History Characters / DCEUSupermansRoguesGallery

Superman's Rogues Gallery ([[Characters/DCEUGeneralZod General Zod]], [[Characters/DCEULexLuthor Lex Luthor]]) | [[Characters/DCEUGothamUnderworld Gotham Underworld]] | [[Characters/DCEUTaskForceXTargets Task Force X - Targets]] | [[Characters/DCEUWonderWomansRoguesGallery Wonder Woman's Rogues Gallery]] ([[Characters/DCEUAres Ares]]) | [[Characters/DCEUApokolips Apokolips]] ([[Characters/DCEUSteppenwolf Steppenwolf]]) | [[Characters/DCEUShazamsRoguesGallery SHAZAM's Rogues Gallery]] ([[Characters/DCEUDoctorSivana Dr. Sivana]]) | [[Characters/DCEUOtherSupervillains Other Supervillains]] ([[Characters/DCEUOceanMaster Ocean Master]]) | [[Characters/DCEUMinorVillainsAndCriminals Minor Villains and Criminals]]-]]]]]

Superman's Rogues Gallery ([[Characters/DCEUGeneralZod General Zod]], [[Characters/DCEULexLuthor Lex Luthor]]) | [[Characters/DCEUGothamUnderworld Gotham Underworld]] | [[Characters/DCEUTaskForceXTargets Task Force X - Targets]] | [[Characters/DCEUWonderWomansRoguesGallery Wonder Woman's Rogues Gallery]] ( [[Characters/DCEUAres Ares]])| [[Characters/DCEUApokolips Apokolips]] ([[Characters/DCEUSteppenwolf Steppenwolf]]) | [[Characters/DCEUShazamsRoguesGallery SHAZAM's Rogues Gallery]] | [[Characters/DCEUOtherSupervillains Other Supervillains]] ([[Characters/DCEUOceanMaster Ocean Master]]) | [[Characters/DCEUMinorVillainsAndCriminals Minor Villains and Criminals]]-]]]]]

Superman's Rogues Gallery ([[Characters/DCEUGeneralZod General Zod]], [[Characters/DCEULexLuthor Lex Luthor]]) | [[Characters/DCEUGothamUnderworld Gotham Underworld]] | [[Characters/DCEUTaskForceXTargets Task Force X - Targets]] | [[Characters/DCEUWonderWomansRoguesGallery Wonder Woman's Rogues Gallery]] | [[Characters/DCEUApokolips Apokolips]] ([[Characters/DCEUSteppenwolf Steppenwolf]]) | [[Characters/DCEUShazamsRoguesGallery SHAZAM's Rogues Gallery]] | [[Characters/DCEUOtherSupervillains Other Supervillains]] ([[Characters/DCEUOceanMaster Ocean Master]]) | [[Characters/DCEUMinorVillainsAndCriminals Minor Villains and Criminals]]-]]]]]

* AbsoluteCleavage: A few of them wear plunging necklines.

[[WMG:[[center: [-''Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse'' '''[[Characters/DCEXtendedUniverse Character Index]]'''\\
'''Antagonists:''' Superman's Rogues Gallery ([[Characters/DCEUGeneralZod General Zod]], [[Characters/DCEULexLuthor Lex Luthor]]) | [[Characters/DCEUGothamUnderworld Gotham Underworld]] | [[Characters/DCEUTaskForceXTargets Task Force X - Targets]] | [[Characters/DCEUWonderWomansRoguesGallery Wonder Woman's Rogues Gallery]] | [[Characters/DCEUApokolips Apokolips]] ([[Characters/DCEUSteppenwolf Steppenwolf]]) | [[Characters/DCEUShazamsRoguesGallery SHAZAM's Rogues Gallery]] | [[Characters/DCEUOtherSupervillains Other Supervillains]] ([[Characters/DCEUOceanMaster Ocean Master]]) | [[Characters/DCEUMinorVillainsAndCriminals Minor Villains and Criminals]]-]]]]]

* AdaptationPersonalityChange: In the comics, Faora a violent Misandrist and a serial killer who teamed with Zod mostly for benefit. In the film she's a NobleDemon, his loyal [[TheDragon dragon]], and isn't shown to have any particular hatred for males. This characterization would even [[RetCanon carry over]] to the ''ComicBook/{{New 52}}''.

* CameBackWrong: Doomsday has [[DumbMuscle none of Zod's strategic mind or Lex Luthor's intelligence]] nor the same speed as Zod, but he takes Zod's AxCrazy BloodKnight tendencies UpToEleven. Interestingly he seems to possess Zod's heat vision, his weakness to Kryptonite, and even some of his memories.

* NighInvulnerable: He survives being hit with a nuclear warhead and continues to take significant amounts of punishment after that. In fact attacking him with energy simply makes him ''stronger'' as he absorbs it (after seeing what the nuke did to him the military realizes they can't attack him at all without making him a even bigger threat). He basically takes Superman's normal ability to gain strength from sunlight and takes it UpToEleven. And bear in mind that the climax of the film takes place at night.

* SuperpowerLottery: He's got pretty much all the powers of a Kryptonian who's exposed to a yellow sun, except they're taken UpToEleven. He most probably didn't have the time to master {{flight}}, however.

-->'''Faora:''' [[CreepyMonotone You will not win. For every human you save, we will kill a million more]].

-->'''Faora''': You are weak, son of El, unsure of yourself. The fact that you possess a sense of morality, and we do not, gives us an evolutionary advantage. And if history has proven anything...it is that evolution always wins.

--->'''Faora''': You're weak, son of El. The fact that you possess a sense of morality and we do not gives us an evolutionary advantage. And if history has proven anything, it is that evolution always wins.

--->'''Faora:''' A good death is its own reward.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"Let's build a better tomorrow, today."'']]

* NotSoStoic: Anatoli is normally quite calm and intimidating, but when Batman mows down all of his henchmen and has a rifle pointed at him, Anatoli is reduced to screaming that he'll kill Martha if Batman doesn't let him go.

