Zod – Year One – Brian Manton

Issue 1, Page 15

Notes: This is a bit of a retrofit/elseworlds history of Zod which uses some pre & post crisis storylines.  Jax-Ur has been imprisoned for destroying Krypton's moon (and the lunar colony of Kandor along with it) during an attempt at outlawed interstellar space travel.

1.
Kryptonian jail cell. A purple energy field buzzes across the entrance.

JAX-UR sits on the floor, in the rounded corner of the barren room, his knees tucked into his chest.  With a hopeless expression, he looks up toward ZOD.

Zod stands outside the cell, with his arms behind his back.  He wears a Kryptonian military uniform.

Zod:  You've heard of this "Phantom Zone" Jor-El has been playing with? Well, I've suggested a use for it. They're going lock you up in there, Jax-Ur.

2.
Zod switches off the cell energy barrier with the control panel on the wall. He maintains eye contact with Jax-Ur, who has gotten up off the floor and looks to Zod with a glimmer of hope.

Zod: Be grateful. If not for me you'd already have been launched into space with a crystal in your brain.

Jax-Ur:  Do... do you believe me? The sabotage?

3.
Zod has entered the cell. His eyes look up and to his left, as he thinks. Jax-Ur is confused.

Zod:  They call me General, but do not let me command my men as an army.

Zod (linked):  The Council refuse to act on sound intelligence.

4.
Zod stands in front of Jax-Ur, looming over him.  Jax-Ur is terrified.

Zod:  Mark me, Jax-Ur... the Coluan was coming for Kandor.

Zod (linked):  I was not going to let him take it.

5.
Jax-Ur has backed away, horrified.  Zod clenches his fists.

Zod:  The Council appointed me to defend Krypton because they knew I could act where others would falter.

Zod(linked):  I will bring war to Colu.

6.
Close on Zod - his eyes narrow, determined.

Zod:  That's where your spaceships come in.

General Zod - Father's Day - Ray Wonsowski

(...ok, had a hard time this week, was originally going to do a joke page; Zod hosting Saturday Night Live with Neil Young as a musical guest..."No, no, not after, Neil before Zod"...anyway, then my brother, pw!, the artist, came and visited for Father's Day weekend.  He drew a picture for my boys, that they colored, which was so cool to me, I am using it as my first panel.  So without further ado, the Wonsowski family jam...)

Layout:
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Panel 1 - A crystal room on planet Krypton.  GENERAL ZOD fights JOR-EL, punching him in the face:

ZOD:  Betrayer!

Panel 2 - JOR-EL is on the crystal floor, ZOD is straddling JOR-EL, strangling him, his hands about the scientist's throat.

ZOD:  By obeying the Council's edict, you have doomed all of Krypton!

ZOD:  I could have saved them all!  I could have led Krypton to a new dawn!

Panel 3 - JOR-EL, still being strangled, grabs onto a long, slender crystal in desperation.  ZOD screams, spitting in his foe's face.

ZOD:  You have killed us all!!  

ZOD:  Me!  You!  Your wife!

Panel 4 - JOR-EL, off-panel, breaks the heavy crystal over ZOD's head, knocking him unconscious.

ZOD:  Your s--

SoundFX:  KrAK

Panel 5 - Foreground, ZOD facedown on the floor, out cold.  Background, JOR-EL, a couple of COUNSELORS, and their personal ELITE GUARD, stand over him.  One COUNSELOR rests his hand on JOR-EL's shoulder; JOR-EL looks at it in disgust as he rubs his neck.

COUNSELOR:  He would have thrown the whole of this world into panic and chaos.

JOR-EL:  He would have executed you as traitors, for keeping those you serve ignorant of this planet's destruction.

JOR-EL:  And I am not wholly convinced that he is wrong...

(BIG thank-you's to Nikolas, Victor, and Uncle Peter for the art-assist this week, the inspiration for this week's script, and the most neat-o Father's Day ever!)

(Oh, and also my wife, Sonnia - thanks for the kids!)

General Zod - Brains and Brawn - Niel Jacoby

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Panel 1: Kel-Dar, Krypton's leading cyberneticist is working in his study late at night.

SFX: KNOK KNOK KNOK

Panel 2: Kel-Dar answers the door. Krypton's military leader, the esteemed General Dru-Zod, is standing before him, flanked by his flunkies.

Zod: HELLO, KEL-DAR  I HAVE BUSINESS TO DISCUSS, AND I'D PREFER TO DISCUSS IT MORE PRIVATELY.

Panel 3: Kel-Dar is still at the door, considering what Zod has said.

Zod: ...

