Darkseid Appoints Iconic Villain His Official 'Harbinger,' All Details

Warning: contains spoilers for DC All-In: Darkseid vs the World #1!

Darkseid is on his way back to the DC Universe, and he has appointed an iconic villain as his “Harbinger.” No one villain strikes fear into the hearts of DC’s heroes more than Darkseid, and for good reason. For over 50 years, the Lord of Apokolips has left a trail of misery and devastation across the cosmos, all in the pursuit of “Omega Energy.”

Darkseid’s story is very much that of the DC Universe as well, and nowhere was this clearer than in 2024’s DC All-In Special #1. In that one-shot, Darkseid, now in control of the Spectre, attacked the Justice League, and was seemingly defeated. However, his “death” unleashed unchecked amounts of Omega Energy into the multiverse, most notably leading to the creation of the Absolute Universe. With Darkseid now apparently out of the way, a tournament was held to see which hero would receive the Omega Energy left behind. It might seem that Darkseid is gone for good.

Yet still, the heroes cannot shake the feeling that Darkseid might still be out there somewhere. He is an evil tyrant, capable of effortlessly taking down the likes of the Phantom Stranger, Hera and the wizard Shazam. Darkseid’s power is too great to contain, and now, two years after he was “defeated,” he is on his way back, as seen in the new DC All-In: Darkseid vs the World #1.

Pandora, One Of the Architects Of The New 52, Is Darkseid's New Herald

DC All-In: Darkseid vs the World #1 contains two stories, the first, by Scott Snyder and Sanford Greene, sees the villain reform himself in the physical world. Darkseid is telling his life story to someone, but the story does not immediately reveal who it is. As Darkseid gloats over his “accomplishments,” such as crafting the Absolute Earth, his plans come to fruition. Furthermore, it is revealed that Darkseid is addressing the villain Pandora.

That story is followed by a second, titled “Harbinger” and written by Joshua Williamson and drawn by Yasmine Putri, which shows how Pandora came into Darkseid’s service. In her last appearance, in 2016’s DC Rebirth #1, Pandora was seemingly killed by Doctor Manhattan, and “Harbinger” picks the thread up here. Darkseid, who has just reasserted himself on this plane of existence, senses Pandora’s essence floating in the ether and brings it to him, giving her a new body and declaring her his new “Harbinger.”

Pandora Has Returned After a Decade Away, But Where Has She Been?

And Just Exactly Where Do Pandora's Loyalties Lie?

Despite not having been seen in a decade, Pandora should still be instantly recognizable to DC fans. Introduced in 2011’s Flashpoint #5, Pandora was initially believed to be the one who created the “New 52” timeline, bringing together various timelines as a way to prepare for a vague threat on the horizon. She would appear in every first issue in the first wave of New 52 books, before getting her own series, which ran for 14 issues. Pandora’s story seemed to come to an end in the aforementioned DC Rebirth, where she died at the hands of Doctor Manhattan.

Now, Pandora has returned to the DC Universe, and is in the service of Darkseid as his “herald.” Darkseid has a new plan: to collapse all reality into an Omega Point, and Pandora is helping him. Darkseid appeals to Pandora’s desire for change, and she throws her lot in with the villain. Yet “Harbinger” gives readers the impression Pandora may have an agenda of her own, and Darkseid is a means to accomplish her goals.

Furthermore, Darkseid and Pandora’s new alliance is unlike any the Lord of Apokolips has had in the past. The vague threat Pandora alluded to in her first appearance is apparently still out there. She reveals its existence to Darkseid, and it gives him pause. Darkseid feels he will need Pandora’s assistance in taking care of the incoming threat. While Pandora is clearly now working for Darkseid, she is also not totally subservient to him. Darkseid could have crushed the free will out of Pandora, yet he chose not to.

Pandora Will Inevitably Betray Darkseid, But Does He Know Already?

Even if Pandora is following some other agenda, the fact is Darkseid probably knows about it. As seen in Darkseid vs the World, his latest plan has been unfolding since the first All-In special, including his “death” and the KO Tournament. Darkseid planned every one of these, and the heroes walked right into the traps he set. With this in mind, it is likely that Darkseid knows Pandora’s betrayal is imminent. In fact, Pandora seeming to stab Darkseid in the back may also be crucial to his plans to remake the DC Universe.