Granny Goodness
| Image | ![]() |
| Caption | Granny Goodness as depicted in Mister Miracle #2 (May 1971). Art by Jack Kirby. |
| Character Name | Granny Goodness |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| Debut | Mister Miracle #2 (May 1971) |
| Creators | Jack Kirby |
| Real Name | Goodness |
| Species | New God |
| Homeworld | Apokolips |
| Alliances | Female Furies Darkseid's Elite |
| Aliases | Athena |
| Powers | * Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability * Immortality * Expert strategist, tactician, and field commander * Skilled warrior * Wields mega-rod and advanced technology |
Granny Goodness is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She is a New God from Apokolips and a servant of Darkseid who trains others to serve him. Goodness is also the leader of the Female Furies, a group of female warriors from Apokolips.
Goodness has appeared in various media outside comics, primarily in association with Darkseid and the New Gods. Ed Asner, Deborah Strang, and Cloris Leachman, among others, have voiced the character in animation.
Publication history
Granny Goodness first appeared in Mister Miracle #2 (May 1971) and was created by Jack Kirby. Her appearance was modeled after Phyllis Diller.
Fictional character biography
Granny Goodness was originally part of the Lowlies, the oppressed peasant class of Apokolips. She was removed from her parents and trained to be one of Darkseid's elite, the "Hounds". During her training, Goodness is given a guard dog named Mercy, who she develops a close bond with. Goodness is forced to kill Mercy to become a Hound; Darkseid is impressed and tells Goodness that she has graduated with honors.
After proving herself to be one of Darkseid's elite and most reliable soldiers, Goodness is tasked with running the "Orphanage", a training camp for his minions. Additionally, she becomes the leader of the Female Furies and raises Highfather's son Scott Free as part of a peace treaty before he escapes.
In Amazons Attack!, Granny Goodness poses as Athena, manipulating the Amazons into going to war. Goodness also appears in the series Countdown to Final Crisis, where she holds the Olympian Gods prisoner. After the gods are freed by Mary Marvel, Holly Robinson and Harley Quinn, Goodness is attacked and killed by Infinity-Man.
Goodness is reincarnated on Earth, along with the other New Gods, as a member of Darkseid's gang. However, her body is destroyed by Black Alice. In the "Final Crisis" storyline, Goodness takes the body of the Alpha Lantern Kraken and uses it to attack John Stewart and frame Hal Jordan for the assault.
Powers and abilities
As a New God, Granny Goodness possesses superhuman physical abilities and is functionally immortal. She also wields advanced weaponry, including the Mega-Rod, a staff that can project concussive energy blasts.
Reception
Granny Goodness has been described as a symbol of the "monstrous feminine" who "violates traditional paradigms of motherhood and femininity" through her wickedness, as opposed to more traditional, nurturing depictions of motherhood in fiction.
Other versions
- An alternate timeline variant of Granny Goodness who fused with a Mother Box, gaining teleportation and pyrokinesis, appears in the "Rock of Ages" storyline.
- Granny Harkness, a fusion of Granny Goodness and Marvel Comics character Agatha Harkness, appears in the Amalgam Comics one-shot Bullets and Bracelets.
In other media
Television
- Granny Goodness appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), voiced by Ed Asner.
- Introduced in Superman: The Animated Series, this version is the second leader of Intergang following Bruno Mannheim's death before being defeated by Supergirl and forced out of the position.
- Goodness appears in Justice League Unlimited. Following Darkseid's death in the Justice League episode "Twilight", she battles Virman Vundabar for control of Apokolips.
- Granny Goodness makes a cameo appearance in a flashback in the Legion of Super Heroes episode "Unnatural Alliances" as Imperiex's former master on Apokolips.
- Granny Goodness appears in Smallville, portrayed by Nancy Bell in "Salvation" and by Christine Willes in the tenth season.
- Granny Goodness appears in Justice League Action, voiced by Cloris Leachman.
- Granny Goodness appears in Young Justice: Outsiders, voiced by Deborah Strang. This version utilizes the human alias of Gretchen Goode and is initially an ally of the Light before leaving them to seek the Anti-Life Equation for the second time as Granny Godness, serving to Darkseid.
- Granny Goodness appears in the Harley Quinn episode "Inner (Para) Demons", voiced by Jessica Walter.
Film
- Granny Goodness appears in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, voiced again by Ed Asner.
