This series features the first appearances of the New Gods of Apokolips, such as Darkseid, Kalibak and Desaad. This was prompted by the fact that this series features the characters of the Kenner Toy Company's Super Powers collection and the toy company felt that the creations of the renowned comic book artist, Jack Kirby, were ideal larger-than-life villains for the toy line. In addition, Kirby was commissioned to design the action figures of his creations and thus for the first time in his artistic career received direct compensation for his creative work that was otherwise done in work-for-hire contracts.