Kalibak

Kalibak
Kalibak from Jack Kirby's Fourth World #9, artist John Byrne,
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	New Gods #1, (February 1971)
Created by	Jack Kirby (writer & artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Kalibak
Species	New God
Place of origin	Apokolips
Team affiliations	Darkseid's Elite
Notable aliases	Kalibak the Cruel, The Scourge of Apokolips
Abilities	Immortality Superhuman strength, endurance, durability, speed and reflexes Skilled fighter Beta club. Mental Inducement (Formerly) Divine Empowerment (Formerly)

Kalibak is a fictional deity and supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Kalibak is the eldest son of Darkseid and one of the main enemies of Superman and the Justice League of America.

Created by Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in New Gods #1 (February 1971).

Kalibak is the first-born son of Darkseid and Suli. His mother Suli is killed by Desaad, acting under orders from Kalibak's grandmother Queen Heggra. Kalibak becomes a legendary warrior, and often serves as Darkseid's second-in-command. After Darkseid breaks the pact of peace with New Genesis, the rival planet of Kalibak's home Apokolips, he aids his father in the resulting battles.

Kalibak is often pitted against Orion, and after numerous clashes they learned that they were half-brothers. This fuels Kalibak's hatred of Orion to new levels, for Darkseid clearly values Orion over his first-born. Unlike Orion, Kalibak secretly craves the love and respect of his father - something neither he, nor anyone else, can ever hope to attain - and it has been shown that he has a gentle side which is completely submerged under his brutish exterior, and which he consistently and fearfully keeps hidden for any sign of weakness is, on Apokolips, subject to the cruelest punishment.

For his part, Darkseid is more lenient towards Kalibak's failures than those of his other servants; having slain him, he always returns him to life. It is implied this is because his eldest son is the offspring of the one person Darkseid truly loved.

At one point, Kalibak is desperate enough to confront Orion without Darkseid's consent. Kalibak's scheme fell apart and he kills his accomplice Desaad, also a servant of Darkseid, to cover his tracks. Darkseid was not pleased when he finds out and reduces his son to a pile of ash. After enough time had passed Darkseid resurrects Kalibak, hoping the boy had learned a lesson.

Kalibak later spends some time in an Apokolips prison, on Darkseid's orders. In Orion #1, (June 2000), Darkseid is on Earth when Orion invades Apokolips. Justeen, a servant of Desaad, releases Kalibak to battle Orion yet again. Kalibak is swiftly subdued, but does not care much as Orion leaves to battle Darkseid and Kalibak hopes to gain power as a result.