| For the Flashpoint Timeline version of this event, see Kryptonian Attack. |
- "Look at this. We could have built a new Krypton in this squalor, but you chose the humans over us. I exist only to protect Krypton. That is the sole purpose for which I was born. And every action I take, no matter how violent or how cruel, is for the greater good of my people. And now, I have no people! My soul... that is what you have taken FROM ME!"
- ―General Zod to Kal-El[src]
The Kryptonian Attack[1] was a colonization attempt by the Kryptonian terrorist group known as the Sword of Rao, with the intention of terraforming planet Earth into a new Krypton. General Dru-Zod, in an attempt to ensure the survival of his race, engaged in direct conflict with Kal-El, whose cells were infused with the Growth Codex.
With the support of the Air Force in Smallville and Metropolis, Superman engaged in a direct duel against Zod and his forces during the Black Zero's terraforming attempt, in which he was ultimately forced to assassinate him while the Sword of Rao was absorbed by a singularity back to the Phantom Zone.[2]
Background[]
Kryptonian Expansion[]
- "More than a thousand traveling from this region alone. They're calling this the "great era of expansion" of Krypton. I feel very honored to be part of this."
- ―Kara Zor-El[src]
During the Kryptonian race's era of interstellar expansion and colonization, Kara Zor-El, as a member of the Explorer Guild, was assigned to a Scout Ship sent to Earth. However, after ten years of traveling in suspended animation, Kara would soon confront Dev-Em on the ship, which crashed into an area of glaciers on the planet.[3]
Eventually, the space exploration program was abandoned as genetic breeding was explored with an artificial population, which limited the procreation of Kryptonians by natural means. When Krypton's natural resources were depleted, the Council of Five authorized the extraction of Krypton's core, causing careless mining that accelerated the implosion process.[2]
Destruction of Krypton[]
- "The destruction of our world... freed us. We were adrift, destined to float... amongst the ruins of our planet... until we starved.[...]We managed to retrofit the Phantom Projector into a hyperdrive."
- ―Dru-Zod to Kal-El[src]
Jor-El infuses the Codex on Kal-El's cells.
Shortly after the birth of his son Kal-El, the first Kryptonian born through natural means in centuries, Jor-El, aware of the planet's soon implosion, requested the Council of Five for access to the Growth Codex, at the same time General Dru-Zod and the Sword of Rao declared a coup d'état throughout the planet. Determined to ensure the survival of his race, Jor-El stole the Codex and soon infused it into the cells of his son, whom he proceeded to send to Earth.
Dru-Zod and Faora-Ul are freed from the Phantom Zone.
After regaining control over Krypton, the Council of Five arrested the Sword of Rao and sentenced them to the Phantom Zone aboard the Black Zero. Shortly after, however, the planet exploded, causing a chain reaction that freed them from their prison. The rebels soon began modifying the Black Zero into a transport vehicle. Adrift in space, the Sword of Rao wandered through the former exploration outposts in search of resources, vehicles, and weapons.[2]
Visit on the Scout Ship[]
- "For 33 years we prepared until we finally detected a distress beacon which you triggered when you accesed the ancient scout ship."
- ―Dru-Zod to Kal-El[src]
Kal-El grows up on Earth as Clark Kent.
Kal-El's Starcraft landed in a rural area of Kansas, United States called Smallville. There, the little Kryptonian was found by farmers Martha and Jonathan Kent, who decided to adopt him under the name Clark Kent and raise him as their own son. As the years passed, Clark would discover that he possessed superhuman abilities and powers, learning from his adoptive father that he came from nothing other than Earth and questioning himself about his existence and reason for being sent.
Kal-El comes out of the Scout Ship with his new suit.
Upon reaching adulthood, Clark Kent embarked on an extensive search for his origins around the world, in which he heard about an unidentified object buried in the glaciers of Ellesmere Island, Canada. Clark infiltrated the facility and discovered a Kryptonian Scout Ship, where he met an artificial consciousness of his father and received a skin suit. Unknowingly, Clark activated a distress beacon that was detected by Dru-Zod and the Sword of Rao from the Black Zero.[2]
Attack[]
Zod's Message[]
- "My name is General Zod. I come from a world far from yours. I have journeyed across an ocean of stars to reach you. For some time, your world has sheltered one of my citizens. I request that you return this individual to my custody."
- ―Dru-Zod to the world[src]
Zod broadcasts a global message to Earth.
Determined to search for the Growth Codex to ensure the survival of their race, the Sword of Rao began a stellar journey towards Earth. With the Black Zero already in synchronized orbit with the planet, the ship was detected by NASA, the Air Force and the media, while it broadcast a global transmission to all the screens in the world in different languages, which revealed the existence of extraterrestrial life.
Kal-El decides to surrender to the military.