-->''"Let's build a better tomorrow, today."''
--->-- '''Slogan'''

-->''"You know, dad was born in East Germany. He grew up eating stale crackers. And every other Saturday, he had to march in a parade and wave flowers at tyrants."''

'''Antagonists:''' Superman's Rogues Gallery ([[Characters/DCEUGeneralZod General Zod]], [[Characters/DCEULexLuthor Lex Luthor]]) | [[Characters/DCEUGothamUnderworld Gotham Underworld]] | [[Characters/DCEUTaskForceXTargets Task Force X - Targets]] | [[Characters/DCEUWonderWomansRoguesGallery Wonder Woman's Rogues Gallery]] | [[Characters/DCEUApokolips Apokolips]] ([[Characters/DCEUSteppenwolf Steppenwolf]]) | [[Characters/DCEUOtherSupervillains Other Supervillains]] ([[Characters/DCEUOceanMaster Ocean Master]]) | [[Characters/DCEUMinorVillainsAndCriminals Minor Villains and Criminals]]-]]]]]

* KnifeNut: Faora carries a dagger as a sidearm, which she draws for a prospective duel with Colonel Hardy.

'''Superheroes:''' [[Characters/DCEUJusticeLeague Justice League]] ([[Characters/DCEUSuperman Superman]], [[Characters/DCEUBatman Batman]], [[Characters/DCEUWonderWoman Wonder Woman]], [[Characters/DCEUAquaman Aquaman]], [[Characters/DCEUTheFlash The Flash]]) | [[Characters/DCEUShazam Shazam]] | [[Characters/DCEUOtherSuperheroes Other Superheroes]] '''Vigilantes & Black Ops Teams:''' [[Characters/DCEUGothamVigilantes Gotham Vigilantes]] ([[Characters/DCEUHarleyQuinn Harley Quinn]]) | Task Force X ([[Characters/DCEUTaskForceXOfficialsAndAgents Officials and Agents]], [[Characters/DCEUTaskForceXOriginalTeam Original Team]], [[Characters/DCEUTaskForceXNewTeam New Team]], [[Characters/DCEUPeacemaker Peacemaker]]) '''Others:''' [[Characters/DCEUSmallvilleAndMetropolis Smallville and Metropolis]] | [[Characters/DCEUMilitaryAndGovernment US Military and Government]] | [[Characters/DCEUKrypton Krypton]] | [[Characters/DCEUGothamCity Gotham City]] | [[Characters/DCEUAmazonsAndGods Amazons and Gods]] | [[Characters/DCEUWorldWarI World War I]] | [[Characters/DCEUTheSevenSeas The Seven Seas]] | [[Characters/DCEUPhiladelphia Philadelphia]] | [[Characters/DCEUKnightmare Knightmare]] | [[Characters/DCEUCompanies Companies]] | [[Characters/DCEUOtherHumans Other Humans]] '''Antagonists:''' Superman's Rogues Gallery ([[Characters/DCEUGeneralZod General Zod]], [[Characters/DCEULexLuthor Lex Luthor]]) | [[Characters/DCEUGothamUnderworld Gotham Underworld]] | [[Characters/DCEUTaskForceXTargets Task Force X - Targets]] | [[Characters/DCEUWonderWomansRoguesGallery Wonder Woman's Rogues Gallery]] | [[Characters/DCEUApokolips Apokolips]] ([[Characters/DCEUSteppenwolf Steppenwolf]]) | [[Characters/DCEUOtherSupervillains Other Supervillains]] ([[Characters/DCEUOceanMaster Ocean Master]]) | [[Characters/DCEUMinorVillainsAndCriminals Minor Villains and Criminals]]-]]]]]

'''[[center: [- [[Characters/DCExtendedUniverse Main Character Index]] -]]]'''

->''"It is of little consequence, because I have located the Codex. It was never in the capsule. Jor-El took the Codex, the DNA of a billion people, and he bonded it within his son's individual cells. All of Krypton's heirs, hidden in one refugee's body."'

-->''"The fact that you possess a sense of morality and we do not gives us an evolutionary advantage. And if history has proven anything, it is that evolution always wins."''

-->''"It is of little consequence, because I have located the Codex. It was never in the capsule. Jor-El took the Codex, the DNA of a billion people, and he bonded it within his son's individual cells. All of Krypton's heirs, hidden in one refugee's body."'

->'''Carrie Farris:''' What's that?

* ThresholdGuardians: Within the story, the World Engine exists to show Superman's commitment towards protecting his adoptive world. It produces Kryptonian atmosphere that weakens Superman and has enough strength to beat him into submission, nearly killing Superman when it throws him into the path of its terraforming beam. Superman shows his mettle by flying fistfirst into the World Engine's beam and blasts it from the inside-out.

* IronicName: [[spoiler:Lex leads ''Mercy'' to her early [[{{Pun}} grave]] without second thoughts]].

* RaceLift: Averted. She's Caucasian in the original comics continuity, but Asian in the New 52 comics.

* TokenGoodTeammate: There's no indication that Mercy is privvy to any of Lex Luthor's villainous plans. At the very least [[spoiler:she definitely wasn't aware that he'd planted a bomb a mere 10 feet away from her]].

-->''"Ancient Kryptonian Deformity. The blood of my blood. Born to destroy you. Your doomsday!"''

* {{Meganekko}}: Wears very thick glasses.

* StoicSpectacles: A [[TheStoic stoic]] {{Meganekko}}.

!!! '''Appearances:''' ''Film/ManOfSteel'' | ''Film/TheFlash2022''

[[caption-width-right:300:''"''"You're wasting you efforts. The strength you derived from your exposure to the Earth's sun has been neutralized on our ship. Here, in this environment, you're as weak as a human."'']]