- An alternate universe variant of Granny Goodness appears in a flashback in Justice League: Gods and Monsters, voiced by Khary Payton.
- Granny Goodness appears in Zack Snyder's Justice League through computer-generated imagery (CGI), modeled after the aunt of Wētā FX artist Jojo Aguilar.
Video games
- Granny Goodness appears in DC Universe Online, voiced by Lainie Frasier.
- Granny Goodness appears as a boss and unlockable playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Diane Delano.
- Granny Goodness appears as a support card in the mobile version of Injustice: Gods Among Us.
- Granny Goodness appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.
Miscellaneous
- Granny Goodness appears in DC Super Hero Girls and its tie-in films, voiced by April Stewart. This version is a librarian at Super Hero High.
- Granny Goodness appears in DC X Sonic the Hedgehog.
References
- Cowsill, Alan, The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe, Irvine, Alex, Korte, Steve, Manning, Matt, Wiacek, Win, Wilson, Sven, 2016, DK Publishing
- Wallace, Dan, The DC Comics Encyclopedia, Dorling Kindersley, 2008, Dougall, Alastair, New York, Female Furies, 213309017
- Beatty, Scott, Scott Beatty, Granny Goodness, Dougall, Alastair, The DC Comics Encyclopedia, Dorling Kindersley, New York, 2008, 213309017
- Greenberger, Robert, Robert Greenberger, The Essential Superman Encyclopedia, Pasko, Martin, Martin Pasko, 2010, Del Rey
- Granny Goodness , , Official DC Character, August 20, 2024, DC, en-us
- Sacks, Jason, American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s, Dallas, Keith, 2014, TwoMorrows Publishing
- Jimenez, Phil, The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia, Wells, John, 2010, Del Rey, 163–164
- Granny Goodness Voices (Superman), December 12, 2023, Behind The Voice Actors
- Goldman, Eric, May 20, 2010, Smallville: Will Tom Welling Wear the Superman Suit?, June 7, 2020, IGN
- Mitovich, Webb Matt, October 5, 2010, Exclusive: Meet Smallville's Big, Bad Granny Goodness, dead, December 30, 2010, January 16, 2011, Fancast.com
- Sands, Rich, December 15, 2016, Justice League Action Brings Superhero Fun Back to TV, August 1, 2024, TV Insider, en-US
- Manning, Shaun, August 5, 2016, When Batmen Collide: Conroy & Bader Team Up for , Justice League Action, dead, August 5, 2016, August 1, 2024, CBR
- Matadeen, Renaldo, September 2, 2019, Young Justice: Outsiders Finally Reveals Granny Goodness' Big Secret, August 1, 2024, CBR, en
- Matadeen, Renaldo, August 11, 2019, Young Justice: Granny Goodness' Latest Plan Is the Series' Dumbest, August 1, 2024, CBR, en
- Matadeen, Renaldo, August 9, 2019, Young Justice: Outsiders Introduces One of Darkseid's Deadliest Weapons, August 1, 2024, CBR, en
- Adams, Tim, August 6, 2019, Young Justice's First Post-Credits Scene Name-Drops a Major DC Weapon, August 1, 2024, CBR, en
- June 29, 2010, Conroy, Daly Return In Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, dead, July 2, 2010, June 29, 2010, Comic Book Resources
- Burlingame, Russ, April 20, 2021, Zack Snyder Reveals Actor Inspiration for Granny Goodness' Appearance in Justice League, live, August 29, 2021, March 5, 2024, ComicBook.com
- Stevenson, Rich, April 2, 2021, Zack Snyder Shares Detailed Look at Granny Goodness' , Justice League, Design, live, April 20, 2021, March 5, 2024, Screen Rant
- JayShockblast, June 11, 2018, LEGO DC Super Villains Gameplay and E3 2018 Interview With Geoff Keighley, live, December 21, 2021, June 7, 2020, YouTube
- Eisen, Andrew, October 2, 2013, DC Characters and Objects - , Scribblenauts Unmasked, Guide, August 1, 2024, IGN, en
- Scullion, Chris, DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Here’s the first art and plot details from Sega and DC’s crossover comic, Video Games Chronicle, March 19, 2025, March 13, 2025
External links
Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby
Category:Comics characters introduced in 1971
Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
Category:DC Comics deities
Category:DC Comics female supervillains
Category:Fictional mass murderers
Category:Fourth World (comics)
Category:Female Furies
Category:Superman characters
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