(LINK)

YOU ARE GOING TO INVITE ME IN.

Inset panel: Zod enters, leaving his flunkies outside.

Zod: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY.

Panel 4: Zod and Kel-Dar are sitting in Kel-Dar's living room. Kel-Dar is sitting in his chair, while Zod is just sort of sit-leaning on his armrest to sort of appear more physically dominant.

Zod: NOW, ABOUT THIS BUSINESS. YOU'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE PLANETARY CENTRAL PLANNING SYSTEM, CODENAMED B.R.A.N.I.A.C.. YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO WEAPONIZE IT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO THE KRYPTONIAN MILITARY.

(LINK)

I ASSUME YOU'LL BE WANTING COMPENSATION FOR YOUR WORK. CONSIDER NOT BEING BATTERED SENSELESS BY THE MEN OUTSIDE THE DOOR YOUR COMPENSATION.

(LINK)

NO QUESTIONS. GOOD.

Panel 5: Zod is walking out the door, his flunkies at his sides. We can see Kel-Dar still in his chair, looking towards the door.

Zod: WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT. MEN, SHOW HIM HIS PLACE.

Panel 6: Kel-Dar is getting up from his chair, panicked.

Kel-Dar: I THOUGHT WE HAD A DEAL!

Panel 7: We see Zod through the doorway.

Zod: WE DO.

Panel 8: Zod walks away, as the door closes. We're still seeing him through the doorway.

Zod: THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO BEAT YOU HALF-SENSELESS.

General Zod - There But For the Grace of Zod - J.D. Coughlan

Panel 1: Zod stands, his back to us, gazing out a window contemplatively, his hands behind his back. Out the window, we see a shining, futuristic city. In the reflection, we see that Zod is older now; grey-haired. We also see Superman (referred to here as Kal-El) in a military uniform behind him, at attention.

KAL-EL: Imperator Zod? The people are ready for your annual Colonisation Day speech.

ZOD: I was just thinking, General El...

Panel 2: Over Kal-El's shoulder. Zod has half-turned from the window to face him. Zod's expression is still contemplative.

ZOD: Every year on this day, I find myself pondering... What would have happened to us had my... revolution not been successful?

Panel 3: Close on Kal-El. He remains at attention, but is slightly troubled by the question.

KAL-EL: Our race would have perished along with our original home, Imperator. We never would have come here, overthrown the impure Xudarians, and turned their world into our glorious Neo-Krypton.

Panel 4: Zod starts walking towards Kal-El, an ever-so-slight smug grin on his face.

ZOD: Hm. Our short-sighted former rulers failed to see that Kryptonian greatness lies not in our soil but in our blood.

Panel 5: Zod is now in the foreground, with Kal-El following him out the door. Zod has a more sinister grin on his face, unseen by Kal-El.

KAL-EL: Yes, Imperator. It is only a tragedy you were unable to save my mother and father before those fascists executed them.

ZOD: Indeed... Such a pity about that...

END OF PAGE

ZOD – Kneel Off – MK Stangeland Jr.

(3 Panels)

Panel 1: Large panel – not splash page size, but should occupy the majority of the page.

ZOD is facing off against LOKI – a large number of LOKIs. These are illusions being created by the real one, and as such are mostly just standing around, looking intimidating, and shouting at ZOD.

ZOD, on the other hand, is attacking the illusions in an effort to get LOKI to kneel by force.

ZOD (1): KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!

LOKI ILLUSION 1: You first, you contemptuous brute.

ZOD (2): You will kneel before me!

LOKI ILLUSION 2: I’ll remember that once I have you on your knees.

Panel 2: A long-distance view of the events from PANEL 1 as being viewed through a pair of opera glasses.

ZOD: KNEEL!

SFX: *munch*munch*

LEX LUTHOR: (Off-panel) I must admit, Loki…

Panel 3: LOKI and LEX LUTHOR are in an office building, looking through the window at the scene from PANEL 1. They are sitting in high-class executive chairs and LOKI is viewing the scene through opera glasses while LEX LUTHOR is using some standard binoculars.

LOKI is busy chewing on some popcorn, but holds the bowl he’s been eating out of to the side as he offers some to LUTHOR.

LEX LUTHOR (1): …you certainly know how to entertain.

LOKI: *munch*Popcorn?*munch*

LEX LUTHOR (2): No, I’ll pass.

(END PAGE)

Zod -Inspection -Dan Hill

PAGE ONE

Panel 1

We're inside a barracks. The room is sparse, all white space. The only furnishings are a row of beds either side. In front of each bed stands a young RECRUIT, all of them wearing dark all in one jumpsuits. Amongst them is a young ZOD.