* SuperpowerLottery: In their native environment, Kryptonians are no more impressive in their abilities than humans. [[ThePowerOfTheSun But a yellow sun]], such as the one in the Earth's solar system, has tremendous effects on the Kryptonians' biology, heightening their [[SuperStrength strength]], [[SuperSpeed speed]] and [[SuperSenses senses]] dramatically. They also gain separate abilities, such as the [[FlyingBrick power to fly]], [[XRayVision see through opaque objects]], and [[EyeBeams project thick beams of heat from their eyes]], as well as becoming [[NighInvulnerability virtually impenetrable to most weapons]].

!!'''''Sub-Commander Faora-Ul'''''

!!'''''Nam-Ek'''''

!!'''''Tor-An'''''

!!'''''Car-Vex'''''
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/car_vex.png]]
%%[[caption-width-right:300:some caption text]]

!!'''''Nadira'''''

!!'''''Jax-Ur'''''

!!'''''World Engine'''''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screenshot_20210802_222549_samsung_internet.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"Release the World Engine."'']]

!!! '''Chief Executive Officers'''

!!'''''Alexander Luthor Sr.'''''

!!! '''Employees'''

!!'''''Mercy Graves'''''
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mercygraves.jpg]]

* AdaptationalWimp: The comic version of Mercy is a super strong Amazon, this version appears to be a mere human, like her original animated incarnation, though she lacks the fighting skills of even that version. In fact, this version of Mercy takes after her counterpart in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanDoomsday'' in being a personal assistant for Luthor, not his bodyguard.
* AdaptationPersonalityChange: She has very few things in common with her comic book counterpart and most versions (particularly the DCAU version) outside of her name and association with Luthor. She's portrayed as his secretary/assistant instead of his bodyguard/chauffeur.

* IronicName: [[spoiler:Lex leads ''Mercy'' to her early [[{{Pun}} grave]] without second thoughts.]]

* NotSoStoic: She looks uncomfortable during the [[spoiler: senate hearing, clearly realizing something is wrong when Lex isn't with her. She is proven correct when she and everyone else die when the bomb goes off.]]

* SatelliteCharacter: The film never gives her much depth outside of being Luthor's NumberTwo [[spoiler: to the point that during the senate hearing she seems a little uncomfortable about the fact that Luthor isn't with her. This is the first sign that something's about to go very wrong.]]

* TokenGoodTeammate: There's no indication that Mercy is privvy to any of Lex Luthor's villainous plans. At the very least [[spoiler: she definitely wasn't aware that he'd planted a bomb a mere 10 feet away from her.]]

!!'''''Luthor's Bodyguards'''''

!!! '''Affiliates'''

!!'''''Anatoli Knyazev'''''
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/knyazev.png]]

* AssholeVictim: After killing Jimmy Olsen in cold blood and threatening to immolate Martha Kent, it's unlikely anyone was mourning when Batman blasted him to kingdom come.

* DistinguishingMark: He's immediately recognizable by his slick black hair, RuggedScar and [[TattooedCrook tattoos]].

* TheMafiya: According to his [[TattooedCrook tattoos]], he is (or was) a Vory v Zakone, a high-ranking Russian mafia member.

* WaxingLyrical: Quotes "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" by Ella Fitzgerald right before [[spoiler: he tries to kill Martha.]]

!!'''''[[Characters/SupermanDoomsdayCharacter Doomsday]]'''''
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/20201017_083643.jpg]]

* AdaptationalPersonalityChange: In the comics, Faora a violent Misandrist and a serial killer who teamed with Zod mostly for benefit. In the film she's a NobleDemon, his loyal [[TheDragon dragon]], and isn't shown to have any particular hatred for males. This characterization would even [[RetCanon carry over]] to the ''ComicBook/{{New 52}}''.

-->[[Characters/DCEUGeneralZod See his character page]].

!!'''''General Dru-Zod of Kandor'''''
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zodmanofsteel.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"I'm going to make them suffer, Kal. These humans you've adopted, I will take them all from you one by one."'']]

!!! '''Portrayed by:''' Creator/MichaelShannon
!!! '''Voiced by:''' Dafnis Fernández (Latin-American Spanish) | Akio Hirose (Japanese) | Xavier Fagnon (European French) | Marc-André Bélanger (Canadian French)
!!! '''Film appearances:''' ''Film/ManOfSteel'' | ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' | ''Film/{{The Flash|2022}}''
!!! '''Other appearances:''' ''From the World of Batman v Superman'' | ''Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Upstairs/Downstairs''

-->''"Every action I take, no matter how violent or cruel, is for the greater good of my people."''

The general in chief of Krypton's military and a former longtime friend of Jor-El. Zod believes Jor-El's warnings about the hopeless state of Krypton and launches a coup after concluding that the Council is incapable of saving their race. When the coup fails, the Council has him and his most loyal followers imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, a decision which ironically spares them the fate of their home planet. After arriving on Earth in search of Kal-El, he decides to terraform it for the sake of building a new Krypton, endangering the human race in the process.

