Forgotten Villains: Superman 2’s General Zod

By Owen Quinn author

Photos copyright Warner Brothers

I was recently made aware of just how many movies and television shows the younger generation have never heard of, never mind seen. So to that end, we look back at some characters you really need to see before you kick the bucket.

There have been many incarnations and actors who have played the role of Lex Luthor, Superman’s arch enemy over the years but there is only one version that fans remember and has never, ever been matched for intensity and sheer raw screen presence.

In 1978 you really did believe a man could fly when actor Christopher Reeve took on the role of Superman and blew audiences away. At the start of the movie, we see a tribunal where three criminals are on trial for subverting Kryptonian society. General Zod, the mute Non and Ursa are sentenced by Superman’s father Jor El to the Phantom Zone. But with the success of the movie a sequel was inevitable and there was only one way to go.

Superman 2 is the best and most epic of the movies and that includes the Henry Cavill era. When Superman detonates a nuclear bomb in space that was intended to level Paris, the shockwave shatters the barrier between the Phantom Zone Zod and co were launched in freeing them in our solar system. How ironic that the son of their jailor is their saviour albeit accidentally.

General Zod here is played by Terence Stamp. With theIR distinctive black leather overall and trimmed beard and sallow features is the perfect Zod. His unique English accent is up there with Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber. It stands out and Stamp oozes the character.

Zod is arrogant, ambitious and has little regard for life. When he observes Ursa rip a badge from an astronaut’s spacesuit, his death is a mild curiosty at best. As they explore their new found powers and head to Earth, Zod and his cohorts arrive in a small town where they literally tear it apart turning it into a war zone. He is sadistic with death a mere means to amuse him. This is best displayed when a military helicopter fires missiles at them. Their primitive firepower has no effect on them and with a cold arrogance he asks Ursa to blow them a kiss. Her super breath blows the chopper out of the sky killing those aboard but as new found gods, everyone on Earth are mere sheep to Zod. Their attack on the town is merely a way to gauge the strength of their new found subjects and how much of a threat they are. When it is clear that none of the townspeople have super powers, Zod is angry. The warrior within him demands battle and a constant need to prove his superiority. There can be only one fish in the pond and that’s Zod. He roars into a television news camera for someone to challenge him as he always wins. However as we know Clark is busy revealing he is Superman to Lois and giving up his powers to be with her forever. By the time he finds out about Zod, Clark is completely human.

As the newly self appointed ruler of the planet Earth, Zod turns the faces of Mount Rushmore into his own likeness as does Ursa and Non. They then storm the White House where he observes from the American flag that humans are accustomed to worshipping things that fly. Zod is smart enough to know when a false President is presented to him but learns of Superman’s existence thanks to another old foe of Superman’s, the opportunistic Lex Luthor.

So begins an epic battle on and above the streets of Metropolis when Clark regains his powers and takes the fight to Zod. Luthor leads the Kryptonians to the Daily Planet where they take Lois and the staff hostage in hopes of luring Superman to them. By destroying the son of their jailor, they will have their revenge and take their place as unchallenged rulers of Earth. When Superman arrives we get classic timeless lines that have been used in other versions of the Super family.

“General, would you care to step outside?” and “Kneel before Zod!”

Zod is a warrior and unafraid to fight but he is alo a master tactician and realises that the only way they can hurt Superman is to hurt the people of Earth learning and calculating with every fight.

Destruction reigns down on Metropolis as the four battle in midair. Debris falls to the streets below and Zod and Ursa toss a bus full of people at Superman. He is not as easy to defeat as they first thought. They will burn everything to the ground in order to kill the son of Jor El regardless of the casualties. They have no mercy or compassion and betray Luthor who is delighted when Superman turns up in a classic comedic moment.

“Suoerman, thank God. I mean, get him!”

Zod may be a great warrior but Superman realises the only way to defeat them is to take the fight away from the city. The final standoff is in the Fortress of Solitude where Zod believes with Lois hostage that he has won. He finds it tasteless, a sad replica of a planet long gone.Zod wants Superman to be his slave forever or all Earthlings will die. When Luthor tells Zod that Clark has a molecule chamber which will turn them into humans. Zod puts Superman inside and the machine powers up. But there has never been a look of surprise more explicit than when Zod forces Superman to his knees and offers his hand to sweat eternal loyalty by his new slave. Zod and the others have been turned into humans while Superman was safe. Zod’s pained gasps of surprise are priceless as is the look on his face as his bones are crushed and he is thrown into a precipice of ice. But in a deleted scene Zod and his cronies are arrested and removed from the Fortress by the police. So somewhere Zod, ursa and Non are sitting in prison scheming a way to get back their powers and seek revenge on Superman.

We really are unsure at times through the movie if Superman is going to win but the onscreen chemistry between Reeve and Stamp is electric. Zod is so stoic in his superiority and new found powers under the yellow sun that it in the end clouds his warrior spirit. Stamp brings Zod to life with a regal air that comes from every pore. He bounces off the others brilliantly especially Ursa with his withering glances and his I’m better than everyone else attitude. But there is no doubt that Superman 2 and the epic battle between General Zod and Superman is a must see.

For the ultimate classic super hero villain, keep your Thanos; Terence Stamp as General Zod is the man to watch.