50 Greatest Super Villains In Comic Book History

29. Zod

(Write-up by Nick Tylwalk, Bam Smack Pow Editor)

Is it nature or nurture that makes us who we are? It’s a question we’ve been struggling with as humans for as long as we’ve been around, and it even applies to comic book characters. For instance, if Superman wasn’t raised by Ma and Pa Kent, there’s a good chance he could have turned out like Zod.

As we’ve seen in both comics and movies, that wouldn’t have turned out well for the people of Earth. Whether writers have explained him as a native of the same Krypton as Superman or one from another reality, Zod is the answer to the question of what would happen if someone had the same powers as the Man of Steel but felt like ruling the planet instead of protecting it. A legit general back before his world was destroyed, Zod is able to think in ways Superman doesn’t, looking at situations from a military perspective rather than one of a typical super criminal.

That makes him a match for Clark Kent in more ways than one, and also explains why he’s stood the test of time even when DC changed the rules for having other Kryptonians appear in stories. Superman will always be the “last son,” but Zod and his compatriots have a habit of returning to show Kal-El that the less pleasant aspects of his homeworld aren’t going to leave him alone.

Also helping Zod’s case for greatness: Terrence Stamp’s powerhouse performance in Superman II. Even now, you can say, “Kneel before Zod,” and fans will know exactly what you’re talking about.

Lex Luthor has an ironclad claim as Superman’s archenemy, and Doomsday struck a chord by actually killing the Man of Tomorrow (sort of), but Zod has a very personal spot in his rogues gallery that would be nearly possible to usurp. Kneel before him, indeed.

Next: No. 28: Ten rings to rule them all