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History
The character of General Zod has made frequent (albeit non-corporeal) appearances in the WB/CW television series, Smallville. Like his movie and comic book counterparts, General Zod was a prisoner of the Phantom Zone. However, those trapped within the Phantom Zone no longer possess physical bodies, so Zod existed as a disembodied consciousness. The character was first referenced in the Season Five premier episode, "Arrival". In the episode, two Kryptonian criminals named Nam-Ek and Aethyr broke free of the Phantom Zone and arrived on Earth. They functioned as heralds of General Zod and proclaimed that Zod would soon arrive to take control of this world. Young Clark Kent succeeded in returning the two criminals back to the Phantom Zone, but at the (temporary) cost of his own powers.
Zod's true agent on Earth was actually an artificial intelligence in human form named Milton Fine. Fine managed to infiltrate the Fortress of Solitude, and set Zod's essence free. A vortex was opened paving the way for Zod's arrival on Earth, but Clark managed to close the portal before Zod could emerge. Regardless, he was still free of the Phantom Zone.
The true threat of Zod didn't emerge until the end of Season five. Due to the machinations of Milton Fine, Zod was able to enter Earth's reality and take possession of Lex Luthor. Clark meanwhile, had found himself trapped in the Phantom Zone. He eventually freed himself with the aid of a sympathetic prisoner named Raya and returned to Earth to battle Zod/Luthor. In the Season Six premier episode titled (appropriately enough) "Zod", Clark had his final confrontation with General Zod. After a protracted physical struggle, Zod managed to defeat Clark. However, what he didn't realize was that Clark was armed with a special S-shaped stone that he acquired from Raya in the Phantom Zone. This stone was the only thing capable of defeating Zod. Activating the device, Clark succeeded in exorcising Zod's essence from Lex Luthor's body. Lex fell unconscious with no memory of his time under Zod's control, and Zod's essence was forever trapped inside the Kryptonian stone. Although Zod has not been seen so far, he has been mentioned by Clark and others and his young clone has appeared.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Kryptonian Physiology: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Zod possesses the same potential powers as an average Kryptonian. These include:
- Solar Energy Absorption: Under optimal conditions, this is the main source of Zod's super powers as they are contingent upon exposure to solar radiation from a yellow sun star system. His biological make up includes a number of organs which lack analogues in humans and whose functions are unknown. It is believed that between one or more of these and his bio-cellular matrix, "yellow" solar energy is stored for later use. This allows for the use of these powers to fade when yellow solar radiation is not available instead of immediate failure.
- Heat Vision: Zod can, as a conscious act, fire beams of intense heat at a target by looking at it. He can vary the heat and area affected.
- Super-Hearing: Zod's hearing is sensitive enough to hear any sound at any volume or pitch. With skill and concentration, he can block out ambient sounds to focus on a specific source or frequency.
- Enhanced Vision: Zod's vision processes the entire electromagnetic spectrum as well as allowing vast control over selective perception and focus.
This umbrella ability includes the following:- Electromagnetic Spectrum Vision: Zod can see well into most of the electromagnetic spectrum. He can see and identify radio and television signals as well as all other broadcast or transmitted frequencies. Using this ability, he can avoid detection by radar or satellite monitoring methods. This also allows him to see the aura generated by living thing.
- Telescopic Vision: This is the ability to see something at a great distance, without violating the laws of physics. Though limited, the exact extent of the ability is undetermined. In function, it is similar to the zoom lens on a camera.
- X-Ray Vision: This is the ability to see through any volume of matter except lead. Zods can see things behind a solid, opaque object as if it were not there. He can focus this ability to "peel back" layers of an object, allowing hidden image or inner workings to be observed. The exact type of energy perceived—such as x-rays, cosmic rays, or some other energy invisible to normal humans—is unclear. This ability perceives an ambient energy source though, it does not involve the eye projecting a concentrated, possibly toxic, beam to be reflected back from objects.
- Microscopic Vision: This is the ability to see extremely small objects and images down to the atomic level.
- Infrared Vision: Zod can see with better acuity in darkness, and to a degree in total darkness.
- Flight: Zod is able to manipulate graviton particles to defy the forces of gravity and achieve flight. This ranges from hovering to moving in any posture, in any direction.
- Invulnerability: Due to the interaction of his dense molecular structure and supercharged bio-electric aura, Zod is nigh-invulnerable to extreme energy forces. In addition, his extends this protection against toxins and diseases.
- Superhuman Stamina:: Zod is able to maintain continuous strenuous physical action for an indefinite period of time. This based on his body converting yellow solar radiation directly to energy, but is limited by physiological and psychological needs to eat, drink, and sleep.
- Superhuman Strength: Zod's strength is augmented by yellow solar radiation interacting with the greater than human density, resilience and biological efficiency of his musculature. His strength is more an act of conscious will on energy fields than actual physical strength. It is this act of conscious will that enables him to perform physical feats that are beyond the mere application force, such as moving a mountain top without said rock crumbling under its own mass.
- Superhuman Speed:: Zod is able to move at incredible speed by sheer force of will. This extends to his perceptions and allows for feats such as catching bullets in mid flight as well as covering vast distances in little or no time.
This also confers: - Super-Breath: Zod is able to create hurricane force winds by exhaling air from his lungs. He can chill the air as it leaves his lungs to freeze targets. He can also reverse the process to pull large volumes of air or vapor into his lungs.
- Longevity: Zod can live longer than regular humans, remaining at his prime as long as he was under the exposure of the "yellow" sun.
Weaknesses
- Kryptonian Physiology: Under the effects of a "yellow" sun, Zod possesses the same potential weaknesses as an average Kryptonian. These include:
Notes
- This version of the character is exclusive to the continuity of the television series Smallville and is an adaptation of General Zod. The original character was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp and first appeared in Adventure Comics #283.
- Zod was portrayed by Callum Blue and, while possessing Lex Luthor, by Michael Rosenbaum.
Links and References
- 5 Appearances of Zod (Smallville)
- Minor Appearances of Zod (Smallville)
- Media Zod (Smallville) was Mentioned in
- Images featuring Zod (Smallville)
- Quotations by or about Zod (Smallville)
- Character Gallery: Zod (Smallville)
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Footnotes
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  This character is or was primarily an enemy of Superman in any of his various incarnations, or members of the Superman Family. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Superman Villains category." |