* AdaptationOriginConnection: [[spoiler: Zod murdered Jor-El in ''Man of Steel'', when in every other adaptation Jor-El lived to see Krypton's final days.]]
* AdaptationalPersonalityChange: In the comics and previous films, Zod was a generic antagonist and a War Criminal who attempted a coup prior to Krypton's destruction before being sent to the Phantom Zone, wishes to kill Superman simply for being the son of his old friend Jor-El (who he blames for his banishment). ''Man of Steel'' [[AntiVillain however expands on his motivation]], having him attempt his coup because Krypton is dying and he blames the rulers for it, [[WellIntentionedExtremist and his attempted conquering of Earth being so he could preserve his now-near extinct species]]. Although this isn't entirely the film's invention, as Zod had been known to display some of these traits in comics such as the ''New Krypton'' arc.
* AlasPoorVillain: Even if Zod was a genocidal maniac, all he wanted was to ensure the security and future of the Kryptonians after Krypton blew up, even if he had to make disturbing decisions to do so. Years of isolation in the Phantom Zone clearly didn't help matters. Notably, when Superman kills Zod, the Man of Steel melts down in sadness not only because of the mass destruction of Metropolis he caused - not to mention being forced to end it by violating his own ThouShaltNotKill rule - but because he had just killed one of the last of his people remaining in the universe.
* AlternateSelf: Zod has one on [[Series/Supergirl2015 Earth-]][[Series/SupermanAndLois Prime]], one on [[Film/SupermanII Earth-96]] and two on [[Series/{{Smallville}} Earth-167]] as himself and his son.
* AntagonistInMourning: He's got a lot of baggage, from having to kill his closest friend to losing his home planet along with any hope of rebuilding it. [[spoiler:When he deletes the Jor-El hologram, it's clear he takes no joy in it]].
* AntiVillain: [[SlidingScaleOfAntiVillains Type III]]. Unlike prior depictions of the character, this version of Zod is genuinely dedicated to acting in his people's best interest (albeit from his own AxCrazy point of view). He is also a rather [[TragicVillain tragic figure]] given that his [[BloodKnight savage and ruthless personality]] is largely a byproduct of being [[DesignerBabies bred]] and [[TheSpartanWay indoctrinated]] by Krypton's totalitarian system to be the [[SuperSoldier perfect killing machine]]. He also doesn't have any joy killing humans.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Of the surviving members of Krypton's military caste, Zod is the only one revealed to have [[InstantExpert mastered over the course of barely a day ALL the powers that took Superman years to fully control]].
-->'''Zod:''' I was bred to be a warrior, Kal. Trained my entire life to master my senses. Where did you train?! '''ON A FARM??!!'''
* AwesomenessByAnalysis: Zod is able to figure out the mechanics of flying and how to use heat vision, as well as using the heat vision's cool-down period against Superman.
* AxCrazy: Despite possessing noble intentions, it is clear that he has a ''highly'' [[HairTriggerTemper confrontational]] and [[BloodKnight violent]] disposition which is only exacerbated by his [[TheSocialDarwinist fanatical elitism]].
* BadassBoast: After Kal-El's mother Lara confidently tells Zod that her son has escaped to a place far beyond his reach, he later menacingly promises her that he will dedicate his entire existence to tracking down Kal to the ends of the universe.
-->'''Zod''': You believe your son is safe? I will find him! I '''will''' reclaim what you have taken from us!! ... I will find him, Lara. [[{{Beat}} ...]] '''I WILL FIND HIM'''!!!!
** The aforementioned quote about Kal-El training "on a farm".
* BeardOfEvil: The ruthless Zod has grown a beard - much like his AlternateSelf in ''Film/SupermanII'' - by the time Clark is an adult.
* BeardOfSorrow: Zod is implied to be this, as he's an AntiVillain who genuinely cares about Krypton, and we only see him with the beard after Krypton is destroyed.
* BigBad: Of ''Man of Steel''. Zod poses the greatest threat to Jor-El's vision of peacefully carrying on their civilization's legacy on Earth by first attempting to murder Kal-El as an infant on Krypton and later targeting the Earth's entire population for extermination.
* BigNO: Zod lets one out when he realizes Jor-El planted the codex on his newborn son, who had just been launched into space.
* BladeBelowTheShoulder: Zod has a retractable blade in his right gauntlet. He uses it to stab Jor-El.
* CameBackStrong: [[spoiler:Zod is resurrected into Doomsday, who is so strong Superman and Wonder Woman combined struggle against him]].
* CameBackWrong: [[spoiler:Also this when he's resurrected into Doomsday, since Doomsday is a monstrosity who lacks Zod's strategic mind and just attacks whatever he sees]].
* CapeSnag: General Zod grabs Superman by the cape and throws him across the city, sending Superman crashing through half a dozen buildings before his motion slows down.
* ChestInsignia: Zod wears the crest of the House of Zod on the chest of his armor (before losing it upon his arrest) and the uniform under it.
* ChewingTheScenery: Michael Shannon clearly had a blast. Zod has a habit of SuddenlyShouting the moment he's agitated, complete with a snarling tone to highlight his brutality.
* ColonelKurtzCopy: Zod's a charismatic military leader with maniacal ambitions to expand Krypton's empire - whether the Kryptonians want it or not - to the detriment of all other lives in the universe.
* CompositeCharacter: Thanks to Lex Luthor, he becomes [[spoiler:Doomsday]] in ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice''. In the comics, the two were separate villains (though the scout ship's A.I. implies the original might still be out there).
* CripplingOverspecialization: Zod and his henchmen were [[DesignerBabies bred]] and trained specifically to be soldiers, to be the extreme solution; that's [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer all he knows]]. As such, it makes him the most tragically prominent example of the failure of the predetermination paradigm of Krypton's population control, and an apocalyptic threat to Earth.
* DarkMessiah: To the surviving members of Krypton's warrior caste.
* DeathSeeker: [[spoiler:After Kal-El destroys all hope of restoring Krypton and its people, Zod fights Kal-El to the death, no longer caring whether he lives or dies, because he knows that, without a people to protect and serve, he no longer has a purpose]].
* DespairEventHorizon: Zod hits this hard near the end of ''Man of Steel'' [[spoiler:when his entire crew is sent to the Phantom Zone again.]] He vows to kill Superman or, failing that, hurt what he cares about.
* {{Determinator}}: Upon deciding on a course of action, he single-mindedly dedicates his entire being towards fulfilling it regardless of the consequences. He also overcomes the debilitating effect of his new haywire SuperSenses by concentrating really hard. Best exemplified in [[spoiler:his last words]]:
-->'''Superman:''' Stop!\\
'''Zod:''' ''Never!''
* DoNotAdjustYourSet: Zod apparently shorts out all electric devices besides those with screens, and broadcasts his "You Are Not Alone" message, imploring Kal-El to come to him.
* EvilCounterpart:
