Kneel Before Zod Was DC’s Most Underrated Series of 2024, & I Know How to Make It an All-Timer

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Kneel Before Zod #8!I can’t tell you how bummed out I am that one of DC Comics’ greatest hidden gems, Kneel Before Zod, has ended. Month by month, I turned out to see what Superman’s nemesis was up to as he embarked on one of the most violent crusades of his life.

But eight issues into its run, Kneel Before Zod has reached an end just as it was really getting good. Now, I’m used to comics wrapping up early, but this was a major disappointment because all year I’ve thought that this was DC’s most underrated comic. I’d hate for it to go out with a whimper, so I’ve got one suggestion to help elevate this amazing and tragic series.

Kneel Before Zod Ends Right Before Zod Finally Gets Revenge

In Kneel Before Zod #8 by Joe Casey, Dan McDaid, David Baron, and Troy Peteri, the DC Universe’s newest Red Lantern Sinestro has approached General Zod’s new base, forcing him to confront the potential threat. Zod flies out into space and gets into a particularly brutal fight with the former Yellow Lantern. Despite Zod’s Kryptonian strength, Sinestro holds his own in the fight. The two come to an understanding after Sinestro reveals he’s not a threat and Zod allows his rival to come onboard his ship.

Sinestro discovers that Zod’s ship is in need of repairs and informs Zod of a nearby planetoid known as Talus filled with discarded alien technology. Zod prepares his crew for a recovery mission while Sinestro departs, but not before the two commiserate over their hatred for Superman and Green Lantern. Zod’s army eventually reaches Talus and is pleased to find the planetoid has the tech they need. While his crew works, Zod wanders off to be alone, where he shares a moment with a hallucination of Superman’s father, Jor-El.

The imaginary Jor-El mocks Zod, telling him that his anger has brought him to the low point Zod is currently at. Zod angrily chases the ghost of his past, becoming consumed with fury. Zod destroys the fake Jor-El, swearing to get revenge on everyone who ever crossed him, including Superman. The crew makes the necessary repairs and readies to leave Tallus. But before they leave, Zod informs his army that they are going to war and their first target is Khundia, the center of the Khund Empire.

Kneel Before Zod Chronicled Zod’s Downfall and Rebirth

This latest chapter of General Zod’s life got started in the back-ups of Action Comics, which revealed that Zod had a new purpose in life. He was determined to restore Kryptonian society by freeing the citizens of the bottle city of Kandor and starting a new life for his people on a planet he conquered called New Kandor. Overseeing his work was the United Planets, who kept a tight leash on Zod. Little did they know that General Zod and his family were developing weapons as they worked to restore their civilization.

However, things went off the rails quickly when Zod’s son Lor-Zod rebelled against his father, forcing Zod to cast his son out. Zod would come to regret that as Lor-Zod was captured by the Khunds shortly into his exile, and the boy told the war-faring race where they could find Zod. New Kandor was invaded by the Khunds, who had weapons to temporarily de-power Kryptonians. The general managed to survive and defeat the invaders, but Zod’s pregnant wife, Ursa, was unfortunately killed during the chaos.

Overtaken by grief, Zod abandoned his work on New Kandor and went out into space. He eventually found an entire fleet of Khund warriors and destroyed them all, but he was badly hurt in the process. However, he was saved by a passing prisoner transport ship, which allowed him to recover. Sensing the potential in a collective of murderers and criminals from all across the universe, Zod took control of the ship, telling them all that they were now members of his new “Legion of Zod”.

An Epilogue Can Push Kneel Before Zod to Greatness

I know that Kneel Before Zod isn’t for everyone, but it really was a fascinating character study into one of Superman’s oldest villains. It played with themes of redemption, loss, and revenge as Zod goes through these incredibly difficult circumstances. I really enjoyed seeing his softer side shine through when Ursa died and thought it was great watching General Zod grow colder after discovering it was his son who betrayed him to the Khunds. All of these things made Kneel Before Zod great, but because of its early end, the story is ultimately lacking.

Sure, you could read Zod’s promise to go seek revenge on the Khund Empire as an ending. But it’s not the fulfilling conclusion I was hoping for. Over the course of eight issues, Zod has lost everything. His people, his family, his purpose. He has nothing left but hate and his instinct for war. Zod’s declaration of war is a crucial moment for this story and it’s one that needs to be seen to resolve Zod’s character arc. If we really want to see the full potential of Kneel Before Zod, we need a true final chapter.

I’m not suggesting DC commit to an additional four issues of Kneel Before Zod. A decently sized one-shot could probably wrap things up nicely and show the final battle between Zod and the Khunds. Maybe there would even be time to see Zod reunite with Lor-Zod (though I’m sure that would make things even more chaotic). Regardless, as someone who really loved this story, I can’t help but feel like Kneel Before Zod’s creators were building up to something special for General Zod, and I think it deserves to be seen in some capacity.

Kneel Before Zod Deserves Its Final Story

I have no idea where Casey and McDaid would have taken this story. Maybe Zod would have defeated the Khund Empire and become a bigger threat than ever. Or maybe he would have died, paying the ultimate price for a life filled with paranoia and hatred. All I know is the final battle with the Khunds would have brought this story full circle and it’s a shame this series ended before we saw it. While I’m not counting on seeing this anytime soon, I do think DC Comics could do Kneel Before Zod a serious favor with an epilogue.

Kneel Before Zod #8 is available now from DC Comics.