At the end of the room, REX-UR, the drill instructor, begins his inspection.

He cuts an imposing figure, tall with a buzz cut and razor sharp cheekbones. Every cadet is frozen in fear.

CAPTION: Military Academy, Krypton.

Panel 2

Inset: Close up on a young ZOD standing to attention. He looks visibly nervous and has several bruises on his face.

ZOD(CAPTION): Once, even I knew fear.

Panel 3

Wide: a profile shot of Rex-Ur as he begins to walk down the like of recruits.

ZOD(CAPTION): I saw it wielded as a powerful weapon...

Panel 4

Rex-Ur has now turned, facing us.

ZOD(CAPTION): I saw it shape and twist minds.

Panel 5

Tight on Zods reaction, sweat forming on his brow.

ZOD(CAPTION): Especially weak ones.

Panel 6

On Rex-Ur's feet as he clicks his boots together.

SFX: Click

Panel 7

Wide: a reverse shot of the first panel, now looking towards the opposite end of the room. Rex-Ur stands ramrod straight.

All of the recruits lined up by their beds, including Zod, are now kneeling.

ZOD(CAPTION): It's something I never forgot.

Zod - Before - Ben Rosenthal

1. A line of people in a grown room. It stretches the length of the panel. The first two people on the left hand side of the line are kneeling, with the third person beginning to crouch, getting ready for his turn to kneel.


2. The line continue, but with the person who was on the far right of the previous panel's line now kneeling, with others after him getting ready to kneel.


3. Different people again in the same line. Towards the end of the line stands Superman. Next to him is Zod.


4. Everyone up to Superman is kneeling. Supes is not. He is standing, staring straight ahead. Zod is looking at him. He cannot believe the arrogance of Superman.


5. Same as the panel above with Supes still looking ahead, not kneeling. Zod has his hand to his mouth, coughing in an effort for Supes to kneel.

ZOD
Ahem.

6.  Same as Panel 5, but Zod is facing front now.  He is muttering to himself.

ZOD
Jerk.

Zod – Crown Me Your Father- Shaun Richens.

PAGE ONE – 5 PANELS.

1.1 Wide. The Lincoln Memorial Statue. GENERAL ZOD stands with his back to us, his hands crossed behind his back. He looks up at Lincoln.

CAPTION: Six days from now.

ZOD: This piece of stone is nothing compared to the works they will craft of me.

1.2 Zod has turned. He now looks down at SUPERMAN who is on his knees, his hands behind his back, they are lashed together with chains made of red kryptonite.

ZOD: Despite what strength you think you have Kal-El.

1.3 Tight profile shot of Zod and Superman. Zod cups Superman’s face by the chin and pulls his face close to his.

ZOD: Really you are just as weak as the fools you look to protect Clark.

1.4 The kneeling figure of Superman can be seen behind Zod as he walks away leaving Superman in the shadow of the Lincoln statue. Zod floats just off the ground his arms outstretched.

ZOD: You will always live in the shadow of Jor-el and old Krypton.

ZOD: Whilst I shall bask in the glow of my new Krypton.  

1.5 Wide. The Washington Monument stands tall to the right of panel as we look out across the reflecting pool towards the Lincoln Memorial. A massive crowd of thousands of people fills up every space around the pool they all kneel.

General Zod floats high above the steps leading up to the Lincoln statue his arms out stretched.

ZOD: Rise before Zod and crown me your father and ruler of new Krypton.

Why Zod?

When you think of the Man of Steel a whole plethora of sinister and powerful villains come to mind, Darkseid, Bizarro, Brainiac, Lex Luthor, and whilst all of these characters bring out something different in the big blue boy scout it is only General Dru-Zod who holds a mirror up to him. Zod is the flip side to the same coin as Superman. He is the reflection of how Earth would be different if it was another Kryptonian who had fallen to our planet, or if Ma and Pa Kent hadn’t been the ones to find baby Kal-El. Zod is the fear inside Clark that his power may corrupt him.

Zod was originally a small time Superboy villain. It wasn’t until the movie Superman II when actor Terence Stamp brought the character to life on the silver screen that he got a creative boost comic side. Now some of the best comic creators have taken the reigns of the Kryptonian General, from John Byrne to Steve Gerber, and Geoff Johns and Jeph Loeb, all of them have had him face of with the last son of Krypton.

But now with the release of Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel movie we are left with only two options, we either take to our knees to kneel before the feet of Zod or we stand up and meet the new face of the General. Either way it is up to us Thoughtballoons writers and all those who want to enter the fray at home to choose.