Darkseid Has The Same Backup Plan As Emperor Palpatine
In DC Comics' Justice League: Last Ride, Batman and Green Lantern discover Darkseid's dark backup plan which resembles Emperor Palpatine's.
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Justice League: Last Ride #5
In the latest issue of DC Comics' Justice League: Last Ride, the greatest heroes in the universe have just discovered that their seemingly defeated foe Darkseid has the same backup plan as Star Wars' Emperor Palpatine. Having come together as a team one last time at the request of Hal Jordan's Green Lantern, the new leader of the Corps and Batman have discovered a sinister room in the remains of Apokolips, and it appears as though their greatest foe might not be as dead as they thought after the battle that managed to break up the Justice League.
In the past of this alternate timeline featured in Last Ride, it's been revealed that Darkseid unleashed massive simultaneous attacks on Earth and the Green Lanterns' homeworld of Oa, resulting in the deaths of the Green Lanterns' Guardians as well as the Justice League's Martian Manhunter. However, while the League defeated Darkseid and his forces he unleashed, the team of heroes broke up in the aftermath which was largely the result of the blame Superman and Batman placed on each other for the Manhunter's death. However, the present has seen the League getting back together to protect the bounty hunter Lobo before his trial, as he had brutally murdered all of the New Gods.
However, Justice League #5 from writer Chip Zdarksy and artist Miguel Mendonça sees the League defending themselves from several foes seeking to collect the bounty on Lobo's head, including a Cyborg-Superman who's been taken over by Brainiac. Furthermore, while the heroes thought they'd be safe on the remains of Apokolips, it seems as though their location was leaked. However, Batman and Green Lantern soon discover a secret chamber within the depths of the deceased Darkseid's stronghold, revealing a lab filled with his clones, presumedly ready to be activated at a moment's notice, resembling the same clone backup plan used by Emperor Palpatine as seen in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Furthermore, this issue also reveals how Darkseid specifically died during the League's past battle with the powerful conqueror, and it's revealed that Hal Jordan himself delivered the final blow, using Oa's Central Power Battery to seemingly annihilate Darkseid. However, the evil foe did allude that dying was part of his plan, and these clones do prove why he wasn't all that concerned with death. However, there is the question as to why he's yet to resurrect himself into a new clone body (unless he already has, choosing to remain hidden for the time being).
In any case, it's going to be interesting to see how the League reacts to this new reveal, having been under the impression that Darkseid was dead and gone for good. Clearly, it looks as though a new confrontation with Darkseid is being teased in the present instead. However, with the Justice League being as fractured as they are in this new series, will they be able to handle Darkseid and his power that threatens to take over the entire DC Universe? DC fans will just have to wait and see as Justice League: Last Ride continues.