Iconic Superman villain Zod’s solo series continues to get even more intriguing, as DC’s advance solicitations for the upcoming fifth issue of Kneel Before Zod tease the formation of DC’s latest legion, the so-called “Legion of Zod.” However, whether they will be allies of their namesake, or enemies, remains an open question.
Kneel Before Zod #5 – written by Joe Casey, with art by Dan McDaid – continues the story of Zod’s reign on New Kandor. The released synopsis promises the villain is “hurtling closer to his dark fate,” as it seems that the deteriorating of his mental state, as depicted so far in the series, will continue to worsen.
Kneel Before Zod #5 (2024) | |
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Release Date: | May 7, 2024 |
Writers: | Joe Casey |
Artists: | Dan McDaid |
Cover Artist: | Jason Shawn Alexander |
Variant Covers: | Lucio Parrillo and John Giang |
In the aftermath of war, General Zod hurtles closer to his dark fate! On the verge of losing everything –including his own life – a desperate and deranged Zod is faced with an all-new challenge…introducing – the Legion of Zod! | |
The Kryptonian conqueror has been hallucinating, interacting with the shade of Superman’s father Jor-El. Now, this solicitation states that a “deranged Zod” will be pitted against the new “Legion of Zod,“ suggesting the General is set to lose control of his carefully laid plans.
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A bitter moment between General Zod and his son showcases just how his family are the darkest opposite of Superman’s dynamic with his loved ones.
Zod Is Losing Control Of Himself – And New Kandor
Long before his turn to supervillainy, General Zod was Krypton’s chief military mind, leading several successful wars on their behalf. However, he hasn’t been his normal self in Kneel Before Zod. Not only is Zod haunted by Jor-El, but his relationship with his wife has been strained, after he banished their son from their colony on New Kandor. As the series progresses, Zod continues to hint at an “ultimate weapon” he’s built, and the solicitation for Kneel Before Zod #5 seems to imply these threads will culminate with the Legion being deployed against Zod, perhaps to stop him from using the weapon.
So far, Kneel Before Zod has seeded several possibilities for what Zod’s “ultimate weapon” could be, as well as who could come together to form the “Legion of Zod.” New Kandor has been shown to have access to both the Bottled City of Kandor and the Eradicator. It’s possible this Legion of Zod could be handpicked Kryptonians from the City of Kandor that fight under Zod’s name – even if they come together to fight against him. Zod’s weapon seemingly has something to do with the powerful material known as Sunstone, and could potentially threaten the entire DC Universe.
If Zod Tries To Use His “Ultimate Weapon,” His Legion Might Be The DCU’s Only Hope
Ursa has threatened to take control of New Kandor, if Zod continues with his current behavior. Given the current tensions between the two, it is not hard to believe Ursa would follow through on this, seizing power from Zod. It may be that the new Legion of Zod need to be deployed to contain the “deranged” former leader of New Kandor if he truly becomes complete detached from reality, especially if he attempts to use a devastating new weapon. The wide range of possibilities are among what makes Kneel Before Zod one of DC’s most exciting titles right now.
Readers will need to wait to draw major conclusions about what this Legion of Zod is, but a few things are clear. General Zod has a hidden powerful weapon. His mental state is degenerating, and his grasp on power is slipping. One of the images released for Kneel Before Zod #5 depicts its protagonist in chains, also certainly implying he will suffer a fall from power. Whatever the case may be, DC has promised to unleash the “Legion of Zod” on the rest of its universe, in what may very well be a gamechanging addition to Superman lore.
Kneel Before Zod #5 is on sale on May 7, 2024 from DC Comics!
