Apokolips

Apokolips is a fictional planet that appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The planet is ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series, and is integral to many stories in the DC Universe. Apokolips is considered the opposite of the planet New Genesis.

Apokolips is a large planet covered entirely by a city (an ecumenopolis). It is a notoriously dismal place, where Hunger Dogs (low-class citizens) labor to feed the pits that supply light and power to the world. Both Apokolips and New Genesis exist in a different plane of existence, located near the Source that originated the Old and New Gods.

Apokolips represents a dystopian society. As Jack Misselhorn writes: "No one on Apokolips evolves spiritually because there is no love. It is a stagnant society, its inhabitants living in ignorance, the legacy of oppression".

Because it exists in another dimension outside of the multiverse, Apokolips is primarily accessed via Boom Tubes. It has been said that the New Gods are normally giants, and that travel through the Boom Tubes rescales them to mortal proportions.

Fictional history

Apokolips and its counterpart New Genesis were created after the destruction of Urgrund, the world of the "Old Gods" (implied to be the gods of Norse mythology). The two planets are locked in an eternal war, symbolizing the struggle of evil and good on a grand mythic scale. Apokolips is ruled by a fell being known as Darkseid, a dark leader who rules over his downtrodden people by force and fear and killed his mother Heggra to obtain the throne. With Apokolips gone, Darkseid plans to use the Ghost Sector to create a New Apokolips which he will use to invade and conquer the Multiverse.

Inhabitants

The population is a downtrodden lot, including many kidnapped from other worlds before being "broken". The majority of the population are called Lowlies or Hunger Dogs, a bald and fearful race whose members have no sense of self-worth or value, and yet, in their own way, are just as much gods as those who rule the planet. The Lowlies are subject to constant abuse that ends only with death. Next are the Parademons, who serve as the keepers of order on the planet and are created from other races who have been brainwashed or resurrected to serve Darkseid.

Granny Goodness' Orphanage – This is a training facility where Granny Goodness trains the children of Apokolips to become mighty warriors. It is located in the Night-Time Zone of Armagetto.
The Happiness Home – The Happiness Home is a rectangular fortress is built on a solid rock base in the centre of a shallow crater. It is over 200 feet high and a training school of sorts.
The Necropolis – The Necropolis is an underground labyrinth located on Apokolips, home to the Dreggs, the last surviving Old Gods. The Dreggs survived the sundering of Urgrund, but were rendered mindless. Below the Necropolis are the Black Ways, a labyrinth which was the prison of Sirius, one of the last few surviving Old Gods, now trapped in the form of a large wolf. Sirius sacrificed himself to save Orion's life, as seen in Orion #10 (March 2001). Powerful artifacts created by the Old Gods have been found in the Necropolis. A sword found in the ruins of Asgaard briefly gave John Hedley superhuman powers, which he used to challenge Orion in New Gods #16 (May 1990). In another expedition, Kalibak discovered the Thunderbelt, a device which increased his strength and durability (and which was a direct homage to Thor's belt of strength). New Genesis also has ruined cities from the time of the Old Gods. Lonar found his mystical war horse Thunderer in one of these ruins. They met the Odin for some kind of business, such as a black lightning market that could be a source for Asgardian people.
The Terrorium –

Technology

Apokolips is on par with New Genesis in terms of technological advancement. With their technology, they are the height of power in most of the universe and are able to devastate galaxies when they choose to use it. Technology from Apokolips is sometimes on par with the technology used by Brainiac. Apokoliptian technology is furthermore the source of unparalleled misery in the universe, as the planet routinely arms evil groups with advanced technology to further its influence (and misery) across the universe. Apokoliptian technology was used by Bruno Mannheim and his organization Intergang in the Superman comics. It was a deal between Darkseid and Metron which was the cause of the invention of the "Boom Tube" using "Element X", which could only be found on Apokolips. The "Entropy Aegis" armor, used by Steel to defeat Imperiex, was Apokoliptian technology, as was Dmitri Pushkin's second suit of Rocket Red armor.

Other versions

Darkseid/Galactus: The Hunger

During an intercompany crossover, Galactus visited Apokolips, but was unable to feed on the planet, since all of the life force that had dwelled there had either left to New Genesis or had been burned in the fire pits long ago, in essence leaving the planet with no life force and making it too corrupt for him to feed on.

Apokolips appears in the Justice League episode "Twilight".
Apokolips appears in Justice League Unlimited. Following Darkseid's death, Granny Goodness and Virman Vundabar battle for control of the planet.
Apokolips appears in the series finale of Smallville.
Apokolips appears in Young Justice.
Apokolips appears in Justice League Action.
Apokolips appears in the Harley Quinn episode "Inner (Para) Demons".

Film

Apokolips appears in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse.
Apokolips appears in the DC Animated Movie Universe films Justice League: War, Reign of the Supermen, and Justice League Dark: Apokolips War.
Apokolips appears in Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Fictional history

Inhabitants

Technology

Other versions

Darkseid/Galactus: The Hunger

Film

Video games

References

External links