called the Fourth World.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=McAvennie|first1=Michael|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah|chapter=1970s|title=DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn=978-0-7566-6742-9|page=145|quote=As the writer, artist, and editor of the Fourth World family of interlocking titles, each of which possessed its own distinct tone and theme, Jack Kirby cemented his legacy as a pioneer of grand-scale storytelling.}}</ref> The New Gods first appeared in ''New Gods'' #1 (February–March 1971)<ref name="Overstreet">{{gcdb series|id= 1981|title= ''New Gods''}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1= Overstreet|first1= Robert M.|title= [[Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide]]|edition= 49th|publisher= [[Gemstone Publishing]]|date= 2019|location= Timonium, Maryland|page= 901|isbn= 978-1603602334}}</ref> and ''[[Forever People]]'' #1 (February–March 1971).<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 1977|title= ''Forever People''}}</ref><ref>Overstreet, p. 691</ref> Another "Fourth World" title ''[[Mister Miracle]]'' was launched in April 1971.<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 1980|title= ''Mister Miracle''}}</ref><ref>Overstreet, p. 879</ref> Various New Gods, notably Darkseid, went on to interact with other denizens of the [[DC Universe]].{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

''New Gods'' #1 marks the first appearance of [[Orion (comics)|Orion]], [[Highfather]], and [[Metron (comics)|Metron]], among others. The opening sequence alludes to the presence of the "Old Gods" and the "New Gods" (e.g., "''There came a time when the Old Gods died...''"). Simultaneously published during this time were the ''Forever People'' and ''Mister Miracle'' series, also written and drawn by Kirby.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.toonopedia.com/newgods.htm|title= New Gods|first= Don|last= Markstein|year= 2008|publisher= [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]|archive-url= https://archive.today/20140707053315/http://www.toonopedia.com/newgods.htm|archive-date= July 7, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kirby fans consider the three-issue arc in ''New Gods'' #6-8 to be the peak of Kirby's artistic work.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burroughs |first1=Norris |title=The Peak |url=https://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/kinetics/2010/10/11/the-peak/ |website=Jack Kirby Museum |access-date=28 June 2020 |date=October 11, 2010}}</ref> Jason Sacks and Keith Dallas say that issue #6, "The Glory Boat", "juxtaposes several of [Kirby's] favorite themes: the conflict between generations, the ways that pacifism is forced to confront violence, and, of course, the continuing battle between Apokolips and New Genesis, all drawn in some of the most spectacular art of his career."<ref name=Chron>{{cite book |last1=Sacks |first1=Jason |last2=Dallas |first2=Keith |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490564 |pages=77–79}}</ref> Charles Hatfield says that the story's conclusion: <blockquote>"...is a pure example of Kirby's technological sublime, at once redemptive and seductive, healing and cataclysmic... This rhapsodic episode suggests a glorying in, but also a fearful ambivalence about, the blurring of the living and the technological."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hatfield |first1=Charles |title=Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby |date=2012 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=978-1617031786 |pages=191–193}}</ref></blockquote>

Issue #7, "The Pact", sought to explain the backstory of the New Gods. Sacks and Keith said: <blockquote>"While the story can also be read as a commentary and critique of the [[Vietnam War]] (as it's all about the ambiguity and moral costs of war), 'The Pact' is a creation myth in comics form, providing readers deeper context about both the struggle between Apokolips and New Genesis and the great sacrifices that have to be made to create peace in the face of overwhelming destruction."<ref name=Chron/></blockquote>

Despite the creative strength of Kirby's material, the book's sales slipped steadily after a strong start. ''New Gods'' was cancelled with issue #11 (Oct-Nov 1972), and the last issue of ''Forever People'' was also #11 (August–September 1972). The Apokolips/New Genesis war was left unresolved.<ref name=Chron/>

Kirby's production assistant at the time, [[Mark Evanier]], explained: {{Blockquote|"Folks forget but the New Gods saga was intended to be a limited series ... There was no intention that these characters would go on forever. After Jack's books started getting good sales figures, DC demanded that we keep them going and use guest stars like [[Deadman (DC Comics)|Deadman]], which we were very much against doing. So Kirby had this novel he was forever stuck in the middle of – he could never get to the last chapter. ... You can spot the issues where Jack kind of gave up trying to advance the story of Darkseid and Orion and was marking time. If those books had been intended from the start to run indefinitely, they would have been done very differently."<ref>{{cite news | author = Kraft, David Anthony | author2 = Slifer, Roger | author-link = David Anthony Kraft | author-link2 = Roger Slifer | date = April 1983 | title = Mark Evanier | work = [[Comics Interview]] | issue = #2 | pages = 23–34 | publisher = [[Fictioneer Books]]}}</ref>}}

Despite the sales failure of the book, Kirby's work has remained an inspiration for future comics creators. [[Comics historian]] [[Les Daniels]] observed in 1995: <blockquote>"Kirby's mix of slang and myth, science fiction and the Bible, made for a heady brew, but the scope of his vision has endured."<ref>{{cite book|last = Daniels|first = Les|author-link = Les Daniels|chapter= The Fourth World: New Gods on Newsprint|title = [[DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes]]|publisher = [[Little, Brown and Company|Bulfinch Press]]|year = 1995|location= New York, New York|page = 165|isbn = 0821220764}}</ref></blockquote>

In 2007, comics writer [[Grant Morrison]] commented: <blockquote>"Kirby's dramas were staged across Jungian vistas of raw symbol and storm&nbsp;... The Fourth World saga crackles with the voltage of Jack Kirby's boundless imagination let loose onto paper."<ref>{{cite book|last= Morrison|first= Grant|author-link= Grant Morrison|chapter= Introduction|title= Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume One|publisher= DC Comics|year= 2007|location= New York, New York|pages= [https://archive.org/details/jackkirbysfourth0001kirb/page/n8 7]–8|isbn= 978-1401213442|url= https://archive.org/details/jackkirbysfourth0001kirb|url-access= registration}}</ref></blockquote>

====Return of the New Gods (1977)====
In 1976, the New Gods were featured in the last issue of ''[[1st Issue Special]]'', written by [[Gerry Conway]] and [[Dennis O'Neil]] and pencilled by [[Mike Vosburg]].<ref>{{cite journal|last= Abramowitz|first= Jack|title= ''1st Issue Special'' It Was No ''Showcase'' (But It Was Never Meant To Be)|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue= 71|pages= 45–47 |publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date= April 2014|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> The issue featured a new, more mainstream superhero costume for Orion, which he would wear for the next few years, but failed to lead to a relaunch.  That same year, [[Jenette Kahn]] became DC's new publisher and decided to revive the "Fourth World" lineup in 1977.<ref name="Back38">{{cite journal|last= Harvey| first= Allan|date= February 2010|title= Apokolips Then: Or, Suppose they Finished a War and Nobody Came|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 38|pages= 54–58|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> ''The New Gods'' series relaunched in July 1977, and with ''1st Issue Special'' still a relatively recent publication, it picked up where the storyline of that issue left off. Although the title remained "The New Gods" in the indicia and retained its original numbering, launching with #12, the covers used the title "The Return of the New Gods".<ref name="Overstreet" /><ref>{{gcdb series|id= 2380|title= ''New Gods'' (revival)}}</ref> Conway wrote the series and [[Don Newton]] provided the pencils.<ref>McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 173: "''The New Gods'' series and its original numbering was revived after a five-year break, with a story written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Don Newton."</ref>

The series introduced the character [[Jezebelle]]. It was cancelled with issue #19 (July–August 1978) prior to the "[[DC Implosion]]", where a variety of market-related factors caused DC to cancel almost all of the titles launched the previous year.<ref name="Back38"/> The final chapters of the series were published as backup features in the ''[[Adventure Comics]]'' #459–460 (1978) featured a climactic battle between Darkseid's forces and the New Gods, culminating in Darkseid's defeat and apparent "death." Conway later said that he felt the finale he provided for the New Gods saga was inadequate, though he greatly enjoyed working with Newton on the series.<ref name="Back38"/>

The New Gods met the [[Flash (Barry Allen)|Flash]] in ''[[Super-Team Family]]'' #15 (March–April 1978).<ref>{{cite journal|last = Johnson|first = Dan|title = We Are (Super-Team) Family|journal= Back Issue!|issue = #66|page = 14|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = August 2013|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref>

Darkseid's "death" would quickly be overturned in the New Gods' next appearance in ''[[Justice League|Justice League of America]]'' #183–185. The three-part storyline would tell of Darkseid's return to Apokolips and his scheme to destroy [[Earth-Two]] and teleport Apokolips into its place, so that he could conquer a new universe devoid of the New Gods. The plan would be foiled by the combined power of the New Gods, the Justice League, and the [[Justice Society of America|Justice Society]].

