Black Zero is a name shared by two supervillains, two terrorist organizations, one special forces group, and a computer virus that have all appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics.

Fictional character biography

Original Black Zero

The original Black Zero first appeared in Superman #205 (1968), and was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino. He is a space saboteur who destroys planets and was hired to destroy Krypton by maintaining pressure in its core. In the present, Black Zero comes to Earth, threatening to destroy it as he did Krypton. In desperation, Superman releases Jax-Ur, a prisoner of the Phantom Zone, who wishes to avenge Krypton's destruction. After launching a missile toward Earth, Black Zero attacks Jax-Ur with red kryptonite, mutating him into a Gorgon-like form. Jax-Ur then petrifies Black Zero with his gaze and shatters his body.

Black Zero organization

The first Post-Crisis version of Black Zero appeared in the 1988 World of Krypton miniseries written by John Byrne and illustrated by Mike 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 by Ursa who were killed by Brainiac.

Computer virus

The Black Zero virus appears in Superman Plus/Legion of Super-Heroes #1, a 1997 one-shot teaming Superman with the Legion of Super-Heroes. It is an intelligent computer virus created by the Black Zero group who attempts to destroy Earth before Brainiac 5 destroys it.

Black Zero (Superboy)

The second Black Zero is an alternate universe variant of Superboy from a universe where Superman was not resurrected after his battle with Doomsday. He battles Superboy and the Challengers of the Unknown before being exposed to hyperstorm energy and disappearing. The character first appeared in Superboy (vol. 4) #61, and was created by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett.

In other media

Television

Film

A Kryptonian prison frigate called the Black Zero appears in films set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU):