Will Zod Ever Be a Superman Rogue?

[Magneto_X]

He's an incredibly under-rated enemy in Superman's rogues gallery, Post-Crisis.

I heard Brubaker bought him into the Post-Crisis DCU in his run with JIm Lee (got to get that!), will DC ever bring that version back?

If they do, I hope they don't kill him again.

If rogues like Brainiac and Metallo can torment the Boy Scout for decades I think Zod could, too!

[Ontir]

I think that's the whole point of the Donner arc.

[CYOTI]

He's an incredibly under-rated enemy in Superman's rogues gallery, Post-Crisis.

I heard Brubaker bought him into the Post-Crisis DCU in his run with JIm Lee (got to get that!), will DC ever bring that version back?
! That was Azzarello actually as for Zod, I thnk he was the superman villain with most versions post-crisis since we had the Soviet Dictator, the one living in Brainac's fake Krypton, the one in the Phantom Zone introduced in the Lee/Azzarello Superman and the version that Superman killed in the Supergirl/Matrix Saga.

[Magneto_X]

I'm talking about Azzarello's Zod then.

I did like the idea of the Soviet Dictator version but DC really missed the ball by killing him. And in such a lame way.

[Ontir]

I think that Zod is toast, post-IC.

[Alan2099]

There's been quite a few attempts to make Zod into a major threat but every one of them sems to ignore what people liked about him.

Terence Stamp.

If you're going to do Zod, he really needs to be done like the movie version. That's really the only version most people care anything about and he was such a nice villian.

[TROUBLEZ]

Ya, he played a good Zod. Wasn't Zod not even a big villain in the Silver Age? Wasn't it Jax-Ur?

The Lee/Azzarello was was weak. He had Supermans powers right? Except he needed chain mail and armor to be tough? And he looked like a buff bum. I always kind of assumed that Superman was built due to good genetics and a little help from the sun, but that if another Kryptonian came to Earth, who was skinny, he would still be strong or as strong, just not as built.

The Soviet one I didn't like either. The name alone sounds like he could be a better villain than Lex Luthor, if only they get the characterization right!

[PatrickG]

Ya, he played a good Zod. Wasn't Zod not even a big villain in the Silver Age? Wasn't it Jax-Ur?


Exactly. I think an attempt to make Zod work in the comics needs to acknowledge the other classic Phantom Zoners as more than simply one note cronies of Zod.

Do THAT and there's some chemistry to play with.

Superman vs. Zod solo is too evenly matched anyway. I think the cool thing about the PZ is having Superman face a mob of equally powered opponents. Three is a good number for a movie (SFX concerns) but I'd like to see 10 or so.

Batman gets to cut loose on 10 or more highly skilled, peak physical condition enemies all the time.

I'd like to see Superman do the same.

[Ontir]

There were a number of Kryptonese villains in the Silver Age, Jax-Ur and Quex-ul are the two that stand out the most in my memory. Later, in response to the Superman movie, we got a trio which included Zod, Faora, and another cousin of Superman's Kru-el.

[marshal99]

Evil Kryptonians were never so much of a threat in pre-crisis , they always ended up back in the phantom zone.

There's like a whole bunch of them all trapped in the phantom zone where sometimes they combine their will power and able to influence somebody to do things from the zone.
I remember one pre-crisis story when superman had contracted kryptonian leprosy and wanted to exile himself in the phantom zone , all the villains inside there joined their willpower together and psychically forced superman out from entering the phantom zone.

[PatrickG]

Evil Kryptonians were never so much of a threat in pre-crisis , they always ended up back in the phantom zone.

There's like a whole bunch of them all trapped in the phantom zone where sometimes they combine their will power and able to influence somebody to do things from the zone.
I remember one pre-crisis story when superman had contracted kryptonian leprosy and wanted to exile himself in the phantom zone , all the villains inside there joined their willpower together and psychically forced superman out from entering the phantom zone.

I fail to see how that's "not a threat".

Batman's enemies wind up in jail or Arkham.

I find it to be a disappointment that Ra's or Shiva never wound up captured as far as I can recall.

[marshal99]

Not a threat in so much as making regular appearances like Brainiac or Luthor who threatens superman fairly regularly.

I honestly cannot remember one kryptonian villain who stood out in a memorable story in the comics. We all know General Zod but that's only because of Terrance Stamp in the movie who made Zod his own.

[Syphre Zero]

Exactly. I think an attempt to make Zod work in the comics needs to acknowledge the other classic Phantom Zoners as more than simply one note cronies of Zod.
It looks like you're getting your wish; check out Action Comics #845.

Personally, I can't think of a worse direction to take the Superman franchise than this. I suppose if you got creative and wanted to make a REALLY tacky and pointless move you could, oh I don't know, give him a kid or something.

Oh, wait.

[Ontir]

"Jason" isn't tacky, and he's far from pointless.