===Volume 2 (1984)===
{{stack|[[File:New Gods 12.png|thumb|150px|Cover to ''New Gods'' (vol. 2) #1 (June 1984)<br>Art by [[Jack Kirby]] and Mike Thibodeaux.]]}}
Essentially a reprint series, this volume packaged two issues apiece per single issue of the original 1971 series.<ref name="Overstreet" /><ref>{{cite journal|last= Trumbull|first= John|title= DC Comics Deluxe Reprint Series of 1983 to 1988|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 81|pages= 89–95|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= July 2015|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref><ref>{{gcdb series|id= 2840|title= ''New Gods'' vol. 2}}</ref> The mini-series' final issue was originally intended to include a reprint of ''New Gods'' #11 and a new 24-page story which would conclude the series and end with both Darkseid and Orion dead. DC editors prevented Kirby from using his original intended ending.<ref name="JK4WO">{{cite book|last= Evanier|first= Mark|author-link= Mark Evanier|chapter= Afterword|title= Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume 4|publisher= DC Comics|year= 2008|location= New York, New York|pages= 373–380|isbn= 978-1401215835}}</ref> Kirby instead turned in a one-off story called "On the Road to Armagetto" which was also rejected, due to the fact that it did not contain a definitive ending to the series.<ref name="JK4WO" /> A 48-page new story called "Even Gods Must Die" was published in the sixth issue of the reprint series instead, which in turn served as a prologue for the upcoming ''The Hunger Dogs'' graphic novel, which DC editors greenlighted to conclude the series.<ref name="JK4WO" />

====''The Hunger Dogs''====
Published as ''[[DC Graphic Novel]]'' #4, ''The Hunger Dogs'' was intended by Kirby and DC to serve as the end to the entire Fourth World saga.<ref>{{cite book|last= Evanier|first= Mark|title= Kirby: King of Comics|publisher= [[Abrams Books]]|year= 2008|location= New York, New York|page= 200|isbn= 978-0810994478}}</ref> The project was mired in controversy over Kirby's insistence that the series should end with the deaths of the New Gods, which clashed with DC's demands that the New Gods could not be killed off.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

As a result, production of the graphic novel suffered many delays and revisions. Pages and storyline elements from the never published "On the Road to Armagetto" were revised and incorporated into the graphic novel, while DC ordered the entire plot restructured, resulting in many pages of the story being rearranged out of Kirby's intended reading order.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newsfromme.com/2001/02/23/jmomwoe/|title= Miracle Man|first= Mark|last= Evanier|date= February 23, 2001|publisher= News From ME|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140702025026/http://www.newsfromme.com/2001/02/23/jmomwoe/|archive-date=July 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newsfromme.com/2006/09/16/ever-the-source/|title= Ever the Source|first= Mark|last= Evanier|date= September 16, 2006|publisher= News From ME|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140702025307/http://www.newsfromme.com/2006/09/16/ever-the-source/|archive-date=July 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the end, ''The Hunger Dogs'' saw the tormented, slave population of Apokolips rise up against Darkseid in a massive slave revolt, forcing Darkseid to flee his homeworld. This ending would not last, as Darkseid would reclaim Apokolips off-panel prior to the events of the 1986 ''[[Legends (comics)|Legends]]'' crossover.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===Volume 3 (1989–91)===
Following the ''[[Cosmic Odyssey (comics)|Cosmic Odyssey]]'' limited series by [[Jim Starlin]] and [[Mike Mignola]],<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 235: "Writer Jim Starlin and artist Mike Mignola teamed up for a sci-fi miniseries that spanned the [DC Universe]."</ref> a new ''New Gods'' series was launched. Written by longtime Kirby assistant [[Mark Evanier]], with co-author and penciler [[Paris Cullins]], this would be the most lengthy ''New Gods'' run yet. Coming in at 28 issues, this volume was published from February 1989 to August 1991.<ref name="Overstreet" /><ref>{{gcdb series|id= 11333|title= ''New Gods'' vol. 3}}</ref> This series is sometimes considered volume 2, as the aforementioned volume 2 was essentially a reprinting of volume 1.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===Volume 4 (1995–97)===
Originally written by [[Tom Peyer]] and [[Rachel Pollack]], and pencilled by [[Luke Ross]], volume 4 of ''New Gods'' ran from October 1995 until February 1997.<ref name="Overstreet" /><ref>{{gcdb series|id= 5243|title= ''New Gods'' vol. 4}}</ref> It was taken over by [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]] for issues #12–15 at the end of the series; this title would be renamed as ''[[Fourth World (comics)|Jack Kirby's Fourth World]]'', also by Byrne, with numbering reset to issue #1, and covers provided by [[Walt Simonson]]. Walt Simonson's ''[[Orion (comics)#2000 Series|Orion]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-17|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Orion (comics)#2000 Series|reason= The anchor (2000 Series) [[Special:Diff/157470722|has been deleted]].}}'' series, which continued to host the backup feature "Tales of the New Gods", began in Byrne's ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World'' and served as an extension of it. Simonson wished to simply title his series "New Gods", but DC felt the name had been used too much recently.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://westfieldcomics.com/wow/frm_int_036.html|title= Walter Simonson|date= May 2000|publisher= Westfield Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120206063847/http://westfieldcomics.com/wow/frm_int_036.html|archive-date=2012-02-06 |url-status=live|access-date=2010-10-19}}</ref>

John Byrne's one-shot issue ''[[Intercompany crossover#1995|Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger]]'' also appeared in October 1995.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===2007–present===
[[File:Death New Gods1.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Cover to ''Death of the New Gods'' #1 (Early December 2007)<br>Art by [[Jim Starlin]] and Matt Banning]]

====''Death of the New Gods'' and ''Final Crisis''====
{{main|Death of the New Gods|Final Crisis}}
Taking place in both the yearlong series ''[[Countdown to Final Crisis]]'' (2007–2008) and its spin-off, ''[[Death of the New Gods]]'', written by [[Jim Starlin]],<ref>Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 331: "Writer and artist Jim Starlin helmed this eight-part series as a mysterious force brought destruction to the inhabitants of the Fourth World."</ref><ref>{{gcdb series|id= 26930|title= ''Death of the New Gods''}}</ref><ref>Overstreet, p. 623</ref> was a story-arc involving the mysterious deaths of the New Gods across the universe in preparation for the coming storylines in [[Grant Morrison]]'s ''[[Final Crisis]]'', published later in 2008. As elaborated in ''Death of the New Gods'', the mysterious Godkiller turned out to be an agent of the sentient [[Source (comics)|Source]] itself, which sought to destroy the imperfect Fourth World—compromised by the disruption in its creation by the Old Gods—in favor of a more perfect "Fifth World" by reuniting the Source with the [[Anti-Life Equation]]. The Source's initial attempts to recreate the Fifth World had been hampered by the ''[[Crisis on Infinite Earths]]'' which unified the [[Multiverse (DC Comics)|Multiverse]] and forged an impenetrable [[Source Wall]] around the Anti-Life Equation. {{clarify|text=By subtly manipulating characters such as [[Alexander Luthor, Jr.]],<ref>{{cite book|last1 = Johns|first1 = Geoff|author-link = Geoff Johns|last2 = Jimenez|first2 = Phil|title = Infinite Crisis|publisher = DC Comics|year = 2006|pages = 264|isbn = 978-1401209599|title-link = Infinite Crisis}}</ref> and [[Booster Gold]]<ref>{{cite book|last1= Johns|first1= Geoff|last2= Morrison|first2= Grant|last3= Rucka|first3= Greg|last4= Waid|first4= Mark|last5= Giffen|first5= Keith|title= 52|publisher= DC Comics|year= 2012|pages= 1216|isbn= 978-1401235567|title-link= 52 (comics)}}</ref> to recreate the Multiverse made the Source Wall less impenetrable.|date=December 2024}} The Source's agent is revealed to be the New God [[Infinity-Man]]. [[Darkseid]] acquires the powers of the Anti-Life Equation and capitalizes on the deaths of the New Gods by using the human [[Jimmy Olsen]] as a "soul-catcher" for the Gods, from which he can claim all their powers and recreate the universe in his own image, but he is killed when the Source is able to send Darkseid's resurrected son, [[Orion (comics)|Orion]], to rip out his heart. Orion leaves the scene of the fray to die of his own wounds; and, seemingly with success, the Source entity manages to reunite with the Anti-Life entity and merge [[Apokolips]] with [[New Genesis]] to create the Fifth World, with the New Gods of the Fourth World all deceased.

