| For the Flashpoint Timeline version of this event, see Zod's Message. |
Zod's Message was the first contact of humans with extraterrestrial beings, organized by the leader of the Sword of Rao, General Dru-Zod, with the purpose of forcing Kal-El to surrender.
Background[]
- "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]
After assassinating Jor-El at the House of El Citadel, General Dru-Zod and the Sword of Rao were captured by the Sapphire Guard. During their trial, High Eminence Lor-Em sentenced Zod and his crew to 300 cycles of somatic reconditioning in the Phantom Zone. At that, all members of the Sword of Rao were then cryogenically frozen and sent to the Black Zero to be imprisoned. Moments later, Krypton imploded, causing the Sword of Rao to be released from captivity and forced to stare at the ruins of their home planet.
Despite being stranded in space, the Sword of Rao was able to activate the Black Zero's engine to turn it into a power supply and hyperdrive, allowing them to travel to various points across the universe. During their expeditions, the Sword of Rao visited old colonial outposts on various planets in search of life. However, they only found corpses, abandoned outposts, weapons, armor, and a world engine, all of which they recovered.
33 years later, Jor-El's son, Kal-El, now an adult, boarded Scout Ship 0344 that had been sent to Earth during the Kryptonian Expansion. Unbeknownst to him, Kal-El activated a distress beacon that was immediately detected by the Sword of Rao, who set course for Earth in search of the individual.[1]
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. For reasons unknown, he has chosen to keep his existence a secret from you. He will have made efforts to blend in. He will look like you, but he is not one of you. To those of you who may know of his current location: the fate of your planet rests in your hands. To Kal-El, I say this: surrender within twenty-four hours, or watch this world suffer the consequences..."
- ―Dru-Zod[src]
After an extensive journey, the Black Zero entered Earth's orbit. When the ship arrived, thousands of people noticed its presence, and the media also reported on the UFO in orbit. Within minutes, the ship sent a broadcast signal to all screens on Earth, broadcasting in different languages in various regions of the planet. After introducing himself, Dru-Zod revealed the existence of the individual known as Kal-El, threatening him to surrender to him in less than a day, otherwise, the planet would suffer the consequences.[1]
Aftermath[]
- "Have you seen him? Do you know where he is?"
"No. Even if I did I wouldn't say it."
"The entire world is being threatened here. This is not time for you to fall back on journalist integrity. This is serious, Lois. The FBI is here, they're throwing around words like "treason"." - ―Perry White and Lois Lane[src]
In response to Dru-Zod's threat, many people began to question the existence of this individual named Kal-El, wondering if he was a hoax for a terrorist attack. In an interview, blogger Glen Woodburn informed the media that Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane knew the individual's true identity. Within minutes, Lane was arrested by the FBI to be questioned.
Kal-El surrenders to the armed forces.
After considering his options, Kal-El decided to do the right thing to save Earth, allowing himself to be arrested by General Calvin Swanwick and the United States Armed Forces. Ordered to deliver the Kryptonian to Zod, Swanwick took Kal-El to a desert for Faora-Ul to pick him up in a dropship. However, Faora requested the presence of Lois Lane, who decided to join her. The group eventually arrived at the Black Zero to come face to face with Zod.[1]
Trivia[]
- Dru-Zod's most prominent line was later used, but with opposite intentions, as the tagline for an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention billboard in Central City: "You are not alone."[2]