Anti-Life Equation

loneliness + alienation + fear + despair

OVERVIEW

For the cosmic tyrant known as Darkseid, there is only one thing that he lusts after. And that is the Anti-Life Equation for with it in his possession, he can enslave every living thing in the entire universe!

BACKGROUND

The Anti-Life Equation is a fictional mathematical concept in the DC Multiverse. It was conceived by Jack Kirby as Darkseid’s greatest desire. It is apparently a formula which would eradicate free will in any sentient living being. Darkseid has spent centuries searching for hints for it and recently has discovered that incomplete parts of the formula exists in the subconscious minds of certain human beings. This prevents him from wiping out or destroying the planet Earth entirely else he would be forced to spend more time hunting down the Anti-Life Equation. Although Darkseid has been able to acquire parts of the equation, he lacks the full and complete version and has been thwarted from gaining possession of the full equation by the Forever People, Orion, Mister Miracle, and the other New Gods on various occasions.

Over the decades, various writers have also interpreted the Anti-Life Equation as being the mathematical proof of the futility of living and can give complete control over a person’s thoughts and body. Aspects to the Equation have also allowed for the resurrection of the dead as soulless automatons and being able to actually rewrite and consume reality—as the universe itself is a part of living creation as well as revealing that not even Darkseid is fully aware of the full dangers and abilities of the Anti-Life Equation.

The Anti-Life Equation has frequently come up as an important aspect to the character of Darkseid and his various adaptations in several television series based on the DC Comics.

APPEARANCES

DC Animated Universe    (Superman, Justice League)

Smallville

Justice League Action