[Syphre Zero]

"Jason" isn't tacky, and he's far from pointless.
To each his own, I guess. I find the concept of Superman as a father (particularly as it was implied in Superman Returns) distasteful, in part for the same reason that some readers don't care for Supergirl, Power Girl, Kandorians, Zod, etc: it takes something away from Kal-El being the Last Son of Krypton.

Conceptually, I have always imagined Superman as the ultimate big brother (not to be confused with the more sinister Big Brother), not as a father figure.

[Ontir]

I find the idea of him being some neutered, cellibate preposterous, given his attraction and interaction with Lana Lang, Lori Lemaris, Lois Lane, and a bevy of other "LL" girls. Comic books, arguably out of necessity, are to some extent stagnant. The characters change very little over time; but eventually, Clark married Lois. After nearly 70 years, it's time he had some actual, in-continuity offspring. In terms of the films, it made sense, both for the character, and in terms of creating an arc, over a series of films. The difference in the films, is that at some point, this series will end, and someone will do a brand new take on Superman, as a film property. Any elements that person enjoys will be retained, along with certain mainstays like Clark/Superman, Lois, the Daily Planet, and to some extent, Krypton. All else is personal taste, and determined by the arc. For the comics, there are a great many questions between the modern DCU, and the Legion's time, which could at least be hinted at, by the inclusion of super-offspring. It also serves to create a character, and a story, which can be marketed, thereby creating more profit for the company.

Even if you were to bring Supergirl, Powergirl, the Phantom Zone Criminals, Dev-em, Kandor/Rokyn, and several Super Offspring, it would still do nothing to affect the uniqueness of a man launched from a doomed world, raised as a human, who then becomes that world's greatest champion. No other Kryptonese has that exact experience, nor the specific formative experiences. Even Supergirl is wildly different, as she is a full kryptonese, both genetically, and more importantly, culturally. While she and Clark could become extremely close, they will always be quite different, as Clark is an Earthling who was born on another world, to other parents. He truly is Krypton's last son. Kara is the last Kryptonese, as she will always be, first and foremost, of that world.

[Azrael52]

My favorite Zod was the Our World's at War era Zod. That is in fact an awesome character, and Superman's reaction to him of fear was too cool.

[Ontir]

What was Superman's reaction, what did Zod do?

[marshal99]

That Russian Zod broke his jaw but ultimately , he died in a extremely lame manner.

[jadrax]

There's been quite a few attempts to make Zod into a major threat but every one of them sems to ignore what people liked about him.

Terence Stamp.

If you're going to do Zod, he really needs to be done like the movie version. That's really the only version most people care anything about and he was such a nice villian.

Quoted for truth.

I don't want a rip off zod that looks like the final bad guy from Street Fighter 2, I want Terence Stamp saying "Kneel before Zod!" a lot.

[karasu]

Superman needs Zod, because the Lex Luthor stuff is demeaning. It's like being told the same story over and over again. They need to beef up his rogues gallery in general. Send Lex to Gotham and bring in Zod.

[BYC]

We don't need any random Zod, cause we've had that for years.

We need Generald Zod from Superman 2.

[Kid Quick Foots]

There's been quite a few attempts to make Zod into a major threat but every one of them sems to ignore what people liked about him.

Terence Stamp.

If you're going to do Zod, he really needs to be done like the movie version. That's really the only version most people care anything about and he was such a nice villian.

Exactly. i mean honestly, enough with the russian zods and any of the other 50 zods they have done, how hard is it to just put this bad ass into the frickin book already? if they can put chloe sullivan in, then put in the "real" Zod already, the sh*t aint rocket science.

[The Shadow]

There's been quite a few attempts to make Zod into a major threat but every one of them sems to ignore what people liked about him.

Terence Stamp.

If you're going to do Zod, he really needs to be done like the movie version. That's really the only version most people care anything about and he was such a nice villian.

Damn well said.

I TOTALLY forgot about the Russina dictator Zod! How did he die again and was it established was, in fact, Kryptonian?

Does anyone think DC dropped the Zod ball since the Byrne reboot?

[Kintales]

There's been quite a few attempts to make Zod into a major threat but every one of them sems to ignore what people liked about him.

Terence Stamp.

If you're going to do Zod, he really needs to be done like the movie version. That's really the only version most people care anything about and he was such a nice villian.


I agree with Alan2099 as well. With Donner's run going, this is a very good time to bring the Zod that Terence Stamp portrayed so well. He brought out the uniqueness of character of this villian that could be crucial for a lasting threat and rivalry against Big Blue. (as Luthor n Brainac have)

[brundlefly]

There's been quite a few attempts to make Zod into a major threat but every one of them sems to ignore what people liked about him.

Terence Stamp.

If you're going to do Zod, he really needs to be done like the movie version. That's really the only version most people care anything about and he was such a nice villian.
I don't want a rip off zod that looks like the final bad guy from Street Fighter 2, I want Terence Stamp saying "Kneel before Zod!" a lot.

