Superman II Fails to Make Zod the Threat He Deserved to Be

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As I embark on my first-time journey through Christopher Reeve’s Superman movies, I find myself eagerly anticipating the arrival of General Zod in the much-adored sequel, Superman II. Having been banished at the start of the first film, I was keen to see his return and witness the execution of his master plan for world domination. However, I must confess that the portrayal of this iconic Man of Steel villain left me feeling slightly disappointed in the sequel, a sentiment I believe is not doing justice to General Zod’s character.

Over time, there have been numerous individuals who have criticized “Superman II,” often citing its cheesy elements and the transparent S emblem. As a follower with a Max subscription, I recently had the chance to watch it myself, and must confess that I was left feeling underwhelmed by the level of danger Zod presented compared to previous portrayals.

Superman II Does A Poor Job Of Making Zod The Threat He Was Teased To Be In The First Movie

I’m really fond of how Superman starts off with Zod, Non, and Ursa being exiled to the Phantom Zone, as it sets up an intriguing cliffhanger since Superman II continues that narrative. It’s clear from this initial scene that this character was considered so dangerous to Krypton’s security that he was sent away to another realm due to his misdeeds. If such a character were to arrive on Earth, I had the feeling he would pose a significant challenge for Superman.

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Unfortunately, I must say that in “Superman II”, General Zod doesn’t seem as formidable as I’ve come to expect from my years of reading about him through DC Comics and other adaptations. It appears the film underplays his true potential. In fact, it seems the only reason the movie drags on is because Clark Kent relinquishes his powers to live as a human. However, once he gets his powers back, Superman swiftly deals with all three Kryptonians.

Although Superman generally has a physical advantage over Kryptonians who haven’t been as affected by the yellow sun, General Zod stands out due to his military training and combat expertise. While Superman may be intelligent, his skills in this area are not emphasized in “Superman II”. Instead, we witness a character who is overly self-assured after subduing the U.S., although it’s unclear if he did more than take control of the Oval Office.

The Way He’s Easily Manipulated By Lex Luthor Makes Me Doubt He Could’ve Ever Ruled Krypton

It’s risky to bring this up since there might be no one more skilled at manipulation in the DC universe than Lex Luthor. He’s even managed to become President of the United States, and has often succeeded in portraying Superman as a villain to the public eye. The late Gene Hackman played the role so convincingly that it seems plausible he could have persuaded the Kryptonians to spare him in exchange for information about Superman.

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Previously stated, one might expect Zod to exhibit some wariness towards Lex Luthor and his motives. Given that he was previously apprehended for treason, it seems reasonable that he’d harbor a natural suspicion towards anyone offering assistance.

This doesn’t mean that Zod doesn’t show a reasonable amount of doubt towards Lex, and it seems to me that the script offers Gene Hackman’s character an excessive level of protection, saving him in numerous instances where he probably would have been instantly killed in reality. Regrettably, I believe this only makes Zod appear more foolish, as he seemingly stumbled onto Earth without a clear strategy other than causing destruction and expecting humans to comply with his demands.

It’s not surprising that Lex Luthor takes control during the journey, given how Zod seems as intelligent as Non throughout the film. To be fair, there was a comedic moment when he walked on water thinking it was land for over a minute! This lack of intelligence might explain why his plan failed initially, making him an ineffective ruler.

I Think Michael Shannon’s Zod Is A Better Portrayal Of The Villain

I won’t pretend that “Man of Steel” surpasses “Superman II” as a superior film, but I can certainly argue that it delivers a much more authentic portrayal of Zod and the catastrophic impact of his appearance on Earth compared to the original.

A significant aspect of this difference can be attributed to the distinct mood between the two films. In contrast to contemporary movies like Superman II, films of that time period generally avoided depicting mass destruction at the hands of a malevolent antagonist. Therefore, in an unexpected twist, Zod uses his heat vision to destroy cars, despite Superman’s vulnerability being his compassion for humanity. This scene now appears outdated when compared to more recent villains in both Marvel and DC productions who have caused even greater havoc.

Though Michael Shannon might deliver a more imposing and formidable Zod, it’s not fair to say Terence Stamp’s portrayal was subpar; it certainly wasn’t. The phrase “Kneel before Zod” holds significance for a reason, and even though he may lack the on-screen ruthlessness of the character, Stamp is iconic due to his commanding presence and slicked-back hair, which gives him an air of true menace.

If you’re seeking to stream “Superman II”, it can be found on Max at this moment. In 2025, it makes an excellent viewing choice for those interested in observing the evolution of the superhero genre or for anyone craving a dose of nostalgia by revisiting a film from their childhood. I don’t fall into the latter category because I’ll be experiencing this movie for the first time!

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2025-05-07 14:52