Black Zero

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Black Zero is a name shared by two supervillains, two terrorist organizations, one special forces group, and a computer virus that have all appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics.

Contents

Fictional character biography

Original Black Zero

The original Black Zero first appeared in Superman #205 (1968), and was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino. [1] He is a space saboteur who destroys planets and was hired to destroy Krypton by maintaining pressure in its core. [2] [3]

In the present, Black Zero comes to Earth, threatening to destroy it as he did Krypton. In desperation, Superman releases Jax-Ur, a prisoner of the Phantom Zone, who wishes to avenge Krypton's destruction. After launching a missile toward Earth, Black Zero attacks Jax-Ur with red kryptonite, mutating him into a Gorgon-like form. Jax-Ur then petrifies Black Zero with his gaze and shatters his body.

Black Zero organization

The first Post-Crisis version of Black Zero appeared in the 1988 World of Krypton miniseries written by John Byrne and illustrated by Mike Mignola. It is a terrorist organization that contributed to the destruction of Krypton by firing nuclear energy into its core.

Most recently, the name "Black Zero" was used by a Kryptonian military force commanded by Ursa who were killed by Brainiac. [4]

Computer virus

The Black Zero virus appears in Superman Plus/Legion of Super-Heroes #1, a 1997 one-shot teaming Superman with the Legion of Super-Heroes. It is an intelligent computer virus created by the Black Zero group who attempts to destroy Earth before Brainiac 5 destroys it. [5]

Black Zero (Superboy)

Black Zero
Blackzero.png
Black Zero on the cover of Superboy #62 (1999). Art by Tom Grummett.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Superboy (vol. 4) #61 (April 1999)
Created by Karl Kesel (writer)
Tom Grummett (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoExperiment 13
Species Metahuman clone
Place of origin Earth of an alternate reality in Hypertime.
Team affiliations Fortress Cadmus
Notable aliasesSuperman II
AbilitiesAdvanced tactile-telekinesis that provided flight, invulnerability, and superhuman strength; superhuman hearing and heat vision

The second Black Zero is an alternate universe variant of Superboy from a universe where Superman was not resurrected after his battle with Doomsday. [6] He battles Superboy and the Challengers of the Unknown before being exposed to hyperstorm energy and disappearing. [7] [8]

The character first appeared in Superboy (vol. 4) #61, and was created by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett.

In other media

Television

Film

A Kryptonian prison frigate called the Black Zero appears in films set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU):

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References

  1. Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 341. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. Eury, Michael (2006). The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 30. ISBN   9781893905610.
  3. Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 34. ISBN   978-0-345-50108-0.
  4. Action Comics Annual #12 (August 2009)
  5. Peyer, Tom  ( w ), Chang, Bernard  ( p ), McLeod, Bob  ( i )."Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"Superman Plus/Legion of Super-Heroes,no. 1(February 1997).New York: DC Comics .
  6. Superboy (vol. 4) #62 (May 1999)
  7. Superboy (vol. 4) #60 - 64 (March - July 1999)
  8. Superboy (vol. 4) #68 (November 1999)
  9. Petski, Denise (January 24, 2018). "Krypton: Hannah Waddingham Cast As Jax-Ur In Syfy Superman Prequel Series". Deadline. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  10. Kendrick, Ben (October 16, 2012). "Superman Toy Reveals Man of Steel Spoilers: Zod's 'Black Zero' Revealed". Screen Rant . Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2024.