TV-Series
Description
King Zarkon is the primary antagonist of the Voltron: Defender of the Universe anime, serving as the sadistic and tyrannical ruler of Planet Doom. He is a high-ranking member of the Drule Empire, a vast galactic power, though in the American adaptation he is not the absolute emperor but a king who operates with a degree of autonomy, answering to a Drule Empire Council while facing no opposition from his own advisory senate.
Zarkon's background before the events of the series is largely unrevealed, though it is known that he extended his lifespan using special flowers from the planet Lyra. He was crowned King of Doom and later had a son, Prince Lotor. During the war between the Galaxy Alliance and the Drule Empire, Zarkon launched his own independent conquest campaign, which led to him being declared an outlaw by the Drule Empire Council, though he still had sympathizers among its members. His primary goal became the conquest of the planet Arus. He launched an attack to lure out the legendary robot Voltron, and his witch, Haggar, cast a spell that split the robot into five separate lion-shaped ships. Soon after, Zarkon invaded Arus personally, killing its ruler, King Alfor, in a duel. Years later, he ordered a massive bombing raid on Arus, taking many survivors as slaves, an attack during which the future leader of the Voltron Force, Keith, was captured.
In terms of personality, Zarkon is an immensely powerful and intimidating figure. He is a ruthless warlord who thrives on war and conquest, preferring to scheme from his throne and issue orders rather than engage in direct combat, though he is more than capable of fighting when necessary. He has little tolerance for failure among his subordinates, often threatening them or using them as scapegoats for his own failed plans. This dynamic extends even to his son, Lotor, and his most trusted advisor, Haggar, neither of whom are immune to his wrath when they disappoint him. Despite this, he has been known to express rare moments of pride or affection for Lotor, such as embracing him upon his return from a successful conquest or commissioning a gold statue for his birthday. Their relationship is complicated and frequently antagonistic, as Lotor repeatedly attempts to overthrow or assassinate his father, and Zarkon is always aware and on guard for such treachery, sometimes plotting against Lotor in return, though Haggar often dissuades him from taking lethal action.
Zarkon's central role in the story is as the commander of the forces of Doom, constantly devising new schemes to destroy Voltron and conquer Arus. He commands his forces from his throne room on Planet Doom, sending robotic monsters known as Robeasts to battle the Voltron Force. As the series progresses, Zarkon's position becomes more precarious. Agents of the Drule Empire eventually depose him from his throne, crowning Lotor as the new King of Doom in his stead. In a final act of desperation, Zarkon is forced to pilot a Robeast himself and engage Voltron in battle. Though the Robeast is destroyed, he manages to escape in an escape pod. Following the destruction of the Drule homeworld, the empire collapses, and the Galaxy Alliance is weakened, presenting Zarkon with an opportunity to launch a second campaign of conquest. During this time, he forms alliances with other warlords like King Largo and Queen Merla, though these alliances are often temporary. He later reconciles with Lotor after a brief civil war between them, and the two work together to set a trap for Voltron.
Zarkon possesses several notable abilities that make him a formidable adversary. Physically, he is an immense and powerful fighter, having easily beaten his son Lotor in battle and having killed King Alfor in a duel to the death. He is also a highly skilled mecha pilot; the Robeast he personally piloted was considered one of the most powerful foes Voltron ever faced. His authority is backed by the magical powers of Haggar, whose spells and creations, including the Robeasts, are crucial to his military efforts. While his ultimate fate is not definitively shown, he continues to be a recurring threat, making power bids and attempting to fill the power vacuum left by the Drule Empire's fall.
Zarkon's background before the events of the series is largely unrevealed, though it is known that he extended his lifespan using special flowers from the planet Lyra. He was crowned King of Doom and later had a son, Prince Lotor. During the war between the Galaxy Alliance and the Drule Empire, Zarkon launched his own independent conquest campaign, which led to him being declared an outlaw by the Drule Empire Council, though he still had sympathizers among its members. His primary goal became the conquest of the planet Arus. He launched an attack to lure out the legendary robot Voltron, and his witch, Haggar, cast a spell that split the robot into five separate lion-shaped ships. Soon after, Zarkon invaded Arus personally, killing its ruler, King Alfor, in a duel. Years later, he ordered a massive bombing raid on Arus, taking many survivors as slaves, an attack during which the future leader of the Voltron Force, Keith, was captured.
In terms of personality, Zarkon is an immensely powerful and intimidating figure. He is a ruthless warlord who thrives on war and conquest, preferring to scheme from his throne and issue orders rather than engage in direct combat, though he is more than capable of fighting when necessary. He has little tolerance for failure among his subordinates, often threatening them or using them as scapegoats for his own failed plans. This dynamic extends even to his son, Lotor, and his most trusted advisor, Haggar, neither of whom are immune to his wrath when they disappoint him. Despite this, he has been known to express rare moments of pride or affection for Lotor, such as embracing him upon his return from a successful conquest or commissioning a gold statue for his birthday. Their relationship is complicated and frequently antagonistic, as Lotor repeatedly attempts to overthrow or assassinate his father, and Zarkon is always aware and on guard for such treachery, sometimes plotting against Lotor in return, though Haggar often dissuades him from taking lethal action.
Zarkon's central role in the story is as the commander of the forces of Doom, constantly devising new schemes to destroy Voltron and conquer Arus. He commands his forces from his throne room on Planet Doom, sending robotic monsters known as Robeasts to battle the Voltron Force. As the series progresses, Zarkon's position becomes more precarious. Agents of the Drule Empire eventually depose him from his throne, crowning Lotor as the new King of Doom in his stead. In a final act of desperation, Zarkon is forced to pilot a Robeast himself and engage Voltron in battle. Though the Robeast is destroyed, he manages to escape in an escape pod. Following the destruction of the Drule homeworld, the empire collapses, and the Galaxy Alliance is weakened, presenting Zarkon with an opportunity to launch a second campaign of conquest. During this time, he forms alliances with other warlords like King Largo and Queen Merla, though these alliances are often temporary. He later reconciles with Lotor after a brief civil war between them, and the two work together to set a trap for Voltron.
Zarkon possesses several notable abilities that make him a formidable adversary. Physically, he is an immense and powerful fighter, having easily beaten his son Lotor in battle and having killed King Alfor in a duel to the death. He is also a highly skilled mecha pilot; the Robeast he personally piloted was considered one of the most powerful foes Voltron ever faced. His authority is backed by the magical powers of Haggar, whose spells and creations, including the Robeasts, are crucial to his military efforts. While his ultimate fate is not definitively shown, he continues to be a recurring threat, making power bids and attempting to fill the power vacuum left by the Drule Empire's fall.