DC’s BIGGEST Mistake Ignoring This Hero

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Prior to Zack Snyder’s Justice League unveiling Darkseid to a wider audience, this tyrant from Apokolips had already earned the title of DC’s cosmic menace for quite some time. Standing tall above Superman, corrupting entire planets, and terrorizing the pages of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World epic for decades, he remains a formidable villain. However, despite his on-screen reign, there has been no reference or hint of Highfather, his main adversary, who alone holds the power to effectively challenge him.

In comic books, a character named Highfather, or Izaya the Inheritor, debuted in “The New Gods #1” (1971), crafted by Jack Kirby as a representation of order and life against Uxas’ destruction. He governs the spiritual realm of New Genesis, possessing the Alpha Effect – the unique power capable of thwarting Darkseid’s Omega Effect. Their conflicts have had profound impacts on multiple universes; however, Highfather has yet to make an appearance in live-action narratives.

The possibility of seeing this character on screen almost became a reality when DC approved the adaptation of “New Gods” in 2018, with Ava DuVernay and Tom King attached to the project. Their intention was to introduce Highfather, Mister Miracle, Big Barda, and Darkseid to the big screen. However, the release of the Snyder Cut in 2021 resulted in the studio cancelling “New Gods,” claiming that there was too much Darkseid exposure. This cancellation left fans disappointed because it meant they would miss out on seeing the only character who could potentially destroy Darkseid in a live-action setting.

Who Is Highfather, & Why Does He Matter?

Highfather’s tale unfolds with the collapse of the Second Universe. The ancient entities who influenced the initial formation of the cosmos, called the Old Gods, met their end in a cataclysmic occurrence called Ragnarok. What remained of them served as the foundations for the Third Universe, a realm inhabited by new deities, spawned on the planet Galactica. Within this group emerged two crucial characters: Izaya and Uxas, who would later be known as Highfather and Darkseid.

Conflict swiftly arose between them as Uxas brutally killed Izaya’s spouse during a violent insurrection. Grief and spiritual awakening transformed the once battle-hardened Izaya.

In another phrasing, he connected deeply with the universal Power, harnessing the influence of the Alpha Impact, an energy that counteracted Darkseid’s devastating Omega Impact. Consequently, Izaya rose to the position of Highfather, a benevolent yet mighty leader ruling over New Genesis.

In stark contrast, Highfather and Darkseid represent polar opposites in every aspect. Whilst Darkseid aspires to rule through terror and tirelessly pursues the Anti-Life Equation to annihilate individual freedom, Highfather champions truth, serenity, and unity via the Life Equation, under the watchful guidance of the Source.

Over countless centuries, the rivalry between these two powerful beings has left an indelible mark on the DC universe. In an attempt to bring a lasting peace to their warring realms, Highfather and Darkseid entered into a treaty called The Pact, which saw their sons, Orion and Scott Free (Mister Miracle), exchanged between them.

The act of this celestial self-sacrifice significantly shaped their enduring memory, as Highfather became an intricate emblem representing knowledge. Frequently, their conflicts went beyond mere physical skirmishes, instead taking place on intellectual and spiritual planes.

Why Has DC Not Introduced Highfather if He Is So Important?

Although he’s well-known, Highfather has yet to make an appearance in live-action. His closest brush with reality happened during Ava DuVernay’s film, “New Gods”, which aimed to delve deep into the tales of New Genesis and Apokolips. Regrettably, when this project was scrapped due to a conflict with Snyder’s “Justice League”, Highfather was again pushed aside.

After the unification of Discovery, Inc., and WarnerMedia to form Warner Bros. Discovery, he found himself caught in a tumultuous phase. The new management team led by James Gunn and Peter Safran is set on revamping the franchise, focusing on its integration within the DC Universe (DCU).

Despite its promising potential, the “New Gods” movie unfortunately fell victim during this transition, leaving Highfather’s big-screen debut uncertain.

An aspect of the problem lies in Highfather’s demeanor. Darkseid, a precursor to Marvel’s Thanos, is known as DC’s Darkseid. He boasts an iconic appearance, fear-inducing Omega Beams, and a presence that echoes the climactic villain, suggesting a formidable adversary.

In every instance, he escalates the drama upon arrival, being a flexible personality by nature. Conversely, Highfather’s adaptability proves tricky, not just because of his low-key demeanor. His profound cosmic and philosophical depth necessitates delicate handling to strike a chord with general viewers.

Another hurdle lies in the lesser-known nature of the New Gods, a fact that Zack Snyder allegedly held intriguing ideas about. Although cherished by comic enthusiasts, they haven’t yet achieved the level of popularity enjoyed by characters like Superman or Batman in mainstream culture.

DC typically leans towards earthbound characters and less extraterrestrial tales, resulting in the potential for stories like “The Fourth World” being relatively unexplored. To create an effective live-action adaptation of a project featuring Highfather, considerable effort will be required to ensure its success.

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2025-06-30 17:35