Shortly afterward, Dru-Zod introduced himself as a being from another planet who was searching for Kal-El, exposing him as an alien who had been keeping his existence a secret. With that said, Zod threatened Kal-El to surrender in less than a day, otherwise the planet would suffer the consequences. Lois Lane, being the only person on the planet who knew about him, was arrested by the FBI, at the same time Kal-El himself, determined to protect the human race, voluntarily surrendered to the military.[2]
Escape from Black Zero[]
- "We wanted you to learn what it meant to be human first so that one day, when the time was right, you could be the bridge between two people."
- ―Jor-El to Kal-El[src]
Kal-El and Lois Lane in front of Zod in the Black Zero.
After a brief talk, Kal-El and Lois Lane were taken to a desert where Commander Faora-Ul landed and took them to the Black Zero. Although Dru-Zod initially presented himself without signs of hostility, soon the atmospheric composition of the ship affected Kal-El's vitality as he had been accustomed to the Earth's atmosphere all his life, causing him to fall unconscious and both him and Lois to be captured in different cells.
Kal-El flees from the Black Zero with the help of Jor-El.
On her time being in the cell, Lois used the Kryptonian command key that Kal-El had given her to summon Jor-El's artificial consciousness, whose help made her able to neutralize Zod's soldiers and escape via pod. On hia side, Kal-El was mentally probed by Zod to locate the Codex. Soon, the atmospheric composition was reconfigured by Jor-El, allowing Kal-El to escape his captivity and manage to save Loia before her capsule exploded.[2]
Showdown in Smallville[]
- "You're weak, son of El, unsure of yourself. The fact that you possess a sense of morality and we do not gives us an evolutionary advantage. And if history has proven anything... Is that evolution always wins."
- ―Faora-Ul to Kal-El[src]
Kal-El before confronting Faora-Ul and Nam-Ek in Smallville.
Moments before Kal-El's escape, Dru-Zod and his elite troops located the starcraft he was sent on in Smallville, landing in front of the Kent Farm and intimidating Martha Kent. Realizing this, a furious Kal-El confronted Zod, Faora-Ul and Nam-Ek on the streets of Smallville, causing great destruction. Eventually, Zod's troops were forced to withdraw from combat, and the Air Force recognized Kal-El as a hero after being saved by him, starting to call him Superman.[2]
Black Zero Event[]
- "If I don't stop that machine over the Indian Ocean, the gravity field will continue to expand."
"If that thing is making Earth more like Krypton, won't you be weaker around it?"
"Maybe. I'm not about to let that stop me from trying." - ―Superman and Lois Lane[src]
The Black Zero is deployed in Metropolis.
After analyzing Kal-El's blood samples, Jax-Ur discovered and notified Dru-Zod that the Growth Codex was infused into his Kal's genetic material. Determined to transform Earth, Zod ordered the Black Zero to be sent over the city of Metropolis and deployed a World Engine to the Indian Ocean, beginning a terraforming process that altered part of the Earth's atmosphere so that it is capable of repopulating the planet in a new Krypton. In the process, large portions of land on both sides were transformed into fragments of Kryptonite.[4]
Superman manages to destroy the World Engine.
In response to the attack, Kal-El gave up his starcraft to the Air Force, planning to create a singularity with it that would absorb the Black Zero back to the Phantom Zone. Superman then flew to the Indian Ocean and confronted the World Engine's defense mechanism, materializing into enormous tentacles of Liquid Geo. Despite his efforts against the atmospheric modification, Superman was briefly wounded, but eventually managed to destroy the engine.
The Black Zero is attacked by the Air Force.
At the same time, the Black Zero continued to attack Metropolis with gravity pulses that penetrated the Earth's crust. Although the Air Force attempted to attack the ship with missiles, they were deflected and redirected to the city by the ship's gravitational field; Bruce Wayne was one of the many who witnessed the damage.[4] Meanwhile, Lois Lane, aboard a C-17 plane with Colonel Nathan Hardy and Doctor Emil Hamilton, prepared to launch the starcraft straight to the Black Zero, only to be surprised by Faora-Ul.[2]
Battle of Metropolis[]
- "I'm going to make them suffer, Kal. These humans you've adopted, I will take them all from you one by one."
"You're a monster, Zod... and I'm gonna stop you." - ―Dru-Zod and Kal-El[src]
The Black Zero is sucked back into the Phantom Zone.
Having taken control of the Scout Ship, Dru-Zod piloted the ship towards Metropolis, and when he was about to attack the C-17 plane containing the starcraft, Superman intervened and damaged the ship, causing it to crash in the middle of the city. Meanwhile, Lois activated the starcraft's Phantom Drive before the plane crashed into the Black Zero, generating a wormhole that sucked the Sword of Rao aboard his ship, as well as the C-17 and the majority of its crew.