In ''DC Universe'' #0, a bridge between the ''Countdown'' and ''Final Crisis'' limited series, Darkseid is resurrected on Earth. In ''Final Crisis'', Darkseid and his minions now exist on Earth in the guises of organized criminals, with Darkseid taking the name "Boss Dark Side". Other New Gods, such as [[Metron (comics)|Metron]] and the [[Black Racer (DC Comics)|Black Racer]], also appear reborn in newer, more elaborate Fifth World incarnations. Orion is discovered dead by detective [[Dan Turpin]], prompting the [[Guardians of the Universe]] to launch an investigation. [[Batman]] surmises that Orion was in fact killed not of injuries from battling Darkseid, but by a sort of bullet sent backwards in time. Darkseid spreads the Anti-Life Equation among the human population, creating monstrous slaves out of its victims as he ushers in the ''Final Crisis of Mankind''. [[Mister Miracle (Shilo Norman)|Shilo Norman]] begins recruiting an army, warning of a war in heaven having occurred where evil won. Darkseid similarly claims to have ultimately come out of this war in heaven the victor. The villain [[Libra (DC Comics)|Libra]] reappears on Earth after a long absence, making promises to the villains of Earth in the name of the deity he worships.

Grant Morrison addressed what he described as "the disconnects that online commentators, sadly, seem to find more fascinating than the stories themselves", by explaining that he provided a rough draft of the first issue, and an outline of the plot, before the writing began on ''Countdown'' and ''Death of the New Gods''.<ref name="morrisonfc1">{{cite web|url= http://www.newsarama.com/123-grant-morrison-on-final-crisis-1.html|title=Grant Morrison on ''Final Crisis'' #1|first= Matt|last= Brady|publisher= [[Newsarama]]|date=June 9, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130604165455/http://www.newsarama.com/123-grant-morrison-on-final-crisis-1.html|archive-date= June 4, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> He outlined his thinking on the issues of continuity between the stories by stating that he "started writing ''Final Crisis'' #1 in early 2006, around the same time as the ''[[52 (comics)|52]]'' series was starting to come out, so ''Final Crisis'' was more a continuation of plot threads from ''[[Seven Soldiers]]'' and ''[[52 (comics)|52]]'' than anything else."<ref name="morrisonfc1"/>

As the events of ''Final Crisis'' unfold, it is revealed that the evil gods of Apokolips have been hiding in human bodies, and some have their bodies "rebuilt" for them in the Evil Factory, formerly the Command-D bunkers in [[Blüdhaven]]. Darkseid inhabits the body of Dan Turpin, after Turpin finally succumbs to the evil god. Kalibak inhabits a new body, that of a humanoid tiger, leading a team of similar creatures in battle. Mokkari and Simyan appear, looking more or less identical to their previous forms, with no explanation given to where their bodies came from. [[Granny Goodness]] takes up residence in the [[Alpha Lantern]] Kraken, using her to attack the Guardians of the Universe, while [[Desaad|DeSaad]] inhabits the body of [[Mary Marvel]]. The [[Female Furies]] themselves are not shown to still exist, but they are recreated using Anti-Life controlled heroes and villains in the forms of [[Wonder Woman]], [[Batwoman]], [[Catwoman]], and [[Giganta]].

At the conclusion of the series, the essence of Darkseid is destroyed; the New Gods, are resurrected and reborn; and [[Nix Uotan]] implies that they will guide the recently destroyed [[Earth-51]], restoring it to prosperity and peace. Nix also indicates that the Super Young Team are the new Forever People of the Fifth World.

====Post-''Final Crisis''====
{{see also|Fifth World (comics)}}
In an interview with [[Newsarama]], DC Executive Editor [[Dan DiDio]] spoke of the future of the New Gods in the DC Universe, saying, "The other thing we’ll give a rest to as well is the concept of the New Gods and the ideas surrounding them. There's a very clear conclusion to the New Gods’ storyline in ''[[Final Crisis]]'' #7. The good part about it is that readers will see that ending, and we won't have to return to it right away. Like the Multiverse, the New Gods will be out there and available to us, and we can use them when we see fit, and feel the time is right. Just because we introduced concepts doesn't mean that we have to constantly use them."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.newsarama.com/2017-dan-didio-20-answers-1-question-for-january-23.html|title= Dan DiDio: 20 Answers, 1 Question|first= Matt|last= Brady|publisher= Newsarama|date=January 23, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140704231424/http://www.newsarama.com/2017-dan-didio-20-answers-1-question-for-january-23.html|archive-date= July 4, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

====''The New 52''====
In September 2011, ''[[The New 52]]'' rebooted DC's continuity. In this new timeline, Darkseid first appears in ''Justice League'' #4. [[Desaad|DeSaad]] and [[Steppenwolf (comics)|Steppenwolf]] also briefly appear in this story arc, experimenting on Superman and referring to "the search for Darkseid's daughter", explaining Darkseid's actions throughout infinite and his assault and assimilation of various worlds throughout the multiverse.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Johns, Geoff|penciller= [[Jim Lee|Lee, Jim]]|inker= [[Scott Williams (comics)|Williams, Scott]]|story= Justice League Part One|title= Justice League|volume= 2|issue= #1|date= October 2011}}<br>{{cite comic|writer= Johns, Geoff|penciller= Lee, Jim|inker= Williams, Scott|story= Justice League Part Two|title= Justice League|volume= 2|issue= #2|date= December 2011}}<br>{{cite comic|writer= Johns, Geoff|penciller= Lee, Jim|inker= Williams, Scott|story= Justice League Part Three|title= Justice League|volume= 2|issue= #3|date= January 2012}}<br>{{cite comic|writer= Johns, Geoff|penciller= Lee, Jim|inker= Williams, Scott|story= Justice League Part Four|title= Justice League|volume= 2|issue= #4|date= February 2012}}<br>{{cite comic|writer= Johns, Geoff|penciller= Lee, Jim|inker= Williams, Scott|story= Justice League Part Five|title= Justice League|volume= 2|issue= #5|date= March 2012}}</ref> In subsequent issues it is revealed that Cyborg's teleportation powers are linked to the Boom Tubes, thanks to upgrades performed by his father utilizing the Mother Box found by the team in their initial adventure, and that every 1,000 times he uses this technology, a glitch in it transports him and his Justice League comrades to Apokolips.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Johns, Geoff|penciller= Lee, Jim|inker= Williams, Scott|story= Justice League Part Six|title= Justice League|volume= 2|issue= #6|date= April 2012}}</ref>

In the pages of ''[[Earth-Two#The New 52|Earth 2]]'' #1, it is revealed that Darkseid's search has also resulted in his traversing the array of worlds invading this parallel Earth. Unlike his encounters in ''Justice League'', this one is far more successful, resulting in the death of that Earth's Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman; in the midst of this war, Power Girl and Huntress somehow traverse into the realm of Prime-Earth.

It is teased that the fall of the Olympian Gods will lead to the creation of New Gods, but not stated if they mean the race of New Gods populating the Fourth World or simply newer younger gods. A figure, with Orion's helmet, appears in shadow then disappears into a Boom Tube.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[Brian Azzarello|Azzarello, Brian]]|penciller= [[Cliff Chiang|Chiang, Cliff]]|inker= Chiang, Cliff|story= Birth Right|title= Wonder Woman|volume= 4|issue= #12|date= October 2012}}</ref> Orion fights against, then assists Wonder Woman in her struggle with the gods of Olympus and the monstrous First Born of Zeus, eventually leading her and the Last Born of Olympus to New Genesis and its leader: Highfather. While Highfather appears much younger than his pre-''[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]'' incarnation, New Genesis appears much the same, consisting of a futuristic floating city above a mostly rural world covered in forests.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Azzarello, Brian|penciller= Akins, Tony|inker= Green Dan; Burchett, Rick|story= Just Deserts|title= Wonder Woman|volume= 4|issue= #14|date= January 2013}}</ref>

In the ''[[Forever Evil#"Villains Month" titles|Darkseid]]'' special issue, it is revealed that he and Highfather are some of the only survivors of a previous larger world, where they were brothers and peasants. Their world was also inhabited by colossal beings known as Old Gods, who spent much of their time brawling with each other, feeding off the worship of the 'mudgrubbers', whose lives were often lost in the battles. One day the man formerly known as Uxas, having tired of his idol's destructiveness, decided to spark a war between them which would in turn devastate their world fatally wounding his sister, Izaya's first wife, after which he opted to kill all the wounded Old Gods, steal their powers and bring about a new order. One by one, the Old Gods were destroyed by Darkseid, who became more horrific in turn as he leeched their essence from them. As Darkseid's schemes started to tear the planet apart, Highfather ran with his wounded Avia in hand towards one of the last and greatest of the Old Gods, acknowledging his time had come and passed he chose to pass on the last of his power to reward Izaya's beloved's devotion to them. Empowered in a blinding flare of light, Highfather arose as a New God to battle Darkseid. The brothers, now equal, tore the world apart during their battle, leaving them to rebuild on the remains, which became Apokolips and New Genesis.

