Review: Kneel Before Zod #1

Every so often I am surprised by a book being green-lit. Who would think that DC would consider publishing a General Zod maxi-series? But here we are.

Kneel Before Zod #1 came out last week, the first issue in this title written by Joe Casey with art by Dan McDaid. About 2 years ago, I was likely to complain that Zod was being over-used. But I think this is going to be the first major current story for Zod since Batman/Superman #8 from 2020! That was pre-Covid. But I did have to revisit that story to remember how we got here. 

Zod is on a planet named New Kandor. He has half the bottled city of Kandor's citizens in his possession. He is present with his wife and son. And based on a recent back up in Action Comics #1060, he is performing some forced evolution on the natives of this planet to create a super-army. The United Planets are working with Zod but keeping a close eye on him.

With that backstory in place, we get this premiere issue. Kelly is showing us a typical Zod, hellbent on achieving his goals and ready to rule. But we also are seeing how addled he is, seeing visions of past enemies. We see how he is adherent to old customs of a dead world. And he is looking more and more alone with threats all around him.

As compelling of seeing a mentally and physically vulnerable Zod is, Casey also gives us an interesting take on Ursa and Lor-Zod. Ursa seems like a loving mother and a composed ruler. That is intriguing and a far cry from the knife wielding sadist I am used to. And Lor seems like a carbon copy of his dad, always incensed and ready to lash out.

Will all that keep my interest on a long series? I'm not sure yet. 

The art by Dan McDaid is economical, bringing a classic feel to the book. I also like the cover by Jason Shawn Alexander, a sort of warped view of the more loving All-Star Superman #10.

On to the book.

With Zod brooding on his new planet, he is paid a visit by his old rival ... Jor-El???

Jor chides Zod. Zod has been a militant despot. Zod doesn't think progressively. He can only destroy. It is enough for Zod to lash out with heat vision. In flashback panels, we see Zod's tarnished 

history on Krypton.

Of course, Jor-El is dead. These are visual hallucinations! 

Is Zod losing it? Is he psychotic? Schizophrenic?

There is a big difference between being passionate about your beliefs and suffering from a mental breakdown. 

Very interesting. 

But he doesn't let on about this.

While he broods, Ursa is tending to business. 

The forced evolution of the natives has stalled. 

She is also pregnant with another son for Zod. 

Ursa has always seemed more unhinged than Zod, much more bloodthirsty than a military strategist like Zod. So seeing her calm and in control and the more sane of the two is a new wrinkle. 

On the other end of the planet, Lor has discovered that Zod has built what looks to be a massive cannon, some ultimate weapon.

Lor isn't happy about being in the dark about his father's plans. He is upset that Zod hasn't used the cannon. He actually lashes out physically at his father. I like how Lor's heat vision blast sears an S shape onto Zod's sigil. Burning Superman's symbol onto his father? Brilliant.

Zod slaps Lor and banishes him. Like banishes ... puts him on a ship and blasts him into space.

I suppose we needed Lor off the book given the upcoming Sinister Sons book. But I like that clearly Lor wasn't expecting this. Look at his upset face in that lower panel. Nice work by McDaid.

Now, one month later we see Zod again brooding, this time looking at Kandor.

To be honest, it was here that I realized that I needed to look back at how Zod got hold of it. 

I wish that we had the old editor notes saying to find out where Zod got it from. But we see he is trying to save them. 

So let's see...

Zod seeing Jor-El.

Native experiments stalled.

Super-weapon on the planet.

Lor banished.

Zod trying to save Kandorians.

That's a lot of threads.

But there's more.

It turns out that Lor's banishment was based on a family tradition of first-born sons of the House of Zod are always forced to strike it out on their own and find themselves.

Krypton is long dead. There aren't many Kryptonians left around. How odd for Zod to keep faithful to that familial convention? Is he so set in his ways?

Again, we see a sort of softening of Ursa. She seems outright sad that her son has been sent away. You might remember how much I loved the insane killer Ursa from New Krypton. This is a change. But given everything that has happened to her, it feels like progression.

Really what I like is how this is setting up some contrast to Zod. What will he do if she is no longer faithful to him and his plans. So add Ursa questioning Zod to a plot thread. 

Meanwhile, the Khunds show up to New Kandor to try and take over and take out Zod.

As powerful as the Khunds are, Zod is stronger. We get page after gruesome page of his literally tearing the Khunds apart.

At least we are reminded just how powerful and threatening Zod is.

And then the UP shows up and says they are wondering what is happening on New Kandor. They are working with Zod but keeping their eyes on him.

Love that second panel with shadows covering his face, showing he is hiding something. Brilliant.

So the total rundown?

Zod seeing Jor-El.

Native experiments stalled.

Super-weapon on the planet.

Lor banished.

Zod trying to save Kandorians.

Ursa perhaps distancing herself from Zod. 

The United Planets worried about Zod.

That's a lot of seeds scattered in this one issue. There is enough story potential here to keep me checking it out. I wasn't expecting to be so fascinated by Ursa for sure. 

Overall grade: B