Newer Gods 2: The Secret Society of Replaced Stories
Amazing World of DC Comics 11. Art by Dick Dillin. Owned by DC Comics.
Newer Gods is a monthly feature where I take a look back at the history of DC Comics’ New Gods from the era after original creator Jack Kirby. It’s a study of creators as they take a look back at work of the King of Comics and re-create it.
The Return of the New Gods is soon approaching this blog, but it turns out there's one other story from the period between Kirby's New Gods run and DC's first attempt to revive the characters. Secret Society of Super-Villains would soon add Darkseid to the mix, but the original version of the first issue would introduce him earlier in the run. The decision was made to do a different number one, and this issue was buried in the pages of the eleventh issue of the black and white fan magazine Amazing World of DC Comics.
Gerry Conway writes the tale with Ric Estrada penciling and Pablo Marcos inking.
The tale kicks off with Captain Cold as he's cornered by the combined Secret Society of Super-Villains, all mad because he hasn't yet joined them. The unit quickly meet the man that gathered them together, none other than Darkseid, "Prince of Apokolyps [sic]." He reveals himself as The Director, gatherer of the Society. He quickly informs the team (Cold, Gorilla Grodd, Star Sapphire, Manhunter and Clayface) that he's gathered them for a purpose and whisks them away on his sky-sled.
They attack a military installation and Darkseid reveals their goal: Wargas, the deadliest nerve gas ever made. The villains devolve into a petty squabble over who wins the gas, but Manhunter stops the entire team. He warns the other super-criminals that Darkseid is no petty criminal intent on money-making. He wants the Wargas to destroy the world and they cannot let him have it.
Darkseid explodes in an attempt to get out of this mess of a comic.
Grodd angrily attacks Darkseid, but Darkseid explodes at the first blow. It's revealed it is only an android simulation of the ruler of Apokolips. The Secret Society of Super-Villains decide to form a unit to continue their criminal ways while also battling Darkseid in his attempt to destroy the Earth.
Frankly, this story is a bit of a mess. Darkseid in no way acts in character here at all. If it wasn't for Manhunter's reveal of his true plans, he wouldn't seem like the Kirby creation even a little. Fortunately, this story was treated as apocryphal. Darkseid would make his presence known in Secret Society of Super-Villains, but in a rather different light than this one. It's probably for the best for all characters involved here.
Next month: The last issue of First Issue Special!