It was his search for what was believed to be his daughter Kaiyo that Darkseid came to traverse and enslave various worlds and universes throughout the 52 realities spanning existence, leading up to his first invasion of Earth 2 as well as the incursion of countless other Earths along the DCnU, up until the core world of Prime Earth where he battled and lost against the Justice League when they first formed to battle his invasion.

After countless eons of infighting proceeding after the fall of the Old World, Darkseid and Highfather would eventually be forced into conflict against their demented father and King of the Old Gods, [[Yuga Khan]]. Livid at the fact his sons ended up killing and usurping the powers of all the Old Gods of Urgrund save himself, he utilized the power of the Anti-Life Equation to reanimate his fallen subjects, while using his own powers to suppress his sons' New God Abilities, all to prevent the rise of the New Gods standing before him. When Zonuz was prepping to deliver the killing blow, Uxas crept up from behind and ended him, reducing his resurrected army back to the dust they were recreated from and sending the Old God back to the Source.

For a time, both brothers would raise their dead world back from the devastation wreaked by their previous conflicts, dubbing it Genesis with Izaya eventually remarrying, up until for undisclosed reasons Darkseid killed Highfather's new wife away from prying eyes, save those of his sibling's. Another war would commence pitting the former's faction against the self-titled God of Evil, which devastated the world they made together.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Jensen, Van; [[Justin Jordan|Jordan, Justin]]; [[Robert Venditti|Venditti, Robert]]; [[Charles Soule|Soule, Charles]]; [[Cullen Bunn|Bunn, Cullen]]|penciller= [[Ethan Van Sciver|Van Sciver, Ethan]]; Coccolo, Martin; [[Goran Sudžuka|Sudžuka, Goran]]; [[ChrisCross]]; [[Pete Woods|Woods, Pete]]|inker= Van Sciver, Ethan; Coccolo, Martin; Sudžuka, Goran; ChrisCross; Woods, Pete|story= Godhead, Act I, Part I: Genesis|title= Green Lantern / New Gods: Godhead|issue= #1|date= December 2014}}</ref> With the losses tallied on both sides, a ceasefire was eventually called with Darkseid eventually slinking back into the darkness, while Highfather wept over the loss of their new home. Over time, a peace treaty would be forged in which Izaya would lose the compassionate part of himself to the Source to make him go through with it. Exchanging their sons like in the previous continuity would not stop Darkseid from waging wars of conquest across reality however, so Highfather brokered another treaty where Darkseid would only attack the Earth 2 dimension while leaving the other infinite Earths untouched.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Wilson, Daniel H.; Bennett, Marguerite; Johnson, Mike|penciller= McDaniel, Scott; Kirkham, Tyler; Herbert, Jack; Jimenez, Jorge; Rocha, Robson; Segovia, Stephen|inker= Kirkham, Tyler; Cifuentes, Vicente; Jimenez, Jorge; Ortego, Guillermo; Paz, Jason|story= Burden|title= Earth 2: World's End|issue= #13|date= February 2015}}</ref>

Over time, the core universe where Apokolips first suffered defeat from would have more interactions with the New Gods of both New Genesis; created by the now-militant Highfather, as well as those of Apokolips; domain of the malevolent Darkseid and his elite followers.

==Setting==
===Apokolips===
{{main|Apokolips}}

===New Genesis===
{{Infobox fictional location
| name = New Genesis
| image = New Genesis (DC Comics planet).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Art by George Pérez (penciller), Karl Kesel (inker) and Tom Ziuko (inker)
| races = New Gods, [[List of alien races in DC Comics#B|Bugs]]
}}
'''New Genesis''' is the home of the New Gods, who live in the floating city of Supertown.<ref>''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' #16 (June 1986). DC Comics.</ref><ref name="New Gods #1">''New Gods'' #1. DC Comics.</ref> The surface is inhabited by the "[[List of alien races in DC Comics#Bugs of New Genesis|Bugs]]" and the Primitives, with the former being considered a lesser class.

New Genesis and Apokolips exist in a different plane of existence located near the [[Source (comics)|Source]], and can only be accessed via Boom Tube portals.<ref>''The Multiversity Guidebook'' #1 (March 2015). DC Comics.</ref><ref>''Jack Kirby's Fourth World'' #1 (March 1997). DC Comics.</ref><ref>''New Gods'' (vol. 4) #10 (August 1996)</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=David|first=Peter|author2=Kirk, Riggs |title=Supergirl|date=January 1999|issue=28}}</ref>

[[File:NewGenesis.jpg|thumb|upright|New Genesis as depicted in ''[[Who's Who in the DC Universe]]'' #7 (February 1991). Art by [[Ed Hannigan]] and Tom Blyberg.]]
New Genesis and Apokolips were created after the destruction of the Old Gods' home planet of Urgrund and respectively seeded with good and evil essences by [[Baldr|Balduur]] and an unnamed sorceress.<ref>''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' #1 (March 1985). Marvel Comics.</ref> Through Darkseid's manipulation, the two planets enter a devastating war before Highfather enacts a temporary truce.<ref>''New Gods'' #7 (March 1972). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref name=":0">''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' #10 (December 1985). Marvel Comics.</ref>

The conflict between the two planets symbolizes the struggle of good and evil on a grand mythic scale. However, despite representing good, New Genesis and its inhabitants are not entirely perfect. Biographer Charles Hatfield writes, "The saga turns out to be not so simple, for Kirby — and this is revealing – blurs the seeming idealized perfection of New Genesis, adding complexity to his gods."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hatfield |first1=Charles |title=Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby |date=2011 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=978-1617031786 |page=196}}</ref> Similarly, John Morrow writes, "Kirby knew that his New Genesis was no heaven. Rather, it was more like the free West during the [[Cold War]], which was threatened by forces from within as well as without."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Morrow |first1=John |title=Gallery |journal=[[The Jack Kirby Collector]] |date=Spring 2019 |volume=26 |issue=76 |page=34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eXaZDwAAQBAJ&q=%22new%20genesis%22 |access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref>

Locations on New Genesis include:

* '''Asylum of the Gods''' - An insane asylum where New Gods who have gone mad are incarcerated.<ref>''New Gods'' (vol. 4) #7. DC Comics.</ref>
* '''Bug Mound''' - The home of the Bugs of New Genesis.
* '''Lonar's Range''' - An area of wilderness where the Primitives live.
* '''Singularity Stockade''' - A multiversal prison.<ref>''Green Lantern'' (vol. 5) #37. DC Comics.</ref>
* '''Supertown''' - A floating city that is the capital of New Genesis and the home of the New Gods.<ref name="New Gods #1"/>

====Later continuity events====
In ''[[Genesis (DC Comics)|Genesis]]'', Highfather is killed and succeeded by [[Takion]]. 

In ''[[Seven Soldiers]]'', New Genesis and Apokolips are destroyed before the Source entity recreates them as a singular planet. Additionally, most of the New Gods are killed during ''[[Final Crisis]]'' before being resurrected.

In "[[The New 52]]" reboot, New Genesis' surface is littered with the ruins of previous cities that were devastated in its conflict with Apokolips.<ref>''Wonder Woman'' (vol. 2) #22. DC Comics.</ref> Additionally, New Genesis technology was used to create [[OMAC (comics)|OMAC]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Anderson |first=Jenna |date=February 20, 2020 |title=DC Comics Makes a Major Change to OMAC |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/dc-comics-characters-omac-metal-men-5-spoilers/ |website=comicbook.com}}</ref>

