Superman: Rogol Zaar May Be the DC Universe's Most Dangerous Villain

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Man of Steel #1, by Brian Michael Bendis, Doc Shaner, Steve Rude, Jay Fabok, and Alex Sinclair, on sale now.

Superman's newest archenemy is an alien warlord named Rogol Zaar, and he just may be responsible for the genocide of the Kryptonian people. Heading into Brian Michael Bendis' run on Superman, we knew this new villain would be involved in the destruction of Krypton, but Man of Steel #2 establishes him as the most feared being in the entire DC Universe.

While Rogol Zaar's true origin has yet to be told, there is enough evidence to indicate that he has some personal grudge against the Kryptonian people. He views them as a virus, a plague upon the universe, and asks his superiors for a chance to eliminate them before the race has a chance to impose their will on other planets. Though he is denied this permission, it is suggested that he may have gone through with his plan anyway; as a result, Krypton is dead, and his superiors outright fear him.

Zaar is a man who is feared by the most powerful beings in the galaxy. How can Superman ever hope to defeat someone as cunning, ruthless, and powerful as this?

He Who Dares to Defy

In the days before the destruction of Krypton, Rogol Zaar is considered to be a well-respected warrior who has fought in many wars for the right reasons. He serves directly under the Galactic Circle, a collection of alien leaders who work together to decide the fate of their galaxy. In the first issue of Man of Steel, he comes to his superiors and asks them for permission to wipe out the Kryptonians before they can become a threat to other worlds.

Though he is ultimately denied this opportunity, Krypton is destroyed anyway, and though frightened, not everyone on the Circle is willing to turn a blind eye to what seems painfully obvious. In the second issue, Lord Gandelo, the revered ruler of 42 star systems, voices his concerns. He turns to Appa Ali Apsa of the Guardians of the Universe and demands answers. For him, this feels all too convenient. How could this happen? Where was the Green Lantern Corps to protect these people? Where was Rogol Zaar now? There are questions, but no answers -- yet.

Page 2: [valnet-url-page page=2 paginated=0 text='Rogol%20Zaar%27s%20Actions%20Fundamentally%20Change%20Jor-El%20%26%20Superman%27s%20Stories']

Instead of agreeing with his suspisions, Appa Ali Apsa informs Gandelo how dangerous it is to ask such things. After all, if Rogol Zaar was responsible for the genocide for an entire race, "What do you think he'll do to you, and your 42 star systems, if you keep going with this line of inquiry?" In one sentence, the Guardian reveals everything we need to know: This man is dangerous, has always been dangerous, and now that it seems he is no longer listening to what they have to say, there seems to be no chance of stopping him.

We've seen this before, of course, in both fiction and real life. Rules and regulations, decisions and edicts only mean something when the people who impose them have the power to enforce them. They only work if people listen. The Galactic Circle said no to Rogol Zaar, but he appears to have carried his proposal out anyway. Now, some of the most powerful beings in the universe are left to cower in fear and hope that the blunt instrument they have used for so long is now dead. Otherwise, there will be no controlling this incredible and dangerous power. He no longer listens to authority, and a weapon who can no longer be pointed at the enemy is the most terrifying weapon of all.

The Dark New Fate of Krypton

Over 80 years of Superman stories have been told, and the destruction of the planet Krypton has always been considered a tragic byproduct of a force of nature. Whether it be an unstable core or natural disaster, there has never been one single entity to blame for the destruction of the planet. Even in Superman: The Animated Series, where Brainiac has a direct connection to the planet, he is not actually responsible for its destruction; he just chooses not to save it.

So if Rogol Zaar is truly responsible for the death of Krypton, it immediately makes him one of the most threatening villains in the DC Universe. He is to blame for the elimination of an entire race of people, a crime from which there is no coming back. All the greatest villains believe they are the hero in their own story, but there can be no doubt that somewhere along the way, this once well-respected, possibly even noble warrior crossed a line there is no going back from. There is no redemption story here, and his hatred of Kryptonians, and commitment to their demise, will only fuel his pursuit of Superman and his family.

A reality where Krypton was truly destroyed by a single person changes a lot about what we once understood about Superman's mythology. If Rogol Zaar destroyed Krypton, what does this mean for Jor-El's role in the planet's final days? If he's not the voice of reason drowned out by a world of bureaucratic incompetence, what is he anymore? What were his actions on the last day of the world, and how did baby Kal-El make it to Earth if Krypton never saw it coming?

And what of the Man of Steel himself? Superman has always accepted his status as the Last Son of Krypton without anger or bitterness, but what happens when he comes face-to-face with the person who is responsible for his solitude? Will he feel fear, or will Rogol Zaar unlock something no villain has ever made Superman feel: Hatred.