Queen Bee (comics)

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caption = Zazzala, the Queen Bee. Art by Howard Porter.
character_name = Queen Bee
publisher = DC Comics
debut =I: "Justice League of America" #23 (November 1963)
II: "Justice League International" #16 (August 1988)
IV: JLA: Incarnations #6 (December 2001)
creators =
alter_ego = I: Zazzala
II: Unknown
III: Tazzala
IV: Beatriz
full_name =
species =
homeworld = Korll
alliances = Injustice Gang
Secret Society of Super Villains
H.I.V.E.
aliases =
supports=
powers = Superhuman strength and speed
Venomous darts
Ability to release mind-confusing "pollen" powder

Queen Bee is the name of four different DC Comics supervillains.

History

Zazzala

The leader of the hiveworld Korll, Zazzala lives only for the interstellar expansion of her species. Zazzala first appeared in "Justice League of America" #23 (November 1963). She clashed frequently with the original Justice League during the sixties, but largely disappeared for several decades.

Zazzala reappeared in "JLA" volume 3, #34 (October 1999), when Lex Luthor contacts her to join his Injustice Gang. She agrees, freeing The General from his asteroid prison in exchange for a percentage of Earth's population to become her drones. She also participates in other battles against the League. Her main effort is concentrated upon the city of New York. She forces many of the citizens to craft an 'egg matrix' out of local supplies as a way to secure even more mind-control. She attempts to brainwash Green Lantern and Steel, but both heroes are able to fight it off; Huntress encouraged Green Lantern to resist the pollen, and Steel's suit protects him from the pollen's effects. Using the Queen Bee's inability to see the colour red, which many of the superheroes had in their costumes, Wonder Woman and Big Barda keep the Queen's forces occupied while Steel and Plastic Man get the drop on the Queen. Utilizing a Boom Tube, technology controlled by Barda, they teleport the Queen and her army back to Korll.

Later, Zazzala and her drones join Lex Luthor new Secret Society of Super Villains. The Queen becomes the leader of the H.I.V.E., a multi-national criminal enterprise. She appears in the six-part "Villains United" limited series. A small team of villains, known as the Secret Six, attack her base as part of a war against the Society. Her forces are defeated, the base's prisoner, Firestorm, is freed and Zazzala herself is badly wounded.

One Year Later, Zazzala appears in "JLA" volume 4, #20, fully healed from her injuries, and attempting to steal a matter transportation device that will appear to allow her to transport her troops to earth. She is defeated by Wonder Woman and captured by The Flash.

Queen Bee of Bialya

An unrelated Queen Bee was introduced in "Justice League International" #16 (August 1988). She was an unpowered, human "femme fatale", who gained control of the terrorist nation of Bialya by forging an alliance with its former ruler Colonel Rumaan Harjavti then assassinating him. She solidified her power by brainwashing the Global Guardians into serving her. She has clashed several times with Justice League International and Justice League Europe.

Justice League Europe found out that the Queen Bee was behind their recent troubles, and that she had a Dominator named Doctor working for her. They invaded her palace and came to an agreement; she would cease hostilities against them if they kept quiet about the unethical things she was doing as Queen. They also demanded she sever relations with the Doctor. After they left, she killed the Doctor.

The Queen Bee was eventually defeated by the JLE, the Guardians and Rumaan Harjavti's brother Sumaan, during the events of the JLA/JLE crossover "Breakdowns" (1991).

Tazzala

Queen Bee III appeared in the 2000 "Creature Commandos" series.On the otherdimensional world of Terra Arcana Tazzala, sister of Zazzala, the original Queen Bee, joined Simon Magus' Terra Arcana Army with the ultimate goal of conquering Earth. The U.S. Army faction known as the Creature Commandos stopped the invasion plans. Tazzala herself was killed by Simon Magus.

Beatriz

The sister of the second Queen Bee, Beatriz was introduced in "JLA: Incarnations" #6 (December 2001, but set around 1996) as the new ruler of Bialya. She is using humans forged with machinery and passed off as the robot Extremists to police her country. Her fate since Captain Atom's Extreme Justice team brought an end to these activities is unknown, but she was presumably toppled from power as she no longer rules Bialya.

Powers and Abilities

Zazzala has insect-like superhuman strength and speed, can fire venomous stinger darts, or release mind-confusing "pollen" powder. She and her drones are unable to perceive the color red.

Other Media

Television

* In "Justice League Unlimited", Queen Bee is seen as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society in the third season premiere, but she does not make a full appearance in the animated series. However, in the episode "Far From Home," Supergirl fights robotic duplicates of Zazzala and Doctor Cyber for training purposes. The "real" animated Queen Bee has thus far only appeared in a major role in the "Justice League Unlimited" comic (issue #29), in which she is the primary villain. She is defeated by the combined efforts of Animal Man and B'wana Beast.
* In the Smallville 1st season episode "Drone", a girl named Sasha Woodman has the ability to control swarms of bees; though she is not referred to directly as Queen Bee, the term is referenced to describe her powers. She is later killed in season 7 episode "Cure", by Dr. Curtis Knox.

Video Games

* She is one of the major bosses in the "Justice League Heroes" game for XBOX, Playstation 2 and Playstation Portable. She was voiced by Abby Craden.