==Characters==
===New Gods of New Genesis===
* '''[[Highfather]]''' – The king and prophet of New Genesis.
* '''Antinoos''' - Head of Commerce on New Genesis.
* '''Astorr''' – The original [[Infinity-Man]].
* '''Atinai''' – The builder of New Genesis' architecture, buildings, and cities.
* '''Avia''' – The queen of New Genesis and wife of Highfather. She is later killed by Steppenwolf.
* '''Avia II''' – The daughter of Scott and Barda Free, granddaughter of Izaya, Avia and Big Breeda and adopted niece of Orion and Bekka of the [[Kingdom Come (comics)|Kingdom Come]] reality.
* '''[[Big Barda]]''' – The former leader of the Female Furies and Scott Free's wife.
* '''Bugs''' – A race of [[Insectoids in science fiction and fantasy|humanoid insects]].
** '''All-Widow''' – Queen of the Bugs of New Genesis.
** '''[[Forager (character)|Forager]]''' – A warrior Bug of New Genesis and ally of Orion.
** '''[[Forager (character)#Female Forager|Forager]]''' – A female warrior Bug of New Genesis and successor of the first Forager.
** '''Prime One''' – The leader of the Bugs of New Genesis and Forager's mentor.
* '''Celestia''' – A flier.
* '''Council of Eight''' – A group of New Gods who receive their orders from Highfather.
** '''[[Bekka]]''' – Himon's daughter and Orion's wife.
** '''Hyalt''' – A cybernetically enhanced blacksmith.
** '''[[Lightray (character)|Lightray]]''' – A photokinetic warrior.
** '''[[Metron (character)|Metron]]''' – A supreme explorer, scientist, and inventor who rides in the time-traveling Mobius Chair.
** '''[[Orion (character)|Orion]]''' – The second son of Uxas/Darkseid, adoptive son of Highfather, half-brother of Kalibak and Grayvenm and husband of Bekka.
** '''Shadowfall''' – An archer who is a general in the New Genesis army.
** '''Uggha''' – General of New Genesis who obeys the will of Highfather.
* '''Council of Five''' – A group that works under Highfather.
** '''Commander Gideon''' – A high-ranking general in the New Genesis army.
** '''Lonar''' – An explorer who was the first to discover the remnants of the Old Gods.
** '''Madame Nature''' – Security chief.
** '''Teledar''' – A science officer.
* '''Desdemona''' – A teacher for the children of Supertown who is Metron's former lover.
* '''Divine Guard''' – The foot soldiers of New Genesis that work for Highfather and the allies of Orion.
* '''Enkar''' – Guardian of the New Gods' after-realm of Hadis.
* '''Fastbak''' – A young god from Supertown who appeared ''The New Gods'' #5. He uses Aero-Pads that enable him to fly and have super-speed.
* '''Himon''' – The mentor of Mister Miracle.
* '''[[Infinity-Man]]''' – Drax is the older brother of Darkseid.
* '''[[Jezebelle]]''' – A New God in the Pre-Crisis comics. She is a mutant and former student of Granny Goodness who defected to New Genesis.
* '''Jigundus''' – A warrior with super-strength and enhanced durability who appeared in ''[[Superman/Aliens]]''.
* '''K'zandr''' – A keeper of Highfather's [[Oracle]] with precognition.
* '''Magnar''' – An Orion-level warrior who protected Supertown as seen in ''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' #147.
* '''Malhedron''' – A former servant of Darkseid that defected to New Genesis and a former member of the Council of Eight.
* '''[[Mister Miracle]]''' – An escape artist who is the prince of New Genesis, son of Highfather and Avia, father of Avia II (Earth-22/Kingdom Come), husband of Big Barda, son-in-law of Big Breeda, adopted brother of Orion, adopted-brother-in-law of Bekka and protegee of Himon. He is also the adopted brother of Grayven and Kalibak, the adopted son of Uxas/Darkseid, Tigra and Suli, adopted nephew of Drax/Infinity Man, adopted great-nephew of Steppenwolf and adopted grandson of Heggra and Yuga Khan.
* '''[[Monitors (DC Comics)|Monitors]]''' – The aerial police of Supertown.
* '''Primitives''' – A race of [[indigenous peoples]] that live in the forests of New Genesis.
** '''Aarden''' – A warrior from the Primitives.
** '''Mother Herrae''' – The leader of the Primitives and one of the original New Gods.
** '''Sserpa''' – A warrior from the Primitives.
* '''Seagrin''' – The water-loving New God. Slain by the Deep Six.
* '''Sister Sunlight''' – A New God with healing powers in the Pre-Crisis comics who originated as a "lowlie" on Apokolips before Himon emigrated her to Earth.
* '''Stanga''' – A hermit.
* '''[[Takion]]''' – The living embodiment of the Source.
* '''Teledar''' – A disembodied head in a floating orb device.
* '''Thunderer''' – Lonar's battle horse and survivor of [[Ragnarok]] from ''Forever People'' #5.
* '''Valkyra the Commander''' – Vykin's mother who rides a winged robot horse and is an expert at hand-to-hand combat.
* '''Vayla''' – The wife of Highfather and the mother of Scott Free.