** To Jor-El. He and Jor-El shared the goal of saving Krypton's civilization, but not the methods required to achieve it.
** Also to Superman. Both want to "go home", even though their home planet has been destroyed. While Superman learns to let go, Zod tries to remake Krypton with total disregard for Earth's inhabitants.
* EvilEvolves: It took Zod only a few hours to acclimate to Earth's atmosphere, as well as gaining control over his heat vision and mastering flight, the latter of which even Superman struggled with. If Superman didn't kill Zod when he did, he may very well have surpassed the Man of Steel. Not to mention [[spoiler: his resurrection as Doomsday]].
* EvilFormerFriend: Zod shares a respectful relationship with Jor-El, and even asks him to not fight him once he tries to take over Krypton. [[spoiler:Even when he kills Jor-El, he looks regretful for what he had done. When he admits to killing him to a captured Kal-El, he confesses that the deed still haunts him]].
* EvilIsHammy: Michael Shannon loves ChewingTheScenery at any given chance.
* {{Expy}}: He's essentially [[Literature/BraveNewWorld Mustapha Mond]] taken to a LogicalExtreme.
* FallenHero: Jor-El's words to him that he will "honor the man he once was" suggests that he was once a noble Kryptonian until he turned to villainy.
* FantasticRacism: Zod despises humans (and his fellow Kryptonians that belong to "inferior bloodlines").
* FauxAffablyEvil: Upon arriving on Earth, Zod seems to have changed greatly from the zealous megalomaniac he once was as he warmly greets Kal-El in a dignified, fatherly manner. However, it doesn't take long for him to reveal that time has done nothing to diminish his brutality as he attacks Kal's adopted mother and moves to annihilate Earth's entire population.
* FauxShadowing: Zod's BladeBelowTheShoulder that he used to kill Jor-El. In the final fight with Superman Zod makes an adjustment to his right gauntlet, as if to bust out the blade, [[spoiler: but instead just removes his armor]].
** [[spoiler: It veers into straight {{Foreshadowing}} when Zod is brought back as Doomsday and stabs Superman with a spike erupting from his arm.]]
* FlightIsTheFinalPower: A villainous version. General Zod begins developing the same powers Superman possesses after being exposed to Earth's yellow sun. After showing his destructive power via heat vision and strength, Zod proves his adaptability by learning flight faster than Clark did, putting them on the same power level.
* FlyingBrick: Like Superman, he ultimately harnesses SuperStrength, SuperSpeed, SuperSenses, EyeBeams, NighInvulnerability, and, finally, {{Flight}}.
* ForTheGreaterGood: His excuse for every atrocity he commits.
* FourStarBadass: Well, he is a General, after all.
* FreudianExcuse: His personality stems from being bred by Krypton's totalitarian system to be single-mindedly devoted to protecting (up to recreating) Krypton at any cost.
* GeneralRipper: He blames all of Krypton's problems on its ruling body and starts a violent CivilWar in order to take the power away from said ruling body, whom he accuses of making their race "weak" and allowing the planet to come to the verge of destruction.
* GeniusBruiser: In addition to being an outstanding [[SuperSoldier military tactician and combatant]], he is also revealed to be a gifted engineer as seen in flashbacks when he uses the Phantom Projector that originally imprisoned him and his followers to power up their ship's hyperdrive and escape the ruins of their homeworld.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Sports a big one on the left side of his face, which he got from a tussle with Jor-El.
* GutturalGrowler: Zod normally has an even-toned voice, but when he's feeling aggressive his voice will suddenly become noticably coarse.
* HairTriggerTemper: Whenever his plans are frustrated or his [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_rage_and_narcissistic_injury ego feels slighted in any way]], Zod immediately goes from being a dignified (albeit grim) authority figure to a raging brute (much unlike his [[IceQueen icily calm]] Sub-Commander, Faora).
* HeartBrokenBadass: [[spoiler:Non-romantic related example at the end of ''Man of Steel''-- his anguish stems not from losing a specific loved one but from losing what was the last of his race of people as well as losing what may very well have been his last chance at giving the Kryptonian race a chance to start over, and by extension losing his sole reason for existing, as he was born and bred to be a warrior defending Krypton, no matter the cost. Though having been with those particular Kryptonians troops for so long it's entirely possible that on some level Zod also saw them as his family, thus making him a Heart Broken PapaWolf.]].
* HowDoIShotWeb: After first experiencing the sensory enhancement (read: [[SensoryOverload complete overload]]) a Kryptonian gains on Earth, and seeing Kal-El flying and using heat vision, Zod does some quick training to learn how to use his full potential that gets unleashed in the final fight with Kal-El.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: When Clark tells him YouKilledMyFather, Zod makes it clear that he regretted it, but that he would do it again if he had to. Plus, he knows that his attempted genocide on humans is wrong, he still maintains that it is for his people's good.
* InstantExpert: Justified, since he and his comrades in the Kryptonian military were [[DesignerBabies genetically engineered]] to be [[SuperSoldier perfect warriors]] and subsequently underwent [[TheSpartanWay rigorous training]] to master their senses.
* JerkassHasAPoint: Krypton's elites did lead their civilization to ruin as he points out during his coup.
* KillAllHumans: Zod's plan to create a new Krypton involves this, [[AntiVillain though it's not something he wants to do]]... until Superman defies him, at which point he wants to destroy humanity out of spite.
* KneelBeforeZod: Surprisingly averted. At no point in the movie does Zod command anyone (not even Kal-El) to kneel before him. Funnily enough, Superman indeed involuntarily falls to his knees when brought before Zod on the Black Zero ship (but only due to its unfamiliar atmosphere [[BroughtDownToNormal weakening him]]), as well as [[spoiler: after killing Zod due to emotional exhaust]].
* KnightTemplar: His goal is to protect Krypton and its people, no matter the cost.
* KubrickStare: It ''is'' Creator/MichaelShannon.
* LargeHam: Crosses into this with his line "I WILL FIND HIM!" reminiscent of Music/{{Sting}} in 1984's ''Film/{{Dune|1984}}''.
* LaserGuidedKarma: After threatening both Lara and Martha, Zod gets pummeled by their son. The former of which he had no knowledge about.
* LastVillainStand: Zod does this when [[spoiler: his entire army is sealed in the Phantom Zone with his ship and all of his weapons. He even masters a full set of Kryptonian powers for the fight.]]
* {{Leitmotif}}: Zod's theme is a menacing composition consisting of rapidly ascending and descending strings, deafening war drums resembling artillery blasts, and roaring trumpets that simultaneously evoke [[TheBerserker battle-fueled rage]] and [[{{Determinator}} fanatical resolve]]. In this manner, his theme reflects not only his [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy savagery]] and [[{{Pride}} megalomania]], but his [[KnightTemplar single-minded obsession with becoming Krypton's savior at all costs]] as well. See the following tracks of the ''Man of Steel'' score: "I Will Find Him", "Arcade", and (naturally) "General Zod."
* MadnessMantra: "I will find him!", which Zod chants as he is sentenced to an eternity in suspended animation.
