SPOILER ALERT
According to LEGO’s upcoming playset list, Black Zero is one of the villains that will appear in Zack Snyder’s upcoming Superman reboot, “Man of Steel.”
How did LEGO spill the beans on this possible spoiler? They released a list of the upcoming “Man of Steel” playset titles and it goes something like this:
- 76002 Superman Metropolis Showdown
- 76003 Superman Battle of Smallville
- 76009 Superman Black Zero Escape
LEGO has been known to reveal characters from films by releasing their product titles before. Plus since Christopher Nolan is the producer, it’s possible that a choice for a villain may be delegated to rarely used bad guy. Remember how he used Ra’s al Ghul in “Batman Begins?”
So who is Black Zero? A very little known Superman villain that had a big part in the destruction of Krypton. So, how will it play in the film? Only time will tell.
Here’s Black Zero’s character biography:
The original Black Zero appeared in pre-Crisis Superman (vol. 1) #205 (1968), in a story entitled “The Man Who Destroyed Krypton” written by Otto Binder with artwork by Al Plastino. This Black Zero revealed to Superman that he was a space saboteur who destroyed planets. He had been hired to destroy Krypton, and discovered that the internal stresses which would have destroyed it in any case were dying down, necessitating his involvement to ensure it exploded.
In the present day, Black Zero came to Earth, threatening to destroy it as he did Krypton. In desperation, Superman released Jax-Ur, a prisoner of the Phantom Zone, who wished to avenge Krypton’s destruction. As he launched a devastatingly powerful missile toward Earth, Black Zero attacked Jax-Ur with a red Kryptonite bullet, causing his body to mutate wildly into several serpent-like forms. This proved to be Black Zero’s undoing; while Superman saved the Earth from the missile, Jax-Ur transformed into a Medusa-like form, turning Black Zero to stone with his gaze. Black Zero’s body was then shattered by Jax-Ur, in recompense for what he had done to Krypton.
This story suggests that were it not for something none of them knew, Jor-El would have been wrong and the Science Council right. E. Nelson Bridwell hypothesized that what Black Zero had noticed was the Green Lantern Tomar Re’s attempts to prevent the destruction (as seen in Superman (vol. 1) #257 (1972)), meaning the two sets of interference canceled each other out, and Jor-El was right.
Power and Abilities
Black Zero has the ability to create “psycho-molecules” with his mind, which he could then shape into any form of matter he chose. His brain had been fitted with a plastic coating, preventing him from being hypnotised. He could make his body intangible, enabling him to pass through solid objects. He was a skilled engineer, able to create weapons and devices that could destroy entire planets. He was also skilled in the art of disguise.
“Superman: Man of Steel” is scheduled to open theatrically on June 14th, 2013. Actor Henry Cavill will play Clark Kent/Superman. Other members of the cast include Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Antje Traue, Lawrence Fishburne, Russell Crowe, Ayelet Zurer, Henry Lennix, and Christopher Meloni. Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Deborah Snyder are producing the “Man of Steel.” The screenplay is written by David S. Goyer (“Batman Begins”), which is based on a story created by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan. Zack Snyder (“Watchmen,” “300”) directs.