Editing General Zod (section)

====Interim Zods: 1985–2005====
[[File:GeneralZodRtK.jpg|upright|thumb|General Zod in ''[[The Adventures of Superman (comic book)|The Adventures of Superman]]'' #589 (April 2001). Art by [[Duncan Rouleau]] and Marlo Alquiza.]]
The first Zod to be introduced following ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' is the Zod of a so-called "pocket universe" resembling the universe in which the pre-''Crisis'' comics take place; this allowed for a "Kryptonian" Zod to be introduced while maintaining Superman's status as the last of his race in the universe proper. This Zod's universe is created by the [[Time Trapper]]. Zod (along with companions [[Quex-Ul]] and [[Faora|Zaora]]) devastates the Earth of that universe following the death of its Superboy, despite the best efforts of a [[Supergirl (Matrix)|Supergirl]] created by that world's heroic [[Lex Luthor]]. Eventually, the survivors of this world manage to contact the Superman of the main universe to help them, and he is able to take away the powers of the three super-criminals with Gold [[Kryptonite]]; since he is not from that universe, the Kryptonite of that reality has no effect on him.

However, the three vow to some day regain their powers and return to Superman's world to kill him. Acknowledging that he can neither afford to leave them on the now-dead pocket Earth to let them die alone nor imprison them on his world, Superman is forced to kill them with Green Kryptonite.<ref>''Superman'' (vol. 2) #22 (October 1988)</ref>

A second incarnation of General Zod is introduced in the 2001 storyline "Return to Krypton"; this Zod is portrayed as that of an alternate reality created by [[Brainiac 13]].<ref>''The Adventures of Superman'' #589 (April 2001)</ref> He is the head of the Kryptonian military in the alternate reality. Like the Pre-''Crisis'' version, Zod holds the Kryptonian equivalent of fascist beliefs. He sends aliens to the bottle city of [[Kandor (comics)|Kandor]] and plans a military coup. Zod is defeated by Superman and the [[Jor-El]] of Zod's alternate reality Krypton.<ref>''Action Comics'' #776 (April 2001)</ref>

The third attempt to bring Zod to Modern Age comics is the "Russian" Zod, a Zod of human origin whose origin story is connected to Superman's. This General Zod (born '''Avruiskin''') is a [[Russians|Russian]] who was affected before his birth by his parents' exposure to Kryptonite radiation. As such, he is empowered by red sunlight and weakened by yellow, the opposite of Superman. After his parents die from radiation, he grows up in a [[KGB]] laboratory under the name Zed.<ref name="dc-ency"/> Apparently spoken to by the spirit of the Pocket Universe Zod, Russian Zod creates armor which filters the sunlight, and declares himself ruler of [[Pokolistan]]. After several inconclusive encounters with Superman, he reveals his long-range plan to turn the sun red and take Superman's place. This is temporarily successful until [[Lex Luthor]] rescues Superman, gives him a blast of yellow solar radiation to regain his powers, and works to restore the sun. Superman returns to battle Zod, but refuses to kill him. When the sun turns yellow again, the now-vulnerable Zod strikes Superman with all his power at super-speed and is killed due to Superman's invulnerability.<ref name="dc-ency"/>

The final Zod before the character was finally reintroduced, the Zod of an alternate Phantom Zone appears in the twelve-issue ''[[Superman: For Tomorrow|For Tomorrow]]'' storyline, written by [[Brian Azzarello]] and penciled by [[Jim Lee]].<ref>''Superman'' #204–215</ref> This Zod lives alone in an alternate Phantom Zone and resents Superman for tampering with it.<ref>''Superman'' #206</ref> By his own account he comes from the same Krypton as Superman and was exiled to the Phantom Zone by Superman's father, Jor-El. This Zod wears large, spiked black armor and when unmasked, is a bald, white-bearded old man. This incarnation also uses a variation of "Kneel before Zod". He appears in Metropia, a version of the Phantom Zone created by Superman to resemble a living world (including apparently-living beings). This version was superseded by the present storyline (which features a new Zod, freed from the Phantom Zone).<ref>''Superman'' #214</ref>