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.

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.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=341}} He is a space saboteur who destroys planets and was hired to destroy Krypton by maintaining pressure in its core.{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |page=30}}{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |page=34}}

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.Action Comics Annual #12 (August 2009)

= 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.{{Cite comic|writer = Peyer, Tom|penciller = Chang, Bernard|inker = McLeod, Bob|story = Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow|title = Superman Plus/Legion of Super-Heroes|issue = #1|date = February 1997|publisher = DC Comics|location = New York}}

= Black Zero (Superboy) =

{{Infobox comics character

|image = 225px

|caption = Black Zero on the cover of Superboy #62 (1999). Art by Tom Grummett.

|character_name = Black Zero

|publisher = DC Comics

|debut = Superboy (vol. 4) #61 (April 1999)

|creators = Karl Kesel (writer)
Tom Grummett (artist)

|real_name = Experiment 13

|species = Metahuman clone

|homeworld = Earth of an alternate reality in Hypertime.

|alliances = Fortress Cadmus

|aliases = Superman II

|supports =

|powers = 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.Superboy (vol. 4) #62 (May 1999) He battles Superboy and the Challengers of the Unknown before being exposed to hyperstorm energy and disappearing.Superboy (vol. 4) #60 - 64 (March - July 1999)Superboy (vol. 4) #68 (November 1999)

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

In other media

=Television=

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.{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=January 24, 2018 |title=Krypton: Hannah Waddingham Cast As Jax-Ur In Syfy Superman Prequel Series |url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/krypton-hannah-waddingham-cast-jax-ur-syfy-superman-prequel-series-1202268127/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} 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.

=Film=

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

First appearing in Man of Steel, the Black Zero was designed by Jor-El to transport criminals to the Phantom Zone and was used to imprison General Zod and his battalion, the Sword of Rao. Following Krypton's destruction, the Sword of Rao repurposed the Black Zero as their command ship.{{Cite web |last=Kendrick |first=Ben |date=October 16, 2012 |title=Superman Toy Reveals Man of Steel Spoilers: Zod's 'Black Zero' Revealed |url=https://screenrant.com/man-of-steel-movie-spoilers-zod-black-zero/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018011658/https://screenrant.com/man-of-steel-movie-spoilers-zod-black-zero/ |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=Screen Rant}} They travel to Earth to retrieve the Growth Codex, but are defeated by 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.