The original Black Zero first appeared in Superman #205 (1968), and was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Plastino.

In desperation, Superman releases Jax-Ur, a prisoner of the Phantom Zone, who wishes to avenge Krypton's destruction.

After launching a missile toward Earth, Black Zero attacks Jax-Ur with red kryptonite, mutating him into a Gorgon-like form.

The first Post-Crisis version of Black Zero appeared in the 1988 World of Krypton miniseries written by John Byrne and illustrated by Mike Mignola.

A Kryptonian prison frigate called the Black Zero appears in films set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU):