There are many comic book villains in the world of DC and Marvel that have truly stood the test of time and made their way onto the silver screen. Among them, the likes of Marvel’s Thanos and DC’s Darkseid truly stand out.
With that being said, it appears Grant Morrison has admitted that only one Marvel villain is on the same level as Darkseid and shockingly enough, it is not Thanos at all.
Grant Morrison Reveals Which Marvel Villain Is On Darkseid’s Level
As noted above, Grant Morrison has a high opinion of Darkseid but also has one particular Marvel villain whom he believes is exactly on the same level as Darkseid.
While speaking to Entertainment Weekley in a 2017 interview, Grant Morrison expressed his anticipation for what lies ahead for Darkseid, labeling him as possibly the greatest villain ever conceived for comics alongside characters like Doctor Doom.
”I’m really looking forward to seeing what they do with that. It’s probably the greatest villain ever conceived for comics — maybe Darkseid and Doctor Doom, and they were both created by the same man! I’m really keen to see it. To explain Darkseid is simple: He’s the devil. He’s Milton’s Satan via Hitler. He’s a tyrannical, unstoppable, narcissistic monster. I think he’s a great villain for the 21st century.”
Grant Morrison described Darkseid as a figure akin to Milton’s Satan merged with Hitler, portraying him as a tyrannical, unstoppable, narcissistic monster. Morrison believes Darkseid is a fitting villain for the 21st century.
Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman’s Inception Was Thanks To A Chance Meet With A Fan
All-Star Superman, penned by Grant Morrison, is hailed as one of the greatest Superman stories ever written. Morrison’s approach deviated from conventional origin stories, focusing instead on universal themes. The idea for the series emerged during a discussion between Morrison and editor Dan Raspler at San Diego Comic-Con. Inspired by a Superman cosplayer whom Morrison felt perfectly embodied the character, the creative process became a “shamanic” experience for Morrison.
Despite a rejected Superman proposal by Morrison, Mark Waid, Tom Peyer, and Mark Millar, the encounter with the cosplayer left a lasting impression. Morrison envisioned Superman as relaxed and laid-back, unfazed by threats due to his invulnerability. This unique perspective fueled Morrison’s creativity, leading to the creation of All-Star Superman.
“We were asked to submit a Superman proposal, which we did. It was rejected, and the quote I was given was, ‘Do you honestly believe DC will ever give you the keys to the family car?’ I can say here and now that the Superman proposal by Waid, Peyer, Morrison, and Millar was the best, most thoroughly worked-out take on a major character you are ever likely to see. It was Superman Plus. I wrote most of it after meeting the Man of Steel at 2am opposite the Sheraton in San Diego — a true shamanic moment.
“He was wearing the best Superman suit I’ve seen and looked fantastic as Superman—a cross between Chris Reeve and Billy Zane—so we asked him if he’d answer some questions which he did—in the character of Superman! It was like a possession—I’d say to the guy, ‘So how do you feel about Batman?’ and he’d come back with ‘Well, Batman and I don’t really see eye to eye on a lot of things. He’s so hung up on the darkness in everyone’s soul and I just don’t see it that way…’ and so on. He spoke to us for about an hour and a half.
He added,
“The thing that really hit me, wasn’t so much what Superman was saying as how he was sitting. He was perched on a bollard with one knee drawn up, chin resting on his arms. He looked totally relaxed…and I suddenly realized this was how Superman would sit. He wouldn’t puff out his chest or posture heroically, he would be totally chilled. If nothing can hurt you, you can afford to be cool. A man like Superman would never have to tense against the cold; never have to flinch in the face of a blow. He would be completely laid back, un-tense. With this image of Superman relaxing on a cloud looking out for us all in my head, I rushed back to my hotel room and filled dozens of pages of my notebook with notes and drawings.
While All-Star Superman stands as a testament to Morrison’s innovative storytelling, his disappointment with DC’s rejection led him to pursue other projects. Nevertheless, the impact of All-Star Superman endures as a timeless masterpiece in the realm of comic books.
