Black Zero is a name shared by twosupervillains, two terrorist organizations, one special forces group, and a computer virus that have all appeared in variouscomic book series published byDC Comics.
The original Black Zero first appeared inSuperman #205 (1968), and was created by writerOtto Binder and artistAl Plastino.[1] He is a space saboteur who destroys planets and was hired to destroyKrypton by maintaining pressure in its core.[2][3]
In the present, Black Zero comes to Earth, threatening to destroy it as he did Krypton. In desperation, Superman releasesJax-Ur, a prisoner of thePhantom Zone, who wishes to avenge Krypton's destruction. After launching a missile toward Earth, Black Zero attacks Jax-Ur with redkryptonite, mutating him into aGorgon-like form. Jax-Ur then petrifies Black Zero with his gaze and shatters his body.
The first Post-Crisis version of Black Zero appeared in the 1988World of Krypton miniseries written byJohn Byrne and illustrated byMike 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 byUrsa who were killed byBrainiac.[4]
The Black Zero virus appears inSuperman Plus/Legion of Super-Heroes #1, a 1997one-shot teaming Superman with theLegion of Super-Heroes. It is an intelligentcomputer virus created by the Black Zero group who attempts to destroy Earth beforeBrainiac 5 destroys it.[5]
| Black Zero | |
|---|---|
 Black Zero on the cover ofSuperboy #62 (1999). Art byTom Grummett. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Superboy (vol. 4) #61 (April 1999) |
| Created by | Karl Kesel (writer) Tom Grummett (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Experiment 13 |
| Species | Metahumanclone |
| Place of origin | Earth of an alternate reality inHypertime. |
| Team affiliations | Fortress Cadmus |
| Notable aliases | Superman II |
| Abilities | Advanced tactile-telekinesis that provided flight, invulnerability, and superhuman strength; superhuman hearing and heat vision |
The secondBlack Zero is an alternate universe variant ofSuperboy from a universe whereSuperman was not resurrected afterhis battle with Doomsday.[6] He battles Superboy and theChallengers of the Unknown before being exposed to hyperstorm energy and disappearing.[7][8]
The character first appeared inSuperboy (vol. 4) #61, and was created byKarl Kesel andTom Grummett.
A Kryptonian prison frigate called theBlack Zero appears in films set in theDC Extended Universe (DCEU):
| Superboys | |
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| Supporting characters | |
| Enemies | |
| Publications | |
| In other media | |
