Zor-El

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Zor-El
Cyborg Superman (Zor-El).png
Zor-El as Cyborg Superman on the cover of Action Comics (vol. 2) #23.1 (November 2013 DC Comics). Art by Aaron Kuder.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Action Comics #252 (May 1959)
Created by Otto Binder (writer)
Al Plastino (art)
In-story information
Alter ego Cyborg Superman
Species Kryptonian cyborg
Place of origin Krypton
Team affiliations Black Lantern Corps
Notable aliasesZor-L
Abilities
  • Cybernetic implants

(Under a yellow sun):

  • Kryptonian power set

Zor-El is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. A Kryptonian, he is the brother of Jor-El, husband of Alura, father of Supergirl, and paternal uncle of Superman. [1]

Contents

Traditional depictions of Zor-El in Golden Age and Silver Age DC Comics stories portrayed him as a benevolent scientist concerned for his daughter Kara, acting similarly to his brother Jor-El in sending his child to safety on Earth. In the mid-2000s, DC experimented with different characterisations of Zor-El, even briefly casting him as a mad scientist with a grudge against his brother. A similar depiction was used when the character was adapted for television in the series Smallville . In 2010s stories following DC's The New 52 reboot, Zor-El has been an antagonist for Supergirl and Superman, having been transformed into the villain Cyborg Superman by Brainiac. [2]

Zor-El was portrayed by Simon Ward in the film Supergirl . Christopher Heyerdahl portrayed a villainous version in the TV series Smallville . Robert Gant portrayed the character in the Arrowverse television series Supergirl in the first two seasons, and Jason Behr portrayed him in the sixth season.

Publication history

Zor-El first appeared in Action Comics #252 (May 1959) and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.

Fictional character biography

Pre-Crisis

Family emblem of the House of El Superman S symbol.svg
Family emblem of the House of El

In pre- Crisis continuity, Zor-El is a climatographer and one of the only Kryptonians who believe Jor-El's predictions about the impending destruction of Krypton. When the planet explodes, Argo City is protected by a dome Zor-El creates and safely blasted into space. After meteors damage the city's protective lead sheeting, exposing its residents to deadly Kryptonite radiation, Zor-El sends his daughter Kara to Earth.

It is later revealed that Zor-El and Alura survived Argo's destruction by entering the Survival Zone. Supergirl later rescues the two, after which they move to Kandor.

Zor-L, an alternate universe variant of Zor-El from Earth-Two who did not survive Krypton's destruction, appears in Showcase #98 (March 1978).

Post-Crisis and Zero Hour (Birthright) and Infinite Crisis timelines

Zor-El (Birthright timeline version) as he appears in Supergirl (vol. 5) #5 (March 2006 DC Comics). Art by Ian Churchill. Zor-El (Birthright timeline version).jpg
Zor-El (Birthright timeline version) as he appears in Supergirl (vol. 5) #5 (March 2006 DC Comics). Art by Ian Churchill.

In post-Crisis continuity, Zor-El resides in Kandor, which is held by Brainiac. He is later killed by Reactron. [3] In Blackest Night , Zor-El returns as a Black Lantern before the scientists of New Krypton kill him. [4]

The New 52

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Brainiac rescues Zor-El from the destruction of Krypton, transforms him into a cyborg, removes his memories, and forces him into servitude. Zor-El battles Supergirl before regaining his memories, after which he is treated and his cybernetic implants removed. The Department of Extranormal Operations captures Zor-El after he attacks Indigo, leading Jor-El to kill him. [5]

Powers and abilities

Zor-El has all the powers and weaknesses of a Kryptonian from exposure to Earth's yellow sunlight. [6] As a cyborg, he possesses enhanced physical abilities and can transform his right arm into various weapons. [7]

In other media

Television

Film

Miscellaneous

Zor-El appears in Kevin J. Anderson's novel The Last Days of Krypton.

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References

  1. Fleisher, Michael L. (2007). The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman. DC Comics. p. 511. ISBN   978-1-4012-1389-3.
  2. 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. 77. ISBN   978-1-4654-5357-0.
  3. Supergirl (vol. 5) #36
  4. Blackest Night: Superman #1
    • Supergirl (vol. 6) #2 (December 2011)
    • Supergirl (vol. 6) #22 (September 2013)
    • Superman: Doomed #1-2 (July - November 2014)
    • Supergirl (vol. 7) #13 (November 2017)
  5. Superman/Batman #9 (June 2009)
  6. Action Comics #252 (May 1959)
  7. Gerding, Stephen (August 26, 2015). "Official Supergirl Pilot Synopsis Lands Online". Comic Book Resources . Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  8. "Zor-El Voice - Superman: Unbound (Movie)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 27, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.