===New Gods of Apokolips===
* '''[[Darkseid]]''' – The ruler of Apokolips and the father of Orion, Kalibak, Grayven, and Grail.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tomasi |first1=Peter J. |last2=Manapul |first2=Fransis |last3=Orlando |first3=Steve |title=Justice League: Darkseid War – Power of the Gods |date=November 22, 2016 |publisher=DC |isbn=978-1401265243 |pages=200 }}</ref>
* '''Aerotroopers''' – The winged minions of Darkseid.
* '''Agogg''' – A massive ape-like minion who targeted Ellis Ames for the Anti-Life Equation that he had. He was slain by Darkseid's Omega Beams when Ames claimed that he gave the Anti-Life Equation to him.
* '''Antagonist''' – A minion of Darkseid who is an embodiment of hatred and rage.
* '''Berelda''' – A female servant of Darkseid.
* '''[[Brimstone (DC Comics)|Brimstone]]''' – A being who was artificially created by Darkseid.
* '''Buna''' – A warrior of Apokolips and daughter of Kalibre that appears in ''[[Superman (vol. 2)|Superman]]'' (vol. 2) #104.
* '''Canis Major''' – A minion of Darkseid in dog-themed armor.
* '''Canis Minor''' – A minion of Darkseid in dog-themed armor and the son of Canis Major.
* '''Captain Hathak''' – The former lover of Tigra and the possible father of Orion. He was later killed by Darkseid.
* '''Commander Tusk''' – A commander in Darkseid's army.
* '''Concord''' & '''Harmon''' – The minions of Darkseid.
* '''Control''' – A communications officer.
* '''Cyborg-87''' – A red robot and minion of Darkseid.
* '''Darkseid's Elite''' – The elite warriors of Darkseid.
** '''Amazing Grace''' – A master manipulator.
** '''Bane of Apokolips''' – A minion of Darkseid from ''New Gods'' #18.
** '''Brola''' – A member of Darkseid's Elite who has a "Hand of Stone."
** '''[[DeSaad]]''' – A torturer and Darkseid's right hand and advisor.
** '''[[Devilance]]''' – A hunter. He was killed by [[Lobo (DC Comics)|Lobo]].
** '''[[Doctor Bedlam]]''' – A pure energy being and enemy of Mister Miracle who wields a series of artificial bodies.
** '''[[Glorious Godfrey]]''' – A master manipulator who is mostly adept at bending huge masses of people to his will. He is the older brother of Amazing Grace.
** '''[[Granny Goodness]]''' – The supervisor of the Female Furies and keeper of Apokolips's horrid orphanages.
** '''[[Kalibak]]''' – The son of Darkseid and Suli who serves as the second-in-command of Apokolips.
** '''[[Kanto (comics)|Kanto]]''' – A master assassin.
** '''Lady Justeen''' – The second-in-command of DeSaad, a.k.a. '''Meteorra Mayhem'''.
** '''[[Mantis (DC Comics)|Mantis]]''' – A bug-like warrior from the Bugs of Apokolips.
** '''Mortalla''' – A servant of Darkseid who can induce sleep with one hand and death with another. She was once a mortal but was heavily modified to serve Darkseid.
** '''[[Steppenwolf (character)|Steppenwolf]]''' – Darkseid's uncle who is the general in his armies.
** '''Titan''' – A massive, green-skinned warrior and member of Darkseid's Elite from ''The New Gods'' #18.
** '''[[Virman Vundabar]]''' – An expert strategist and sycophant who is the father of Malice Vundabar.
* '''{{visible anchor|Deep Six}}''' – The fish-like warriors who have fought the New Gods of New Genesis as well as [[Aquaman]].
** '''Gole''' – A member of the Deep Six who wears a helmet that covers his face and wields bladed weapons.
** '''Jaffar''' – A green-armored member of the Deep Six who can mutate other beings with his touch.
** '''Kurin''' – A gold-armored member of the Deep Six who often wields a trident.
** '''Shaligo''' – A member of the Deep Six whose wing-like fins enable him to fly.
** '''Slig''' – A blue-armored member of the Deep Six who can disintegrate an object or mutate other beings with his touch.
** '''Trok''' – An axe-wielding member of the Deep Six who wears a copper helmet.
* '''Dog Cavalry''' – Warriors on dog-like mounts that are commanded by Steppenwolf.
* '''Ericht''' – A Theta drone.
* '''Esak''' – A brilliant young man from Supertown who was Metron's protégé. He was destined to take Metron's place one day as cosmic explorer and master technologist, until he was injured in an accident which damaged him both physically and mentally. His soul and faith were embittered badly and he soon turned against Metron and his New Genesis allies by joining the ranks of Darkseid's Elite. Orion finally confronted Esak and killed him; but before he died, Orion, still respectful for Esak's past self, prayed to the Source for Esak and his face was healed before he finally died.
* '''[[Female Furies]]''' – A group of female warriors that work for Granny Goodness.
** '''[[Artemis (DC Comics)|Artemiz]]''' – The archer of the Female Furies.
** '''[[Bernadeth]]''' – A knife-wielding member of the Female Furies who is Granny Goodness' right-hand woman and is the most intelligent of the group. Sister of DeSaad.
** '''[[Big Breeda]]''' – The mother of Big Barda, grandmother of Avia II (''[[Kingdom Come (comics)|Kingdom Come]]''), mother-in-law of Scott Free, and sister-in-law of Avia I and Izaya.
** '''[[Bloody Mary (DC Comics)|Bloody Mary]]''' – A mind-controlling vampire-themed member of the Female Furies.
** '''Gilotina''' – A member of the Female Furies whose super-strength enables her to chop through anything.
** '''[[Lashina]]''' – A whip-wielding member of the Female Furies. She was also known as Duchess when she was in the [[Suicide Squad]].
** '''Mad Harriet''' – A wild member of the Female Furies with claws.
** '''Malice Vundabar''' – The daughter of Vermin Vundabar.
*** '''Chessure''' – A creature controlled by Malice Vundabar.
** '''Speed Queen''' – A member of the Female Furies who roller skates enable her to have super-speed.
** '''[[Stompa]]''' – A super-strong member of the Female Furies who wears anti-matter boots.
** '''Wunda''' – A light-manipulating member of the Female Furies.
* '''Grail''' – The daughter of Darkseid and the [[Amazons (DC Comics)|Amazon]] Myrina.
* '''[[Grayven]]''' – The third son of Darkseid whose mother is unknown.
* '''Gravi-Guards''' – The hulking minions of Darkseid who are able to become super-dense. They debuted in ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World'' #12.
* '''Harassers''' – They serve as the security guards at Granny Goodness' orphanages.
** '''Marvelous Marno''' – An inventor and member of the Harassers.
* '''Heggra''' – The mother of Darkseid.
* '''Hunger Dogs''' – Also called "Lowlies," they are the downtrodden citizens of Apokolips who reside in the Armagetto district.
** '''Jovita''' – A rebel Hunger Dog from Armagetto.
** '''Kyta''' – A rebel Hunger Dog from Armagetto.
* '''Infernus''' – The pyrokinetic minion of Darkseid who was sent to obtain a powerful sword that was to be delivered to Metron.
* '''Iota''' – A minion of Darkseid.
* '''Jet-Bow Squad''' – The soldiers of Apokolips who wield Jet-Bows.
* '''Justifiers''' – The slaves of Glorious Godfrey that are mind-controlled by the Anti-Life Equation that also powers their weapons. In ''[[Final Crisis]]'' , they appear as the foot soldiers of Darkseid and Libra.
* '''Kalibre''' – An assassin who is the father of Buna.
* '''Killroy''' – The son of Steppenwolf.
* '''Lakutha''' – A midwife who was slain by Tigra to hide Orion's true parentage.
* '''Little Barda''' – A warrior who idolized Big Barda and fled to Earth.
* '''Lucifar''' – A minion of Darkseid who was sent by Darkseid to live with an Alaskan family.
* '''Master Mayhem''' – A minion of Darkseid. He was killed by [[Doomsday (DC Comics)|Doomsday]].
* '''Merritz''' – A troll-like servant that Darkseid abandoned on Hawaii who was encountered by [[Ray (Ray Terrill)|Ray]]. Killed upon Brimstone's activation. 
* '''Mokkari''' – An evil scientist who ran the Evil Factory that is Apokolips's version of [[Project Cadmus]].
* '''Necromina''' – A female minion of Darkseid and commander of the "Graveyard Army" who can raise and control the dead with her "Mortis Mark."
* '''Nurse Maggit''' – An assistant to DeSaad with maggot-like hair.
* '''[[Orion (comics)|Orion]]''' - Second Son of Darkseid.
* '''Pacifiers''' – Giant red robots that enforce peace through force. They appear in ''Superman'' (vol. 2) #3.
* '''[[Parademon]]''' – The common foot soldiers of Apokolips.
** '''3g4''' – A Parademon that fought against its programming after an encounter with Aquaman. He was killed by Topkick.
** '''Junior Jumbo''' – A Parademon.
** '''Pharzoof''' – A Parademon with a mind of his own.
** '''Topkick''' – A Parademon drill instructor.
* '''Photon Patrol''' – The regular soldiers using Parademon flying harnesses from ''Mister Miracle'' #25
* '''Powerboy''' – A friend of Little Barda who fled from Apokolips with her.
* '''Precious''' – A failed potential recruit for the [[Female Furies]].
* '''Protector Willik''' – The Armagetto district's protector who wields a throw-club. Killed by a bomb that was used by Himon.
* '''Pythia''' – The keeper of Darkseid's Oracle with precognition who also controls Apokolips's Garden of Hope.
* '''Red One''' – An assistant to Meteorra.
* '''[[Rip Roar]]''' – A four-armed warrior who fled to [[Earth]] after stealing a New Genesis Super-Cycle and being trapped in stone. Rip Roar later battled [[Young Justice]] upon being freed from his stone prison when his Super-Cycle was activated.
* '''Servitors''' – The giant armored minions of Darkseid.
* '''Simyan''' – A primate-like DNAlien and evil scientist who ran the Evil Factory which is Apokolips's version of Project Cadmus.
* '''Sleez''' – The former boyhood friend of Uxas.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Byrne |first1=John |last2=Zuiko |first2=Tom |title=Action Comics #592-593 |date=1993 |publisher=DC |pages=50 |edition=1st }}</ref>
* '''Stingaree''' – An arachnid warrior from the Bugs of Apokolips.
* '''Suicide Jockeys''' – A group of non-humans fitted with flying harnesses and suicide bombs that speak in rhyme.
* '''Suli''' – The wife of Darkseid and mother of Kalibak.
* '''Techno-Chiefs''' – Four of the Techno-Chiefs accompanied Darkseid in trying to get some information from Metron's Mobius Chair.
* '''Tigra''' – The wife of Darkseid and the mother of Orion.
* '''Tygar the Tearer''' – A saber-toothed gladiator.
* '''Tyrus''' – A minion of Darkseid who is one of Apokolips's greatest assassins. He later defects to New Genesis.
** '''Tracker'''– A giant-sized three-headed hound that serves Tyrus. The Tracker was cloned and grown if the one before it was killed.
* '''Warhounds''' – Robotic dogs created by DeSaad and his team of scientists.
* '''Yuga Khan''' – The father of Darkseid.

==Powers and abilities==
The beings of [[New Genesis]] and [[Apokolips]] call themselves gods, living outside of normal time and space in an extradimensional realm known as the [[Fourth World (comics)|Fourth World]]. Due to their proximity to the [[The Source (comics)|Source]], a primeval energy believed to be one of the ultimate foundations of the Universal Expression of Energy, these New Gods have evolved into genetically stable higher beings of evolutionary perfection.

All of the New Gods possess superhuman abilities of various kinds and differing degrees, including superhuman strength, stamina, reflexes, invulnerability and speed. The denizens of New Genesis and Apokolips are also immortal and endowed with a greater intelligence than ''[[Homo sapiens]]'', despite their resemblance. Both worlds have the finest technology that the universe can offer.

Despite their immortality, the New Gods are vulnerable to a substance called Radion. Its source is unknown and its effects are toxic only in sustained amounts or after explosive exposure. The average New God can be slain by an application of Radion from a Radion blaster or bomb.

Writer [[Rachel Pollack]] introduced the idea in "Sacrifice of the Gods" in 1996 that the New Gods were giants and that the Boom Tube would shrink them as they traveled to normal time and space or enlarge beings who traveled to the Fourth World realm. For example, if [[Superman]] were to travel to Apokolips under his own power, he would be miniature in comparison to the New Gods – Orion remarked that "Earth is but a speck in an air pocket" and that the universe of New Genesis is the "real world". Proportionally, entire planets were shown to seem no larger than golf balls.<ref>''New Gods'' (vol. 4) #10, "Sacrifice of the Gods" (August 1996)</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cosmicteams.com/newgods/faq.html|title = DC Cosmic Teams!}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
Outside of the original three Kirby titles, and those strictly labeled "New Gods", other characters from Kirby's Fourth World have had their own titles. [[Mister Miracle]] has had numerous other iterations of his own comic, and [[Orion (comics)#2000 Series|Orion]] was given his own title in 2000<ref>Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 296: "Comic book legend Walt Simonson brought his unique vision to one of Jack Kirby's greatest heroes on ''Orion'', the first ongoing series to feature the most prominent of the New Gods."</ref> that ended in 2002. The aforementioned ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World'' is another example, as is [[Takion]], a New God not created by Kirby, but one that had his own series for seven issues in 1996. The New Gods and their concepts have at times played a central role in the [[DC Universe]], in series such as [[Jim Starlin]]'s ''[[Cosmic Odyssey (comics)|Cosmic Odyssey]]''. Particularly, the character [[Darkseid]] has been a major force in the DC Universe, and is one of the main villains in the various ''[[Superman]]'' titles.

