Legends tell of a special race between 12 animals that formed the great Chinese Zodiac. Every year, countless people celebrate the year and apply the characteristics of the Zodiac animal to those born in it. For instance, the Snake can be very cunning and vain while the Ox can be known to be a bit stubborn but enduring.
Well written comic book characters have deep, multi-faceted, and truly developed personalities that can easily be compared to well-known personality typing systems such as the Chinese Zodiac. Of Jack Kirby's greatest works, none are more unique than the New Gods. Which begs the question, which Chinese Zodiac sign would fit which New God?
12 Mister Miracle - Rat
The Rat is known to be quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, and kind. What better New God for these traits than the great Mister Miracle? The son of Highfather, Mister Miracle was exchanged for Orion in a peace deal with Apokolips. There, he was sent to Granny Goodness and was put under her cruel brain-washing regiment. But there he proved his versatility.
Nobody is more quick-witted and resourceful to escape from the greatest of traps and perils on Apokolips. In addition, Mister Miracle's kindness had him rescue Big Barda from her time as a Female Fury, and brought her to a peaceful existence.
11 Kalibak - Ox
The Ox is known to be diligent, dependable, strong, and determined. While Kalibak is known as the more inept of Darkseid's sons, he is still a fierce warrior with a great diligence and dependability. When you need something beaten up you send Kalibak, and he can do precisely that.
In addition, no New God is more determined to win than the fearsome warrior, and Kalibak has been known to join secret societies dedicated to the eradication of Superman, as well as coming back and serving Darkseid even after being obliterated by Omega Beams. Nothing is more strong, dependable, or determined than that.
10 Orion - Tiger
The Tiger is known to be brave, confident, and competitive, and no New God is more headstrong and confident than the wielder of the Astro-force. Orion is fierce and brave, and has stepped up to any enemy in the defense of his friends and New Genesis. The son of Darkseid, Orion was exchanged in a peace treaty with New Genesis and was raised by Highfather.
While he is prone to anger and bursts of violence, Orion's darker urges were tamed by the patient Highfather, who went on to foster a sense of duty and responsibility in the fierce Orion. Just like the fierce Tiger, Orion has stepped up and fought great enemies, including the most powerful one in Darkseid time and time again. Nothing is more brave and competitive than that.
9 Highfather - Rabbit
The Rabbit is known to be quiet, elegant, kind, and responsible, and that is very easily seen in the wonderful leader of New Genesis: Highfather. Highfather is one of the most powerful characters in the DC Universe, and yet he often uses his power to protect.
When Earth was invaded by Apokolips in Superman TAS Highfather brought the army of New Genesis to protect the planet. Nothing is more elegant and responsible than that. When other New Gods like Orion and Lightray are brash and ready to fight, Highfather's quiet elegance shows them the importance of duty and patience, and that is why he is the noble Rabbit.
8 Darkseid - Dragon
The Dragon is confident, intelligent, enthusiastic, and powerful and is also known in Chinese mythology as the rival of the Tiger. What more fitting choice than Darkseid as the Dragon.
Darkseid is confident as the ultimate God of Apokolips, he is intelligent and powerful as one of the only villains to be able to fight and defeat Superman. Most of all, he is enthusiastic in his search for the Anti-Life Equation, and has beaten death to come back in Final Crisis as well as in the DCAU.
7 Desaad - Snake
The Snake is enigmatic, intelligent, wise, and cunning. In this, nobody is more enigmatic and wise than Darkseid's advisor, Desaad. Known to be the Darkseid's torturer, Desaad is wise in how he deals with Darkseid.
He is known to even go so far as to manipulate the Dark Lord into letting him use his sadistic skills against those he despises. Desaad slithers around the palace and butts heads with many other New Gods, but Darkseid always keeps him around for his intelligence and cunning.
6 Lightray - Horse
The Horse is animated, active, and energetic, and that is definitely what Lightray is. In the DCAU Justice League, Lightray was a chatty and arrogant character who teased Wonder Woman and flew rings around the group. Wonder Woman even remarks that he's, "worse than the Flash."
In the comics, Lightray is just as animated and active and his energy is frequently seen as he uses his speed of light to zoom around foes, as well as use his active mind to play Chess, and solve problems through peace and compromise.
5 Forever People - Sheep
The Sheep is calm, gentle, and sympathetic, and the Forever People are definitely a great example of this. These five New Gods are different but the same in many ways. While Vykin may be more calm and composed in comparison to Big Bear, the whole group is known to be sympathetic and gentle.
Together, like a flock of Sheep they join and become a great boon to whoever needs them. When they join with the motherbox, the Forever People become Infinity-Man and create a power equal to even Darkseid.
4 Glorious Godfrey - Monkey
The Monkey is sharp, smart, and curious and is best known in Chinese mythology as Sun-Wukong the Monkey King. In the New Gods universe, the best choice is clearly Glorious Godfrey, a sharp and smart speaker who uses his words to manipulate others.
In the Young Justice show, Glorious Godfrey hides on Earth as a TV News Host and uses his sharp tongue to turn people against the Reach, an enemy of Darkseid's. In the original comics, Godfrey managed to gather a large following and have the President decree against Super-heroes.
3 Metron - Rooster
The Rooster is observant, hardworking, and courageous. While Metron doesn't fully fulfill the capacity for courage, he is definitely the most observant New God. Watching constantly from his chair, Metron is the great connection to the Source Wall.
He is ever vigilant and hardworking in his quest to ensure that heroes do not go against the wishes of the Source Wall too, and has been known to interfere when he must for the greater good of the universe.
2 Big Barda - Dog
The Dog is loyal, honest, and prudent, and Big Barda is the best example of this. Initially a Female Fury, Big Barda was a pawn of Darkseid and Granny Goodness. Still, her honesty in her love for Mister Miracle has her help him escape Apokolips and reach New Genesis.
Even then, it is her prudent nature that she stays on Apokolips to remain as she is not fully prepared to leave. In the end though, it is her loyalty to her love that has her forgo her civilian life and go into space to rescue her husband in an issue of the Justice League.
1 Granny Goodness - Pig
The Pig is compassionate, generous, and diligent and in many ways Granny Goodness is this. Granny's character believes her malicious ways are all for the benefit of Darkseid and others, and in this she is very compassionate despite her cruel nature. In fact, in the comics, Granny had started in Apokolips as a peasant and was conscripted to be a trainer of fighter hounds.
When she was ordered to kill her hound she instead killed the trainer who ordered her to do so, showing her compassionate nature. She is also generous and diligent to the Female Furies that blindly serve Darkseid, and has been a great mentor to Lashina and the others.