* MotiveDecay: While initially he wanted to terraform the Earth to rebuild Krypton and held no ill will towards humanity, Superman stops him from doing that by destroying the World Engine and banishing Zod's followers back to the Phantom Zone. When he realizes that all hope is lost, he admits that he's now going to wipe out mankind out of pure spite.
* MotiveRant: Zod has two: one where he tells Jor-El how he's going to save Krypton. And the second has him tell Kal-El how he's going to kill every human he finds in revenge for Superman taking his purpose in life.
* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning: As the first major enemy Superman faced, Zod shaped a major aspect of his enemy's life. Aside from becoming the last Kryptonian once again, Superman solidified his no-killing code and becomes more nuanced in his superhero career. His invasion also had massive societal ramifications, especially in how the world would see superhumans and aliens. There is also the fact that Lex Luthor seizes his corpse and uses it to [[spoiler: create Doomsday, who kills Superman which indirectly stirs the Motherboxes]]. This would then set up the plot for ''Justice League''.
* MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours: Zod boasts during his fight with Superman that he has trained his whole life to be the perfect warrior, while Clark is just a farm boy surrounded by people that could never put his combat skills to the test.
* ANaziByAnyOtherName: When coupled with his fanatical belief in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Darwinism Social Darwinism]], his speeches about saving [[MasterRace Krypton's race]] by rooting out "degenerate" bloodlines and exterminating "inferior" species (i.e: Earthlings) are eerily reminiscent of a certain totalitarian ideology that first gained notoriety in Europe during the the first half of the 20th century.
* NeckSnap: [[spoiler:How Kal-El/Superman eventually kills him]].
* NervesOfSteel: When his followers are cryogenically frozen, they're all shown writhng and crying out in pain, including [[NotSoStoic Faora]]. Zod just clenches his jaw.
* NeverMyFault: Zod blames Krypton's Council for imprisoning him when he was the one who started a revolution and murdered Jor-El, as well as blaming Clark for his army being sent back into the Phantom Zone, conveniently forgetting that it was his attempt at genocide that forced it in the first place.
* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Zod's decision to also take Lois hostage for additional leverage and information and to hold her in a room that has a console. The console has a slot for the spaceship key that Clark slipped her so they wouldn't find it on him, and inserting it allows Jor-El's Virtual Ghost to upload to and commandeer the ship, help Lois and Clark escape, and give them crucial information.
* NoFullNameGiven: Zod's given name is never spoken. Even the scout ship's A.I. only refers to him as "General Zod of Kandor".
* NoSocialSkills: Zod's approach to pretty much any situation is to be as blunt and imposing as possible. When he contacts the people of Earth, he can't help but threaten them with violence if Kal-El does not come forward. Zod does manage to put on a friendly facade when he first meets Superman in person, but then again he knows he won't need to maintain it for more than a few seconds as Superman succumbs to the Kryptonian atmosphere.
* NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist: He believes himself to be a WellIntentionedExtremist, but the opposite couldn't be anymore true. Zod's mission is to protect Kryptonian civilization at all costs, and his whole reason for attempting to overthrow its corrupt ruling class is to prevent them from recklessly destroying their own homeworld. Later, his attempted [[FinalSolution genocide on humanity]] is again motivated not out of any malice against humans but a desperate last plan to revive Krypton over Earth's foundations. However, by the end, he finally loses whatever good intentions he originally had when Superman stops his World Engines and Zod vows to wipe out humanity out of pure spite.
* PetTheDog:
** A minor example, but he doesn't fault Superman for neglecting to address him as General Zod.
--> '''Superman:''' I take it you're Zod?\\
'''Faora:''' [[InsistentTerminology General Zod]], our commander.\\
'''General Zod:''' It's alright, Faora. You can forgive Kal any lapses in decorum. He's a stranger to our ways. This should be cause for celebration, not conflict.
** He's shown comforting Faora after Krypton's destruction.
* PowerIncontinence: The first time Zod's powers manifest he doesn't quite control them, such as when Superman breaks his bubble-helmet, which makes him experience the SensoryOverload of the SuperSenses the Earth's yellow sun gives to Kryptonians, or when his EyeBeams manifest, slicing the Wayne Financial building in all directions. He masters it all pretty quickly however, in a matter of minutes while it took Superman a good part of his youth to do so.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Or, in this case, Proud Warrior [[FantasticCasteSystem Caste]] Guy. Zod takes great pride in his martial ability and believes it to be the key to saving Kryptonian civilization.
** Note how it took Clark much of his life to master his powers (with his flying abilities being the last one he mastered at age 33) when it only took Zod ''a day'' to gain complete control over his. Which, when you think about it, makes sense. Zod is a genetically engineered Kryptonian SuperSoldier, which means that his body can absorb and adapt to yellow sunlight more easily than Clark, who was born in Krypton's intellectual caste.
* RedOniBlueOni: The Red to Faora's Blue. In contrast to his stoic and calculating [[TheDragon second-in-command]], Zod has an [[HotBlooded fiery]] and [[HairTriggerTemper combative personality]], as well as a brutal and aggressive fighting style.
** Also the Red to Jor-El's Blue. Whilst Jor-El attempted to reason with the Kryptonian Council about their planet's doom using a civil, calm tone of voice, Zod opts instead to [[TriggerHappy burst into their conference room guns akimbo, kill one of the leaders, take the rest away, and attempt to take control of Krypton himself.]] Also, he's quicker to [[BloodKnight resort to violence]] than Jor-El, which is somewhat evident in their fight scene as well.
* ResurrectedForAJob: Lex Luthor gets a hold of Zod's corpse and ends up [[spoiler:transforming him into Doomsday to kill Superman when Batman fails to bring down the Son of Krypton]].
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Kal-El has ruined Zod's chances to terraform the Earth and repopulate it with Kryptonians. Needless to say, the only thing he has left is his rage and superpowers, and he brutally uses them to fight Superman and cause as much damage as he can to Metropolis.
* RunningOnAllFours: Before figuring out how to fly, Zod tried running vertically up a building's surface in such a manner to meet the airbore Superman head-on.
* SadisticChoice: Zod forces one on Superman when the latter has him in a headlock, threatening to incinerate an innocent family before Clark's eyes unless he snaps Zod's neck.
* ScarsAreForever: Zod gets slashed down the side of his face during the Krypton prologue. The resulting scar is still very much visible when he shows up on Earth.
* SensoryOverload: Zod experiences this after Superman rushes him back in Smallville, fracturing his helmet. Zod retreats and acclimates to Earth's atmosphere at his own pace so he'll have one less weakness to exploit the next time he fights Superman.
* ShadowArchetype: Zod's character arc provides a sinister foreshadowing of what Superman could become if the BadFuture from Bruce Wayne's nightmares isn't prevented. Zod longs for a world he can call his home, but unlike Clark he never accepts Earth as it is. He's willing to die for what he stands for, which leads to him being revived by a billionaire in a crazed state (Doomsday and Clark even arrive at the Superman monument in the same fashion). If Cyborg's premonitions are indeed true, then Superman is fated to have his raison d'etre left in ashes as he kneels at the feet of his foe, before giving in to fury and turning on Earth.
* ShedArmorGainSpeed: He only masters the power of flight once he takes off his armor in the final battle of ''Man of Steel''.
* SlasherSmile: He only grins twice in the entire film, and this one is the second and most visible. It's also in response to Superman rising to fight him when [[BloodKnight Zod]] clearly wants to either crush him for foiling his plans or [[spoiler:[[SuicideByCop die in battle]]]].
* SocialDarwinist: To the core. Zod wanted to purge the Kryptonian race of its buerecrats so that the next generation wouldn't drive their culture off a proverbial cliff. Then he makes it clear to Superman that he won't think twice about committing genocide so that the Kryptonians may take Earth. [[TragicVillain Not that he's pleased about it]].
* SomebodyDoesntLoveRaymond: He shows tell-tale signs of this given that he becomes [[DudeWheresMyRespect outraged whenever anyone disagrees with him or opposes his will in any way]]. While he patronizingly dismisses Kal-El's failure to address him as "General" as the result of the latter's unfamiliarity with Kryptonian "decorum", Zod becomes absolutely incensed when the preserved consciousness of Jor-El, a man whom [[VillainRespect he held in high esteem]], tells him that Kal is "twice the man" he [[FallenHero used to be]].
* StarterVillain: Zod is the primary villain of ''Man of Steel'', first film of the ''DC Extended Universe''. Suverted in a wider sense, as several god-tier villains have been active before Zod turned to villainy.
* StrongAndSkilled: Zod was already a highly-trained military badass before he got to Earth and won the SuperpowerLottery.
* SuicideByCop: With his ambitions now ruined beyond repair, Zod fights Superman to the death, with his goal to either get his vengeance or to die a warrior's death.
--> "There's only one way this ends, Kal. Either you die or I do!"
* SuperheroMovieVillainsDie: [[spoiler: Zod forces Superman into a position where killng him is the only way to stop his RoaringRampageOfRevenge.]]
* SuperpowerLottery: By the end of the film Zod has harnessed all the same powers Superman has, within a much smaller timeframe to boot.
* TakingYouWithMe: Zod uses his eye lasers to try and kill all the surrounding humans when Superman restrains him.
* TantrumThrowing: General Zod throws a pickup truck into Martha Kent's house when he's told the codex isn't hidden in the family barn.
* TooPowerfulToLive: Zod isn't drawn back into the Phantom Zone with his subordinates and it would be some time before anyone would find any kryptonite, meaning he's one of the most powerful beings on Earth once he masters his superpowers. With this in mind, Superman is given no choice but to kill him.
* TragicVillain: As noted in the folder quote at the top, he admits he does horrific things he doesn't want to do, but because of his origins, he feels that his mission to restore Krypton is all he's got keeping him going and when his plans fail, he goes into a violent RoaringRampageOfRevenge trying to kill as many people as possible just to spite Kal.
* TheUnfettered: He wants to recreate Krypton, no matter the cost.
-->'''Zod:''' I have [[KnightTemplar a duty to my people]][[{{Beat}} ...]] and I will not allow ''anyone'' to prevent me from carrying it out!
* UnfulfilledPurposeMisery: General Zod sees it as his purpose in life to protect and - after its destruction - rebuild Krypton. When he believes Superman has destroyed any chance of that happening, he has a VillainousBreakdown.
-->'''Zod:''' I exist only to protect Krypton. That is the sole purpose for which I was born. And every action I take, no matter how violent or how cruel, is for the greater good of my people. And now I have no people. MY SOUL! THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE TAKEN FROM ME!
* UnstoppableRage: When he and Superman throw down in their FinalBattle, Zod goes completely and utterly crazed with fury.
* VillainHasAPoint: At the start, anyways, once you get past his personal flaws and overwhelming desire [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything to eradicate certain Kryptonian bloodlines while keeping the race ‘pure’]]. Krypton is careening towards an impending global apocalypse, (which Zod mentions to Kal is ''literally'' the only thing him and Jor could agree on) and the people who are in charge who caused the crisis to begin with (through their own short-sightedness) are now actively ignoring the problem. Can you really ''blame'' him and his men for trying to seize power and actually address the issue?
* VillainousBreakdown: Twice in the film: [[spoiler:prior to his imprisonment in the Phantom Zone and, later, during the conclusion when his plan has been ruined beyond repair]].
* VillainRespect: To Jor-El whom he [[ImpliedTrope apparently]] viewed as an intellectual equal. [[spoiler:However, any lingering affection Zod harbors for Jor-El disappears when the latter's preserved consciousness tells him he can never aspire to be the man his son is. And even then, he seems to grimace in distaste]].
* VillainsWantMercy: When Superman breaks into the scout ship's cockpit, fully prepared to crash it, Zod begs him to stop, as the scout ship is the only piece of Kryptonian technology left that can restore dead homeworld.
-->'''Zod:''' Stop! If you destroy this ship, ''you destroy Krypton!''
-->'''Superman:''' Krypton had its chance!
* WeUsedToBeFriends: To Jor-El, who is revealed to be an "old friend" of Zod. Based on their dialogue in the film, it is strongly implied that Jor-El was a mentor to Zod and possibly even something of a father figure.
-->'''Zod:''' (''to Jor-El'') Haven't given up lecturing me, have you? [[spoiler:Even in death]].
* WouldHurtAChild: Zod tries to murder Kal-El as an infant at the beginning of the film, and in his final battle with Superman, he uses his heat vision to try and kill an innocent family.
* YouAreNotAlone: Zod's message to Kal-El upon finding Earth.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Faora]]
!!'''''Sub-Commander Faora-Ul'''''
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/faora_8.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"You will not win. For every human you save, we will kill a million more."'']]
!!!'''Species:''' Kryptonian
!!!'''Citizenship:''' Kryptonian
!!!'''Affiliation(s):''' Kryptonian Warrior Guild | Sword of Rao
!!! '''Portrayed by:''' Creator/AntjeTraue
!!! '''Voiced by:''' Jocelyn Robles (Latin-American Spanish) | Creator/AtsukoTanaka (Japanese) | Julie Dumas (European French) | Julie Beauchemin (Canadian French)
!!! '''Appearances:''' ''Film/ManOfSteel'' | ''Film/TheFlash2022''