===Tales of the New Gods===
"Tales of the New Gods" was a backup feature that began in [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]]'s ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World'', and continued in [[Walt Simonson]]'s ''[[Orion (comics)#2000 Series|Orion]]{{Broken anchor|date=2024-07-17|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=Orion (comics)#2000 Series|reason= The anchor (2000 Series) [[Special:Diff/157470722|has been deleted]].}}'' series. In the features for ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World'', Byrne almost exclusively provided the pencils and text for the stories. In the features for the ''Orion'' title, Simonson often wrote the story, and fellow artists would, appropriately, provide the artwork; although on rare occasions, other writers would provide the script/story.<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 5745|title= ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World''}}</ref><ref>Overstreet, p. 785</ref> Two backup stories, though not under the "Tales of the New Gods" banner, were printed when Byrne filled in as penciller on ''Orion'' for the main stories in issues #13 and #14, with Simonson providing writing and pencilling, and [[Bob Wiacek]] inking.<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 7303|title= ''Orion''}}</ref><ref>Overstreet, p. 916</ref>

===Collected editions===
The various New Gods stories have been collected into various volumes. All 11 issues of the original series have been collected into ''Jack Kirby's New Gods'' ({{ISBN|1563893851}}).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-new-gods| title= ''Jack Kirby's New Gods''|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121124024526/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-new-gods|archive-date= November 24, 2012|url-status=live|access-date= October 19, 2010}}</ref> DC Comics published a ''Tales of the New Gods'' trade paperback ({{ISBN|978-1401216375}}) in January 2008, which collects all of the back-up stories listed above, a [[Mark Evanier]]/[[Steve Rude]] ''Mister Miracle'' one-shot comic from 1987, and a previously unpublished story by [[Mark Millar]] and [[Steve Ditko]] originally meant to be printed in the pages of ''Orion''.<ref name="tales">{{cite web| url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/tales-of-the-new-gods|title= ''Tales of the New Gods''|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130304075838/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/tales-of-the-new-gods|archive-date= March 4, 2013|url-status=live|access-date= October 19, 2010}}</ref> In 2008, DC released a one-shot titled ''Countdown Special: New Gods'' #1, which reprinted ''Forever People'' #1, ''Mister Miracle'' #1, and ''New Gods'' #7. ''Death of the New Gods'' has been collected into a hardcover edition ({{ISBN|1401218393}}).<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-death-of-the-new-gods|title= ''Death of the New Gods''|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121002164655/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-death-of-the-new-gods|archive-date= October 2, 2012|url-status=live|access-date=October 19, 2010}}</ref> and later reprinted in trade paperback.

The entirety of Kirby's work on the "Fourth World" was collected in four ''Omnibus'' editions published in 2007 and 2008:
* ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus''
**Volume 1 collects ''Forever People'' #1–3, ''Mister Miracle'' #1–3, ''The New Gods'' #1–3, ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen'' #133–139, 396 pages, May 2007, {{ISBN|978-1401213442}} (hardcover);<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-1|title= ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume 1''|date= June 13, 2007|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140724104951/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-1|archive-date= July 24, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> December 2011, {{ISBN|978-1401232412}} (paperback)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-1-0|title= ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume 1'' tpb|date= December 7, 2011|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714204457/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-1-0|archive-date= July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> 
**Volume 2 collects ''Forever People'' #4–6, ''Mister Miracle'' #4–6, ''The New Gods'' #4–6, ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen'' #141–145, 396 pages, August 2007, {{ISBN|978-1401213572}} (hardcover);<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-2|title= ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume 2''|date= September 5, 2007|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140720181949/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-2|archive-date= July 20, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> April 2012, {{ISBN|978-1401234409}} (paperback)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-2-0|title= ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume 2'' tpb|date= April 4, 2012|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120524072601/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-2-0|archive-date= May 24, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
**Volume 3 collects ''Forever People'' #7–10, ''Mister Miracle'' #7–9, ''The New Gods'' #7–10, ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen'' #146–148, 396 pages, November 2007, {{ISBN|978-1401214852}} (hardcover);<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-3|title= ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume 3''|date= November 21, 2007|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134208/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-3|archive-date= July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> August 2012, {{ISBN|978-1401235352}} (paperback)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-3-0|title= ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume 3'' tpb|date= August 22, 2012|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223229/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-3-0|archive-date= July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
**Volume 4 collects ''Forever People'' #11; ''Mister Miracle'' #10–18; ''The New Gods'' #11; "Even Gods Must Die" from ''The New Gods'' (vol. 2) #6; ''[[DC Graphic Novel]]'' #4: ''The Hunger Dogs''; "On the Road to Armagetto!" (previously unpublished), 424 pages, March 2008, {{ISBN|978-1401215835}} (hardcover);<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-4|title= ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume 4''|date= March 26, 2008|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714152041/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirbys-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-4|archive-date= July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> December 2012, {{ISBN|978-1401237462}} (paperback)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirby%E2%80%99s-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-4|title= ''Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Volume 4'' tpb|date= December 4, 2012|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121207083959/http://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/jack-kirby%E2%80%99s-fourth-world-omnibus-vol-4|archive-date= December 7, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

==In other media==
===Film===
* The evil New Gods are referenced throughout ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]'' (2016). In one deleted scene from the film, which is included in the Ultimate Edition extended cut, [[Lex Luthor]] communicates with [[Steppenwolf (comics)|Steppenwolf]] through the use of [[Extra terrestrial life|alien]] technology from the quarantined [[Krypton (comics)|Kryptonian]] scout ship.
* The New Gods feature prominently in ''[[Justice League (film)|Justice League]]'' (2017), with the main antagonist being Steppenwolf ([[Ciarán Hinds]]). Exiled from [[Apokolips]], Steppenwolf invades Earth in command of an army of [[Parademon]]s, hunting down the three [[Mother Box]]es located thereon. The Mother Boxes are hidden among the united forces of Earth, located in [[Atlantis (DC Comics)|Atlantis]], [[Themyscira (DC Comics)|Themyscira]] and by mankind. [[Cyborg (comics)|Cyborg]] is created through the aid of a Mother Box, and has a connection to their power.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://collider.com/justice-league-movie-villains-mother-boxes/|title= ''Justice League'' Villains and Mother Boxes Teased by Zack Snyder|first= Adam|last= Chitwood|date= June 21, 2016|publisher= [[Collider (website)|Collider]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161008142458/http://collider.com/justice-league-movie-villains-mother-boxes/|archive-date= October 8, 2016|url-status=live|quote= The key technology that everyone is trying to get a hold of in Justice League is the Mother Boxes, three of which are of particular importance and were left in the hands of the Amazonians, the Atlanteans, and Mankind.}}</ref> The New Gods [[Darkseid]] ([[Ray Porter]]),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Zack Snyder unveils first look at Darkseid in the Snyder Cut of 'Justice League'|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/snyder-cut-darkseid-justice-league-085635158.html|access-date=2021-03-12|website=www.yahoo.com|date=28 May 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> [[DeSaad]] ([[Peter Guinness (actor)|Peter Guinness]]),<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-11-08|title=Justice League: Chernobyl Actor Peter Guinness Was Cast as Darkseid's Servant Desaad|url=https://screenrant.com/justice-league-snyder-cut-desaad-peter-guinness/|access-date=2021-03-12|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Granny Goodness]] (portrayed by an uncredited actress) were meant to appear in the film, but were cut following Snyder's departure from the project. They did appear in the director's cut of the film, ''[[Zack Snyder's Justice League]]'' (2021).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Zack Snyder Reveals First Look At Granny Goodness In Justice League|url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/justice-league-zack-snyder-granny-goodness-darkseid-first-look/|access-date=2021-03-12|website=Movies|date=12 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Snyder intended to include all the New Gods in his planned ''Justice League'' sequels, which were never made.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Child |first1=Ben |title=New Gods and dead heroes: why Snyder's DC plans are temptingly off the wall |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/mar/26/zack-snyder-cut-justice-league-dc-batman-superman-wonder-woman |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=March 28, 2021 |date=March 26, 2021}}</ref>
* A New Gods live action film was in development from 2018 to 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Couch |first1=Aaron |last2=Kit |first2=Borys |title=Ava DuVernay's 'New Gods', James Wan's 'The Trench' DC Movies Not Moving Forward at Warner Bros. (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ava-duvernays-new-gods-james-wans-the-trench-dc-movies-not-moving-forward-at-warner-bros |website=The Hollywood Reporter |url-status=live |date=April 1, 2021 |access-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401214757/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ava-duvernays-new-gods-james-wans-the-trench-dc-movies-not-moving-forward-at-warner-bros}}</ref> It was planned to be directed by [[Ava DuVernay]], originally with a script written by [[Kario Salem]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/ava-duvernay-superhero-movie-new-gods-dc-1202725043/|title=Ava DuVernay to Direct DC's Superhero Epic ''New Gods''|last=McNary|first=Dave|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 15, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200223181717/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/ava-duvernay-superhero-movie-new-gods-dc-1202725043/|archive-date= February 23, 2020|url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/ava-duvernay-new-gods-movie-warner-bros-dc-jack-kirby-1202338680/|title=Ava DuVernay To Direct Jack Kirby Comic Creation ''The New Gods'' For Warner Bros, DC|last1=Patten|first1=Dominic|last2=Fleming|first2=Mike Jr.|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=March 15, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200421015902/https://deadline.com/2018/03/ava-duvernay-new-gods-movie-warner-bros-dc-jack-kirby-1202338680/|archive-date= April 21, 2020|url-status= live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> but later with a script written by DuVernay and [[Tom King (comics)|Tom King]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/05/29/tom-king-new-gods-script-ava-duvernay/|title=Batman writer Tom King teams up with Ava DuVernay for ''New Gods'' script|last=Agard|first=Chancellor|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 29, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200423215247/https://ew.com/movies/2019/05/29/tom-king-new-gods-script-ava-duvernay/|archive-date= April 23, 2020|url-status= live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Darkseid was planned to be the main antagonist of the film, but the film was also planned to include the [[Female Furies]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/new-gods-movie-darkseid-furies-confirmed/amp/|title=Darkseid & The Furies Confirmed For DC's ''New Gods'' Movie By Ava DuVernay|first= Cooper|last= Hood|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=July 30, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200423215632/https://screenrant.com/new-gods-movie-darkseid-furies-confirmed/amp/|archive-date=April 23, 2020|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and All-Widow,<ref>{{cite tweet |url=https://twitter.com/ava/status/1258081238578917376 |last=DuVernay |first=Ava |user=ava |title=Because you asked so nicely... working on fourth draft of a scene featuring All Widow this week. xo |number=1258081238578917376 |date=May 6, 2020 |via=Twitter}}</ref> among others.
* [[George Lucas]]'s ''[[Star Wars]]'' series has been speculated to be influenced by the New Gods. At a 1972 dinner that included comics writer/editor [[Roy Thomas]] and comic shop owner Ed Summer, George Lucas told his story for ''Star Wars'', after which Roy Thomas noted that it sounded very similar to Jack Kirby's ''New Gods''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ro|first=Ronin|title=Tales To Astonish : Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and the American Comic Book Revolution|publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]]|year=2004|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn=1-58234-345-4|page=199}}</ref>
* An alternate universe variant of [[Bekka]] as [[Wonder Woman]] appears in the 2015 animated film ''[[Justice League: Gods and Monsters]]''.
* Darkseid appeared in the [[DC Animated Movie Universe]] as the main antagonist, appearing in the films ''[[Justice League: War]]'', ''[[Reign of the Supermen (film)|Reign of the Supermen]]'' and ''[[Justice League Dark: Apokolips War]]''. Additionally, writer [[J. M. DeMatteis]] was interested in scripting a New Gods film set in this franchise.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=910490026512928769|user=JMDeMatteis|title=@An_EqualSociety A story NOT written by me? New Gods!<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. --> |date=September 20, 2017}}</ref>

