Kneel Before Zod #8 came out this week, the abrupt ending to what was supposed to be a 12 issue mini-series. And when I say abrupt, I mean abrupt.
This whole series has been a bit interesting for me as a reader and fan. I came in a bit burned out about Zod, who seemed ubiquitous for several years there. Was I really going to want to read a year of him?
It didn't help that the early issues seemed over stuffed with many scenes of senseless violence in each issue, padding the page count. I also wondered about the turn early in the series of Zod seeming almost catatonic and morose, nudging Ursa to take over.
Somewhere in this series though, I began to really get interested. Zod, who had always seemed to be a one-note character of militaristic fascism, became a more complex being. He had fears. He was seeing visions of Jor-El. He seemed unsure about where his life had taken him. He remained a one-trick pony of violence but that seemed more a frustrated routine than any grand mission. Who is Zod? But maybe more importantly, who does he himself want to be?
Add to the mix the rough and tumble art of Dan McDaid, bringing an almost WWI grunginess to this interstellar war comic. A couple of issues of McDaid channeling Keith Giffen only increased my appreciation of his work.
The ending seems to set up this book to actually impact the main DCU, bringing in the UP which has sequestered Earth and stymied the Green Lantern Corps.
All this is to say that I have to top my cap to writer Joe Casey and Dan McDaid. I am truly disappointed that DC pulled the plug on this book. I am going to wonder where this was going and if Casey had some grand ending in mind for this unusually scattered Zod.
On to the book.
Last issue Zod, who had taken command of a prison ship, cast out the Emerald Empress. In the immediate aftermath, Sinestro arrived.
When you get two alpha dogs like Sinestro and Zod out in space, the only result is a brawl.
And they fight on an incredible level, casting off enough energy to rock the massive ship. This fight is wonderfully rendered by McDaid.
I love the prisoners looking on this fight like two gods brawling. Great panel showing abject fear.
Then in true Marvel style, the two stop fighting and team up. It is almost amusing how they just stand down after the melee.
Sinestro sensed the emerald energy and came to investigate. At least we have a tangible plot reason for his showing up.
The ship is horribly damaged from the nearby fight.
One thing I like about Zod's prisoner army is that they aren't exactly zealous followers.
Would there have been a revolt? Would Myrrz be killed by Zod? We'll never know.
While not acting like buddies, Zod and Sinestro discover they have a common enemy, the United Planets leadership.
Zod knows they are corrupt. Sinestro knows Korugar has suffered. Neither of these men are the type to sit by and follow to rules set up by bureaucrats. Neither seems happy with the UP.
So Sinestro decides to help Zod. He knows an asteroid filled with derelict ships to fix this prison barge.
More on this sudden turn to the UP as enemy later.
It would be easy to paint Zod and Sinestro with the same brush. Both are dictatorial. Both are vicious. Both have an arch-enemy which has thwarted them.
I like that Casey gives us a little contrast between the two. Zod talks about caring for no one but himself, something Sinestro doesn't agree with.
But to be honest, I think this is a facade by Zod, a difference in appearance only. It is clear that Zod has been gutted by the loss of Ursa, the lost of New Kandor (what did actually happen), and where his life has led him.
On the junkyard asteroid, we get another Jor-El vision.
I love how McDaid always plays up the physical differences of the two. Zod, scratched and scarred and bearded, looks like a grizzled warrior ... but also almost an animal. There is no peace here. No love.
Compare it to the coiffed, clean shaven, pressed and dressed Jor-El ... everything Zod could be, a pinnacle of the noble man.
I also love how the vision Jor-El is always so disparaging to Zod, this time telling the General he has landed right where he belongs, leading scum. How delicious to know this is Zod's internal voice castigating him for his own life choices.
This, above all else, has been the best part of the series, the most innovative and gripping.
Instead of Zod realizing that maybe he should be listening to this voice to make difference choices, it instead leads him to double down. He vows that he'll kill Superman. And now he vows to attack Khundia as an inroad to a war with the UP.
But it is almost sad to hear him say that life is war. That is all he has left, the never-ending battle against presumed enemies. No love. No family. No culture. Just battle.
This deep dive into Zod's troubled persona has been a great read.
But that's it ... we end on this cliffhanger of Zod heading to Khundia.
And it is a shame. I wonder if Casey was going to lead Zod to some psychological breakthrough. I wonder if he was going to bring Superman into the book. Was Lor-Zod supposed to return? Was Kandor shunted into another dimension?
With DC running towards All-In and Absolute, I don't think these plots will be tied up elsewhere.
Thank you Mr. Casey and Mr. McDaid. You made this jaded reader change his mind. This was a solid book.
Overall grade: B
