While there are many villains and organizations that fans of DC Comics can say represent the greatest threat to the heroes of the DC Universe, there is one that is so powerful that it represents such a constant threat to the heroes. Obviously, we are talking about the powerful forces of Apokolips and specifically the planet’s ruler, Darkseid.
The all-powerful New God who is obsessed with the Anti-Life equation and is a constant threat to Superman and Justice League, Darkseid is backed by an entire world of loyal supporters. Let’s take a look at the most powerful of Darkseid’s Elite.
In certain cases, a character might be affiliated with Darkseid's Elite but not necessarily a staple of the group.
10 Amazing Grace
The first of Darkseid’s Elite to be mentioned is Amazing Grace. A powerful yet underutilized servant of Darkseid, Amazing Grace is a powerful alien who is not only the sister of Glorious Godfrey but also possesses the ability to use mind manipulation powers on her victims to get them to do whatever she wants.
Amazing Grace frequently keeps the people of Apokolips in agony by convincing a small group to begin a rebellion, only to have them easily crushed by Darkseid’s forces. Her biggest accomplishment came when she manipulated Superman into believing he was Darkseid’s son, only breaking free once Orion freed him from her control.
9 Kanto
Real name Iluthin, Kanto is one of Darkseid’s most powerful assassins. A student at Granny Goodness’s Orphanage, Kanto is accused by Kanto 13 and others of stealing Darkseid’s weapons and is punished accordingly. He is exiled to Earth during the planet’s Renaissance era. Once there, he trains under Italian teachers and even falls in love with a woman named Claudia.
Kanto 13 tracks Iluthin to Earth and ends the life of Claudia at their wedding, leading the two to battle until Kanto 13 falls, and is taken out by Darkseid for failing his mission. This leads to Kanto returning to Apokolips to serve Darkseid.
8 Mantis
The next all-powerful member of Darkseid’s Elite is Mantis, a leader of humanoid insects that migrated from New Genesis to Apokolips. Granted great power by Darkseid for his loyal support, Mantis became an energy vampire-like being, absorbing energy from his opponents before turning it on them.
Not only has Mantis served as Darkseid's loyal henchman, but he also helped Darkseid create the first iteration of the Secret Society Of Super-Villains. He was last seen being taken out by Infinity Man alongside Darkseid’s son Kalibak while the two were fighting Superman.
7 Titan
The next member of Darkseid’s Elite is Titan, a green-skinned warrior of Apokolips who serves Darkseid loyally. The warrior was chosen to lead an attack on New Genesis during the war between Apokolips and New Genesis. Unfortunately for Titan, he was the only survivor of an ambush during the invasion, and Darkseid locked him away for half a century as punishment.
Upon his release, Darkseid tasked Titan with fighting Orion as a distraction in a plan to gain a piece of the Anti-Life equation found on Earth. However, Orion proved too much, and Titan was sent alongside other members of Darkseid's Elite to obtain other Anti-Life equation pieces later on.
6 Virman Vundabar
One of the more unique Elites that serve Darkseid is Virman Vundabar. Virman was an orphan who grew up to work underneath the direction of Granny Goodness herself. Styling himself and his personality based on Prussian military leaders after a mission to Earth, Virman is a master strategist and trap builder who is immortal and has superior strength.
Notable for working for Granny Goodness when the Elites turned on each other in Darkseid’s absence, Virman became a central part of Darkseid’s story once he returned from the Source Wall. Virman tried to take advantage of Darkseid’s mental state; however, Darkseid recovered and used his omega beams to destroy Virman, only to bring him back later.
5 DeSaad
The most sadistic and cruel member of Darkseid’s Elite has to be DeSaad. The official tormentor and torturer of Darkseid’s Elite, DeSaad is a natural coward who revels in the pain and torment of others. Serving Darkseid out of fear, DeSaad never going against his master unless someone else does, so he can have some sense of deniability.
DeSaad has been known to train the New Gods of Apokolips. He nearly lost his life to the Source Wall and serves Darkseid in many of his plots, including the Final Crisis, where he possessed Mary Marvel. DeSaad is immortal, super strong, telepathic, and a master creator of weapons and torture devices.
4 Glorious Godfrey
One of Darkseid’s greatest Elites has to be Glorious Godfrey. Godfrey has similar powers to Amazing Grace, his sister, only instead of manipulation, he can persuade others. After his first brief appearance fighting the Forever People, Godfrey’s role became greater during the Legends crossover event.
Taking on the persona of G. Gordon Godfrey on Earth, he led a hate campaign against the heroes of Earth, in an effort to discredit the heroes and make humans more willing to surrender to Darkseid’s rule. It nearly succeeds, but Godfrey is defeated after he unsuccessfully uses Doctor Fate’s helmet, which mind wipes him entirely.
3 Granny Goodness
Granny Goodness is arguably one of the most infamous faces of Darkseid’s Elite. One of his most loyal subjects, Granny came from the peasant class of Apokolips, until she was taken from her parents and chosen to become one of Darkseid’s hounds. She proved her worth when she showed Darkseid her ability to train others to follow his orders willingly, leading to him making her a trainer for fighters.
Goodness not only trains others to fight for Darkseid’s glory but is the chief leader of the Female Furies, her personal project of female warriors serving Darkseid.
2 Kalibak
The second most powerful member of Darkseid’s forces has to be his firstborn son to his wife Suli, Kalibak. A brutish, powerful warrior, Kalibak is a loyal subject of his father Darkseid, often seen as his father’s second in command. Desperate to obtain love and affection he knows he’ll never get, Kalibak hides his sensitive, emotional side by becoming a powerful warrior.
Often clashing with his half-brother Orion, Kalibak leads his father’s forces into battle once the peace treaty between Apokolips and New Genesis falls. Kalibak is often favored above Darkseid’s other Elites, often being resurrected more frequently after his failures than the others.
1 Steppenwolf
The most powerful of all of Darkseid’s Elite has to be his uncle, Steppenwolf. Made famous most recently in the highly controversial Justice League film in the DC Extended Universe, Steppenwolf is the military general and leader of Darkseid’s forces, often credited with helping start the war between Apokolips and New Genesis by following Darkseid’s order to eliminate Highfather’s wife, which Highfather retaliated by ending Steppenwolf.
However, Steppenwolf's greatest feat of strength came when he became one of the few people to survive an encounter with Doomsday, the ultimate weapon. Teleporting Darkseid away during their first encounter, Steppenwolf survived long enough to save his nephew, which they agreed never to talk about.