Black Zero

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.

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

-like form. Jax-Ur then petrifies Black Zero with his gaze and shatters his body.

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]

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
Fortress Cadmus
Notable aliases	Superman II
Abilities	Advanced 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.

• The Black Zero terrorist organization appears in the Smallville episode "Kandor". This version of the group is infamous for destroying the eponymous city.
• The Black Zero terrorist organization appears in the first season of Krypton, led by Jax-Ur.^[9] They join forces with General Zod, among other Kryptonians, to foil Brainiac's plan to destroy Kandor until Zod betrays them, causing the group to disband.

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

• First appearing in
  Superman
  and sent back to the Phantom Zone.
• The Black Zero appears in a flashback in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
• The Black Zero appears in The Flash.

References

1. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0
   .
2. ISBN 9781893905610
   .
3. 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.

External links

• Supermanica entry on the Pre-Crisis Black Zero