===Television===
*Darkseid, Kalibak, DeSaad, and the planet Apokolips appear in ''[[Super Friends]]''.<ref name="tales"/>
* Various New Gods characters have appeared in the modern [[DC Animated Universe]], with Kalibak, Darkseid, and the Fourth World characters making their initial appearance in ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]''. They later appear in ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' and ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sava |first=Oliver |date=July 23, 2012 |title=Justice League: "Twilight" |url=https://www.avclub.com/justice-league-twilight-1798173583 |access-date=September 12, 2024 |website=AV Club}}</ref>
* Darkseid, Kalibak, [[Granny Goodness]] and Darkseid's other followers appear in ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]''. [[Lashina]] and [[Stompa]] also appear as servants of [[Mongal]].
* Many of the New Gods characters, such as Darkseid, Granny Goodness, DeSaad, and Godfrey, appear in the final season of ''[[Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]]''.
* Various New Gods appear in ''[[Young Justice (TV series)|Young Justice]]'': Darkseid, the [[Forever People]], DeSaad, Glorious Godfrey, Granny Goodness, Metron, Highfather, and Lightray. Antinoös, Celestia, Grayven, and the Hunger Dogs also appear in minor roles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matadeen |first=Renaldo |date=April 16, 2022 |title=''Young Justice: Phantoms'' Revealed a New God's Cosmic Hulk Problem |url=https://www.cbr.com/young-justice-phantoms-orion-cosmic-hulk/ |access-date=September 12, 2024 |website=CBR }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Matadeen |first=Renaldo |date=May 13, 2022 |title=Young Justice: Phantoms' Promethean Took a Page From ''Eternals'' |url=https://www.cbr.com/young-justice-phantoms-eternals-enemy/ |access-date=September 12, 2024 |website=CBR }}</ref>

===Video games===
* Several New God characters appear in ''[[DC Universe Online]]'', including Mister Miracle, Big Barda, Kalibak, Mantis, Orion, Lightray, Steppenwolf, Darkseid, his New God/[[Amazons (DC Comics)|Amazon]] daughter Grail, Granny Goodness, and the [[Female Furies]] [[Stompa]], [[Lashina]], and [[Mad Harriet]], along with several Bugs and Parademons. New Genesis is an open-world area, with two instances in [[Apokolips]].
* Multiple New Gods appear as unlockable playable characters in ''[[Lego DC Super-Villains|LEGO DC Super-Villains]]'', including Darkseid, Kalibak, Grail, Granny Goodness, the Female Furies, and Steppenwolf. Furthermore, Apokolips appears as a level.

==Awards==
This series, along with ''[[Forever People]]'', ''[[Mister Miracle]]'', and ''[[Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen]]'' won [[Jack Kirby]] a [[Shazam Award]] for "Special Achievement by an Individual" in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam71.php|title= 1971 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004533/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/shazam71.php|archive-date= December 3, 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= October 19, 2010}}</ref>

In 1998, ''Jack Kirby's New Gods'' by Jack Kirby, edited by Bob Kahan, won both the [[Harvey Award]] for "Best Domestic Reprint Project"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/harvey98.php|title= 1998 Harvey Award Nominees and Winners|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140428232154/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/harvey98.php|archive-date= April 28, 2014|url-status=live|access-date=October 19, 2010}}</ref> and the [[Eisner Award]] for "Best Archival Collection/Project".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner98.php|title= 1998 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054838/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner98.php|archive-date= September 21, 2013|url-status= dead|access-date= October 19, 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
Other notable Fourth World characters and concepts:
* [[Anti-Life Equation]]
* [[Jack Kirby bibliography]]
* [[Mother Box]]es
* [[The Source (comics)|The Source]]
* [[Source Wall]]

Similar Marvel Comics characters:
* [[Eternals (comics)|Eternals]], a race of godlike human beings also created by Jack Kirby

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://darkmark6.tripod.com/fourthworldind.htm Index to the Earth-1 Fourth World stories]
* [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/series.php?seriesid=1483 ''New Gods''] [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/series.php?seriesid=1484 ''New Gods'' vol. 2], [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/series.php?seriesid=1485 ''New Gods'' vol. 3], [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/series.php?seriesid=1486 ''New Gods'' vol. 4] and [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/series.php?seriesid=3291 ''Death of the New Gods''] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
* {{cite web|url= http://www.comicmix.com/2008/08/04/new-gods-breakdown-an-illustrated-guide-to-jack-kirbys-creations/|title= New Gods Breakdown: An Illustrated Guide to Jack Kirby's Creations|first= Alan|last= Kistler|date= August 4, 2008|publisher= ComicMix.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141230223535/http://www.comicmix.com/2008/08/04/new-gods-breakdown-an-illustrated-guide-to-jack-kirbys-creations|archive-date= December 30, 2014|url-status=live}}
* [https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/New%20Gods New Gods] from DC Wiki
* [https://dcextendeduniverse.fandom.com/wiki/New%20Gods New Gods] from DC Extended Universe
* [https://dccomicsextendeduniverse.fandom.com/wiki/New%20Gods New Gods] from Dc Comics Extended Universe

{{New Gods|state=collapsed}}
{{Justice League characters}}
{{Darkseid}}
{{Jack Kirby}}

[[Category:1971 comics debuts]]
[[Category:1972 comics endings]]
[[Category:1978 comics endings]]
[[Category:1984 comics endings]]
[[Category:1991 comics endings]]
[[Category:1997 comics endings]]
[[Category:2008 comics endings]]
[[Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby]]
[[Category:Comics by Jim Starlin]]
[[Category:Comics by John Byrne (comics)]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1971]]
[[Category:DC Comics alien species]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]
[[Category:DC Comics immortals]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:DC Comics deities]]
[[Category:DC Comics demons]]
[[Category:Fourth World (comics)]]
[[Category:New Gods| ]]