We have recently had some confusion as to the origin of General Zod. I hope this thread helps clear things up.

Most of us know Zod from his appearances in the first two Superman movies, starring Christopher Reeve, in which Zod was portrayed by Terrance Stamp.

This character was essentially an after thought, until Stamp's brilliant portrayal hit the screen. Research shows that Zod made few appearances before the movie. Maybe 15 (approx)appearances from the time he first appeared in the 60's till Crisis in the 80's

This version of General Zod, was actually the Pre-Crisis version of him, and was ret-conned out of existence after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Since then, the name Zod has been used by three individuals, none of which are Kryptonian.

The confusion comes in the fact that General Zod II was Kryptonian, but not from the same Krypton that Kal-El is from.

He was from a pocket Universe that was created by the Time Trapper. This version had two companions Quex-Ul (Non), and Faora (Ursa), and together they destroyed that pocket universe's Superboy. Knowing that they would not change, and also knowing that they were individually more powerful than he, Superman executed them by exposing them to Green Kryptonite radiation, after using Gold kryptonite to strip them of their powers.

The third General Zod was also Kryptonian, but he was from an artificial Krypton created by Brainiac-13. He was a fascist, like the original Zod, and while attempting a military coup on the city of Kandor, was defeated by Superman and that Krypton's Jor-el.

That leads us to the final Zod, which is the Russian who is the undisputed ruler of the small nation of Pokolistan. His parents were exposed to radiation from Superman's rocket when he landed on Earth, while they were on a Russian space mission.

For some reason, that caused him to gain powers from a Red Sun. He has a rapport with the spirit of Zod II (from the pocket Universe), which helped him create the armor that he wears. this armor, soaks up solar power, and filters it to him in a form that helps simulate the effects of a Red Sun.

This is also the version of Zod that is included in Legacy.

If you want additional information, on Zod, and his history, here:

General Zod

Enjoy!

Or Rather:

Kneel Before Zod!

you know... If I was named todd...


I would say Kneel before TODD!!!



that would rock.

Thanks for the info. I didnt know most of it. I perfer the movie version so much more though. That stinks that hey killed him off.

Imagine a female named Maude...

Actually, the Pocket Universe Superboy did not die in combat with his universe's Zod and friends. He sacrificed himself to stop the Crisis anti-matter wall (which was held back for a time by the Time Trapper, when he minipulated Superboy to attack the Legion of Super-Heroes) from destroying the Pocket Universe.

Zod and friends were released later. Luthor, who was at the point of idolizing Superboy (pre-balding accident caused by Superboy), was going through Superboy's lab, and found the Phantom Zone projector. Zod said it was a 'survival zone,' and that Superboy put them there to save them from something. They then proceeded to terrorize that Earth

Luthor goes on to create Matrix Supergirl (the one that appeared in the Death and Return of Superman arcs) and sending her to the regular Superman's universe, since he made a pit-stop in the Pocket Universe during the whole Time Trapper/Superboy thing.

After some confusion, she bring Supes to the Pocket Universe, and, as you said, kills them with Green K after using Gold K to remove their powers. Though it should be noted that, at the time, the only living things on that Earth were Supergirl in Protomatter form, a recently dead Luthor, our Superman, and the three renegades. Zod and friends had killed everyone and everything else.

Didn't the Russian Zod die in his last appearance?

Not sure. I seem to remember a recent appearance of him, where he had a conversation with Kale-el and flew home.

Can anyone confirm this?

ok...so, this may be a spoiler.....but it's really a question concerning zod and the most recent run of superman....




















is it him?

that's my question/spoiler. is it? the last line of the most recent issue says something about bringing the son of jorel to his knees...?

From the link you provided in the first post:

Haven't read the issues in question, but I remember a discussion about them a while back.

If I remember correctly, that Zod charged Superman head-on and snapped his own neck.

Was that the early #800 (801-804, or so) issues of Action? I seem to remember picking up thos sissues, but have not read them yet, because I don't have them all.

It could be, since the pocket Universe Zod's spirit still exists.

Well, I would think that maybe the new General Zod (Russian-Red Sun Zod) could be brought back just like Supes. Hopefully this isn't a spoiler, but if I can remember correctly, Superman was killed by getting his neck broken as well by Doomsday with that final swing. If he was then brought back with solar radiation in the Birthing Matrix, then couldn't the Russian Supes be brought back with Red Solar radiation.... could be a possibility, right?

It would really #### if they just made a new Zod..... there could have been a lot done to the Russian one that they would be throwing a lot away.... he even has Supermans face (thanks to some genetic restructuring)

Actually, weren't Superman's solar energy reserves commpletely exhausted when he fought Doomsday, due to the toll it took on him, causing him to "die?"

Yeah, that's the way I remember it, Darth.

He wasn't 'dead', per se, but was in a state something like a coma because all of his resources were so depleted that his body had to completely shut down. It was at that point that he met his dad in that astral dimension where he got to choose whether or not to 'die' (ie: 'go into the light) or come back. He chose, of course, to come back.

Meanwhile, the birthing chamber was simply rejuvenating him by pumping him full of solar energy rather than actually 'resurrecting' him.