Dru-Zod, commonly known by the alias General Zod, is the leader of Krypton's military and a former longtime friend of Jor-El. Zod believes Jor-El's warnings about the state of Krypton and launches a coup after concluding the Council is incapable of saving their race. When the coup fails, the Council has him and his followers imprisoned within 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 initiates a war of annihilation against its population for the sake of building a new Krypton.