The Justice League Snyder’s Cut was released on 18th March 2021 to all the masses and DCEU this time does not seem to be pulling any punches on this one. The film provides an extensive 4-hour comprehensive take by Zack Snyder on the Justice League narrative, breaking down every myth and conspiracy that had ever surrounded the entire Anti-Matter storyline in the DC Universe. As a result of this, several characters have been introduced in the new story arc, including the ones from 2017’s theatrical cut. Snyder Cut has introduced an impressive number of DC heroes and villains in the narrative, including the formidable and the master villain of the DC Universe, Darkseid (played by Ray Porter).
For readers and fans who are reading this content, a gentle reminder of the **major spoiler ahead** in the article.
The film series deals with Darkseid’s search for the strongest cosmic power in the universe, the Anti-Life Equation. The Anti-Life Equation has been known to bend any living being’s life and will throughout the multiverse, cater to the bidding of the one in control of the Anti-Life Equation. The story of the Justice League Snyder’s Cut begins with the plot revolving around the Motherboxes.
Now Motherboxes are powerful tools that Darkseid has used across decades to terraform any planet up to his liking. In Justice League Snyder’s Cut, we witness the arrival of Steppenwolf on the planet Earth in search of the 3 Motherboxes which have been hidden on Earth. But, ends up finding something far more precious and valuable to Darkseid, the Anti-life Equation. Darkseid has been in search of the Anti-Life Equation for eons. Even though he has captured and ruled many planets across the universe, he has never been able to get anywhere near to anything, that was even remotely similar to the Anti-Life Equation.
Steppenwolf explains how Darkseid has been for searching for this Anti-Life Equation, even before his ascension to the throne, as the ruler of the planet Apokolips. Steppenwolf finds this equation on a primitive planet, which he has just discovered. And how the entire Anti-Life Equation has been etched across the surface of this primitive planet, that he has just discovered, whilst searching for the Motherboxes. This recent discovery becomes the prime area of concern for Steppenwolf, as it would not only help him repay his debt towards Darkseid but, also help him gain respect and honor in the eyes of his master. Steppenwolf makes his prime objective to have this news of his newfound discovery being delivered to his master on a priority basis, without a single second of delay as the message might take some time to reach the distant planet of Apokolips.
What Exactly Is The Anti-Life Equation?
It is a narrative or a plot created by Jack Kirby and debuted in 1971’s issue of ‘Forever People #5’. The Anti-Life Equation is nothing, but a simple mathematical equation or formula. Employing the concepts of alienation, love, self-worth, and guilt, that allows the conjurer to control the free will of any sentient race. By partially convincing them that hope and freedom are not noble virtues to live by, one’s life with. All the conjurer needs to do is recite the formula filling in the name of the race he/she wishes to control and it will be done. The equation was partially hypothesized by Darkseid after he crossed paths with the Martians, way back in the past, and discovered the “Life Equation” which forms the Martians’ ideology.
Since its debut, the Anti-Life Equation has been known to exist in the DC universe, in several distinct forms including the manifestation into a living form in one particular issue. The Anti-Life Equation has been also known to make several appearances across numerous events, including the ‘Final Crisis’. It has also made an entrance in several of DC’s animated movies and games inspired by DC, including the television series called ‘Smallville’.
Anti-Life Equation has been a part of the DC narrative for as long as anyone can remember, and the implication of the same in Justice League Snyder’s Cut seems to open several new prospects for the narrative. Zack Snyder’s version of the infamous Anti-Life Equation is slightly different, with the Anti-Life Equation being marked on the surface of the earth, rather than the race. By race we mean humans, and their DNA having parts of the Anti-Life Equation hidden amongst them and every human being a part of that equation. No matter the deviation from the comic universe, the plot surrounding the Justice League Snyder Cut, certainly seems to be an intriguing one.
