General Zod

A renegade Kryptonian military commander, General Zod was banished to the Phantom Zone as punishment for his crimes against Krypton. He survived the planet's destruction in that extradimensional prison, making him one of Superman's most dangerous adversaries.

Few villains in DC's long history carry the sheer iconic weight of General Zod, a Silver Age creation who first menaced the pages of Superman #162 in 1963, brought to life by writer Leo Dorfman and the legendary artist Curt Swan. Over more than six decades of publishing — a remarkable 1963–2025 run — Zod has proven himself one of the most enduring antagonists in the Superman mythos, a consistent presence across Adventures of Superman, Batman/Superman, and Superman himself. The company he keeps says everything: his stories unfold alongside Superman, Clark Kent, Lex Luthor, Batman, and Bruce Wayne — the very heart of the DC universe. With a key collector's issue among his appearances and a legacy that has never stopped growing, General Zod is essential reading for anyone serious about the Man of Steel's greatest challenges.