Zero Man - the only name he is known by on Earth - comes from a distant planet that no longer exists, and is the last living member of his race.
Zero Man's real name is Ig Ahna Ne To, and he is of the race that was known as Cholonu. His race was defeated in a great war with the K'te a millennia ago and were subjugated completely. While the Cholonu had always been warlike in nature, they also had their fair share of scientific achievements. This scientific research, however, was ended with their subjugation by the K'te. The Cholonu were only permitted their arts and mysticism, while the underlying warrior nature of the Cholonu was harnessed by the K'te and put to use fighting their many enemies throughout the galaxy. Over time, the Cholonu were again permitted to study science as relations between master and slave became friendly, then respected, then expected. The Cholonu saw no shame in their status and proudly served in the K'te Empire. Such was the mentality of the Cholonu, and thus was the stage set for the tragedy that would later claim the entire species.
Except one.
Years before the outbreak of the Fourth Galactic War that would doom the Cholonu, Ig Ahna Ne To was assigned to a transport vessel that was carrying cargo, passengers and a few prisoners through the western spiral arm of the galaxy. The ship was traveling at hyperlight speed when the Quad-Lithium Engines began to malfunction. The ship dropped out of hyperlight speed and a general alert was announced. The brig was located one deck above main engineering, and when the engines exploded they showered Ig and everyone on that deck with deadly quad-lithium radiation. The ship exploded seconds later. This explosion took place on the dark side of Venus. Many days later, Ig awoke. The explosive force of the ship had thrown him clear and he had eventually crashed onto the dark side of Earth's moon. Ig was amazed that he was still alive. More surprising, he was alive on a desolate looking planet that appeared to have no atmosphere. Ig started walking until he saw the shine of Earth. A moment later, he lifted from the surface of the moon and was flying through space at a mere thought. Ig crash landed near New York city. Adrian Veidt of the JLA found him and took him under his wing. Adrian, and the US Government, thought it best to keep Ig a secret until he could be taught the ways of Earth.
Zero Man is of standard humanoid-type appearance (two arms, two legs, ten toes, etc...). The warrior caste of the Cholonu are hairless. His body is a slight shade of gray with black stripes that travel about his body. One particular black stripe forms a circle on his forehead, thus, the name Zero Man. He is about six feet tall with a very thick, muscular build. Of the super powers he has exhibited, he can fly as supersonic speeds in an atmosphere and faster than light in space. He is highly resistant to damage from physical and energy attacks, and has a knack with his energy sword, the only item that survived the ship's explosion along with him. Zero Man has learned to speak English, but he is still studying Earth history and many local phrases and slang confuse him still.
Feeling it his duty to help defend the world and the people that have offered him sanctuary, Zero Man has formally joined the JLA, as well as offering his services to assist the US Government's space program, NASA. Zero Man currently lives on the moon and has smaller stations located on Mars, Venus, Europa, Titan, and within the asteroid belt. Zero Man knows that the rest of the galaxy is aware of Earth, and suspects that several alien races regard the planet with envious eyes. He does not intend to let any of their schemes endanger his new home.
And Zero Man's ties to his new home are now more important than ever. Recently, Zero Man took part in humanity's Argo expedition beyond the solar system, largely to discover the fate of his race, having heard of their possible destruction from the insane computer Brainiac. Unfortunate, he learned that Brainiac was correct. Indeed, the Cholonu had been brutally and cavalierly sacrificed, and all in the service of K'te vanity. Adding insult to this already inexcusable injury, Zero Man also discovered that the K'te were diabolically using the respect and admiration that the Cholonu had earned in battle to escape the consequences of this crime, and that the K'te had arranged the destruction of the Cholonu homeworld in order to cover their tracks.
Luckily, Zero Man and his companions--the humans Alex Ryan and Wonder Man, and the Noirmer Traveler--were ultimately able to thwart the K'te designs and bring the scheming race to justice, while also giving the galaxy a solid chance at peace and earning Zero Man a debt of honor from the Warpsmith Empire in the bargain.
Zero Man has since returned to Earth, having ensured that the Cholonu will be remembered with honor for all time.
[Chad Wilson]