ZO
Real Name: Zo
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Attalian race);
Pre-Modern Era)
Occupation: Explorer
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Unidentified scientists
Enemies: Professor Kroft
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Attalia (aka Sol, Earth's sun)
First Appearance: Astonishing I#28 (December, 1953)
Powers/Abilities: Zo's species have a single
eye, which comprises most of their face, and four arms. They do not
require sleep and, most, significantly, have evolved to adapt to the
intense heat of the sun, Sol ("Attalia"), approximately 10,00 degrees Farenheit (5600 Celsius) on the surface and 27 million
degrees Fahrenheit (15 million Celsius) at its core.
Zo piloted a golden ship from the sun which was likewise designed to be resistant to the sun's heat.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'0")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 250 lbs.)
Eye: Red
Hair: None
History:
(Astonishing I#28/5) - On May 3, 1967, Zo piloted his spacecraft to
Earth and emerged in a city populated with many people. Startled at
Zo's appearance, most of them fled in terror but Zo halted one human
and tried to speak to him. Quickly surmising the human couldn't speak
the language Attalian, Zo switched to English and explained that he
wished to meet some of Earth's scientists. The startled man agreed to
do as he requested.
Professor Kroft and three other scientists were summoned to meet with Zo. They were all amazed to meet an actual extraterrestrial, but when they asked where he hailed from, his answer "Attalia" simply confused them, as they knew of no planet in the Solar System called that name. The scientists asked for more information about Attalia and Zo responded it was called "the Golden Planet" because Attalia was made of gold. He went on to explain that everything on Attalia was made of gold and therefore, the substance was so common that there was no need to steal any of it. Professor Kroft was fascinated by this revelation and his greedy nature overwhelmed him.
Taking a gun, Professor Kroft attempted to surprise Zo as he slept but discovered Zo was not asleep, as his species did not require it. Waving his gun at Zo, he threatened to kill him unless Zo did as he asked. Kroft forced Zo to lead him to his spacecraft, and Kroft murdered the soldier who had placed the vessel under guard. Entering the craft, Kroft ordered Zo to bring him to Attalia. Zo complied and piloted his ship directly at the sun. Kroft was alarmed and said it was impossible for any being to exist on the surface of the sun; Zo responded that perhaps it was impossible for Kroft but not for Zo. Kroft was burned into a pile of cinders as Zo landed his ship back on Attalia, happy to be home again.
Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Robert Q. Sale.
It's not impossible for this to be a 616 tale - for all we know Zo's people are still living there (and probably got really ticked off by those sunspots caused during Operation: Galactic Storm - in fact, they were probably all burned up).
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Zo should not be confused with:
Professor Kroft was one of the four Earth scientists summoned to meet Zo after he requested an audience with human scientists. Kroft was very slow to believe Zo's accounts of his home Attalia, as he had never heard of a planet in the Solar System by that name. When Zo went on to describe all the gold on his planet and noted that Attalia was called "the Golden Planet," Kroft became greedy to obtain some of that gold. Taking a gun, he forced Zo to bring him to his spacecraft and murdered the soldier who had been guarding the vessel. Kroft ordered Zo to fly him to Attalia so that he could have his gold but was shocked when Zo flew his ship directly at the sun. Kroft objected that it was impossible for any being to live on the sun but Zo insisted that although it was impossible for humans, it wasn't for his species. The sun's approach caused Kroft to quickly burn up into a pile of cinders.
--Astonishing I#28/5
Zo's vessel was a starship made from gold. It was evidently built on Attalia (the sun) and could withstand the heat of the sun just as Zo's people could.
The vessel brought Zo to Earth so that he could meet human scientists and later brought Zo and Kroft back to Attalia, although the heat from the sun swiftly killed Kroft, leaving his ashes on the ship.
--Astonishing I#28/5
images: (without ads)
Astonishing I#28/5, page 1, panel 5 (Zo, main)
Astonishing I#28/5, page 2, panel 2 (Zo, face)
Astonishing I#28/5, page 3, panel 8 (Kroft)
Astonishing I#28/5, page 3, panel 6 (ship)
Appearances:
Astonishing I#28/5 (December, 1953) - unidentified writer, Robert Q. Sale (artist), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 01/30/2023
Last updated: 02/24/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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