-->''"The fact that you possess a sense of morality and we do not gives us an evolutionary advantage. And if history has proven anything, it is that evolution always wins."''

Zod's second-in-command, and the most dangerous warrior of his crew. She is physically brutal, and combines Kryptonian enhanced strength and speed with lethal martial arts.
----

!!'''''[[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman Doomsday]]'''''

----

[[folder:Jax-Ur]]
!!'''''Jax-Ur'''''
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jax_ur.png]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"''"You're wasting you efforts. The strength you derived from your exposure to the Earth's sun has been neutralized on our ship. Here, in this environment, you're as weak as a human."'']]

!!!'''Affiliation(s):''' Kryptonian Thinker Guild | Sword of Rao
!!! '''Portrayed by:''' Creator/MackenzieGray
!!! '''Voiced by:''' Jorge Ornelas (Latin-American Spanish) | Yohei Tadano (Japanese) | Luc Bernard (European French)

-->''"It is of little consequence, because I have located the Codex. It was never in the capsule. Jor-El took the Codex, the DNA of a billion people, and he bonded it within his son's individual cells. All of Krypton's heirs, hidden in one refugee's body."'

A Kryptonian scientist and follower of General Zod.

* BaldOfEvil: Seeing as he's essentially ComicBook/LexLuthor as a Kryptonian, it's rather fitting.
* CreepyMonotone: His voice never changes during his time onscreen.
* EvilGenius: A scientist who uses his knowledge of genetics to support Zod's nefarious plans.
* HighCollarOfDoom: A follower of Zod who's shown wearing a high collar in his everyday wear.
* LooksLikeOrlok: His pale skin and bald head give off a vampire-esque vibe.
* OhCrap: Has one such moment when Kal-El frees himself from the operating table as Jor-El's VirtualGhost turns Zod's ship's atmosphere off, and cowers behind the room's automatic door.
* RemakeCameo: Mackenzie Gray already worked on ''Series/{{Smallville}}''.
* TheyWouldCutYouUp: Intends to extract the Kryptonian Codex from Kal-El/Clark's cells this way.
* TokenMinority: Jax-Ur is the only member of Zod's forces who is not a member of the warrior caste.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Nam-Ek]]
!!'''''Nam-Ek'''''
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/namek.jpg]]
!!!'''Species:''' Kryptonian
!!!'''Citizenship:''' Kryptonian
!!!'''Affiliation(s):''' Kryptonian Warrior Guild | Sword of Rao
!!! '''Appearances:''' ''Film/ManOfSteel''

The imposing behemoth of General Zod's crew. He complements Faora's speed with brute strength.
----

!!'''''[=LexCorp=] Industries'''''

!! Chief Executive Officers

!! Employees

!! Affiliates
[[folder: Wallace Keefe]]
--> [[Characters/DCEUSmallvilleAndMetropolis See here.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Deathstroke]]
-->[[Characters/DCEUGothamUnderworld See here.]]
[[/folder]]