_Zod_strikes_Superman.gif){kind=link}
Kal-El confronts Zod in Metropolis.
Fortunately, Lois survived the crash after accidentally falling from the plane. Seeing her after recovering from the fall of the Scout Ship, Kal-El set out to rescue her and put her safely on land, before sharing a brief kiss with her. However, surprisingly, Zod emerged from the rubble and fiercely confronted Kal-El for choosing humanity over his own race, assuring him that every action he took was for their survival. With that, a furious Zod lashed out at Kal-El and claimed to wipe out all of humanity.
_Superman_kills_Zod.gif){kind=link}
Kal-El murders Zod by breaking his neck.
Against Zod's evil plans, Kal-El engaged in a duel to the death in the skies of Metropolis, which ended up destroying several buildings in the city until reaching the planet's space orbit, where both destroyed a satellite owned by Wayne Enterprises. Both adversaries soon landed in the Metropolis Central Station, and a vengeful Zod set out to murder an entire family with his heat vision. With no other options, Kal-El was forced to break his neck, killing him instantly before proceeding to cry out in anguish.[2]
Aftermath[]
Superman's Impact[]
- "That son of a bitch brought the war to us two years ago. Jesus, Alfred. Count the dead. Thousands of people. What's next? Millions? He has the power to wipe out the entire human race, and if we believe there's even a 1% chance that he is our enemy, we have to take it as an absolute certainty."
- ―Bruce Wayne to Alfred Pennyworth[src]
Statue in honor to Superman in Heroes Park.
Now seen as a hero who defended and saved humanity by betraying his own race, Kal-El continued to operate in numerous rescue operations and humanitarian actions under the name "Superman", against crime, providing support in natural disasters. Consequently, a huge statue of him was placed in the Heroes Park of Metropolis, whose honorary plaques contained the names of the victims of the Battle of Metropolis.
However, despite demonstrating his selfless commitment to humanity through his actions, Superman was the subject of multiple controversies regarding his immense power, as some people, considering him a nearly omnipotent divine being, determined that he represented a threat that could destroy humanity. Among them was billionaire Bruce Wayne, who embarked on a self-imposed mission to take down the Kryptonian.[4]
Lex Luthor's Conspiracy[]
- "I figured out way back! If God is all-powerful, he cannot be all-good. And if he is all-good, then he cannot be all powerful... and neither can you be. They need to see the fraud you are... with their eyes... the blood on your hands... and tonight they will."
- ―Lex Luthor to Superman[src]
Lex Luthor collecting information for his plan.
Determined to prove and expose the alien superhero as a fraud, using the problem of evil applicable to him, Lex Luthor devised an extensive plan to also take down Superman. Lex began to study and learn every detail about both the Kryptonian and Batman, the vigilante of Gotham City. During his investigations, Lex found files and videos on several individuals with special abilities, which he dubbed "Metahumans."
During the reconstruction of Metropolis, Lex discovered a small portion of Kryptonite, a xenomineral of Kryptonian origin formed during the terraforming process. After analyzing the sample and discovering that the mineral had harmful properties against Kryptonian cells, Lex financed missions to explore the remains of the World Engine, finding a large nugget of Kryptonite submerged in the Indian Ocean, willing to use it as an exploitable weakness in Superman.[4]
Casualties[]
- Tony[5]
- Emil Hamilton[2]
- Nathan Hardy[2]
- Michael Long[2]
- Jack O'Dwyer[4]
- Dru-Zod[2]
- Other civilians:
- Robert Anderson[4]
- Katie Barker[4]
- Kristin Berge[4]
- Celeste Coller[6]
- Gary Dodd[4]
- Scott Eagle[4]
- Arlend Engar[6]
- Kevin Erb[4]
- Gavin Evans[6]
- Richard Gartrell[4]
- Patrick George[4]
- Jim Grace[4]
- Kristine Haag[4]
- Hans Heymans[6]
- Matt Hirsch[6]
- Annie Jewell[4]
- Cindy Khoo[6]
- Rachel Krantz[6]
- Julius Lechner[6]
- Jackie Levine[6]
- Zachary Mallety[6]
- Rodger Meilink[4]
- Bob Morgan[4]
- F. Lynn Ollie[4]
- Ben Parker[6]
- Rick Radomsky[4]
- Jason Rainey[4]
- John Slove[4]
- Lauren Swearingan[6]
- Andy Thomspon[6]
- John Tracey[4]
- David Thiflhart[4]
- Micheal Welch[4]
- Eliza Wexelman[4]
References[]
- ↑ Time Out Shortlist Gotham and Metropolis (Metropolis) p. 42.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Man of Steel
- ↑ Man of Steel Prequel
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
- ↑ The Flash
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 Zack Snyder's Justice League