Exactly. i mean honestly, enough with the russian zods and any of the other 50 zods they have done, how hard is it to just put this bad ass into the frickin book already? if they can put chloe sullivan in, then put in the "real" Zod already, the sh*t aint rocket science.

We need Generald Zod from Superman 2.

With Donner's run going, this is a very good time to bring the Zod that Terence Stamp portrayed so well. He brought out the uniqueness of character of this villian that could be crucial for a lasting threat and rivalry against Big Blue. (as Luthor n Brainac have)

What an overwhelming consensus and one that I totally agree with. Stamp's Zod was like Marvel's Dr. Doom moved over to DC, only with Kryptonian powers instead of armor and technology. A born conqueror/ruler with a massive ego and regal pretentiousness (loved his dismissiveness of Earth tech's "crudity" and his zingers about Supes' Fortress' lack of style). He's better than you; of course you should kneel before him and surrender rule of your lands. Why do you speak to him in such a manner, when you know that he will kill you for it? :D I'd totally get back into ACTION if the "real" General Zod (instead of all these watered-down imposters) finally shows up there. If they could finally bring him to life on the comics page, he'd be a lock to fill out a "Big Three" of Superman Rogues (taking his place beside Lex and Braniac).

[MaxofSteel]

If they could finally bring him to life on the comics page, he'd be a lock to fill out a "Big Three" of Superman Rogues (taking his place beside Lex and Braniac).

I agree 101%. The extra 1% is from the idea that as part of the "Big Three" of Supes villains, Zod would be the only one to have gained his popularity solely from the movie (rather than in the comics). Which is cool if you think about it.

[BYC]

There's another reason why movie Zod needs to come back.

http://www.zod2008.com/

I'm sure some have seen it already.

[niall mc cann]

Superman needs Zod, because the Lex Luthor stuff is demeaning. It's like being told the same story over and over again. They need to beef up his rogues gallery in general. Send Lex to Gotham and bring in Zod.

I disagree with that almost exactly as much as I agree with this:

There's been quite a few attempts to make Zod into a major threat but every one of them sems to ignore what people liked about him.

Terence Stamp.

If you're going to do Zod, he really needs to be done like the movie version. That's really the only version most people care anything about and he was such a nice villian.

Beautifully stated. And one would think it would be obvious, but...

[ducklord]

Damn well said.

I TOTALLY forgot about the Russina dictator Zod! How did he die again and was it established was, in fact, Kryptonian?

Does anyone think DC dropped the Zod ball since the Byrne reboot?


Russian Dictator Zod turned out to be the child of Russian Cosmonauts who were flying too close to baby Kal-El's ship when in landed on Earth. As a consequence, young Zod was superpowered under a red son, and weak under a yellow sun.

We pause now so that you may bug your eyes out a bit and say "Whaaaaaa?"

After many tedious years in a Russian lab (during which he went by the name "Zed" for no adequately explained reason), Zod fell under the influence of one of the many ghostly post-Crisis phantom Zone Zods floating about, and was inspired to a) change his name to "Zod", b) design a really bitchin' suit of armor that filtered the Earth's yellow sun rays into super-charging red sun rays, c) undergo extensive plastic surgery to make himself into a doppleganger of the now-adult Kal-El, and d) take over an absurdly-named former Soviet State.

Put down the brick...

After tormenting Superman and the readers for a couple of years with all kinds of tantalizing hints about his origins, Russian Zod flipped over all the cards and unveiled his big plot, to wit: turn the Earth's sun into a RED sun, which would somehow deprive ALL of Earth's super-heroes (not just Superman) of their super-powers.

You're right, that doesn't make a lick of sense.

Finally, during a climactic fight with in which the depowered Superman was getting the bejebus beaten out of him, the sun was flipped from "red" to "yellow" just as Zod was flying at super-speed towards Superman's back, presumably to cripple him. Instead, Superman's powers instantaneously returned just as Zod's disappeared, resulting in Zod breaking his neck against Superman's invulnerable hide.

Tragically, Russkie Zod's death was rather poorly drawn, causing many people to note that it looked like he was killed by flying into Superman's ass.

As stupid as it sounds, BELIEVE me, it was even dumber on a monthly basis.

To answer you final question, not only has the Zod ball been dropped post-Crisis, it's been dipped in liquid nitrogen, dropped, painstakingly re-assembled into a non-ball shape, then thrown into a sewage treatment plant.

IMHO, natch,
Mike.

[brundlefly]

There's another reason why movie Zod needs to come back.

http://www.zod2008.com/

I'm sure some have seen it already.

Heh. Like you, I figured a lot of people had seen that one already. But I'll be a Zod site completist and add:

http://generalzod.net/

"VOTING IS IRRELEVANT. I AM YOUR LEADER."