Steve Zodiac

Colonel Steve Zodiac was the captain of Fireball XL5.

In January 2065, news reached Space City of the possible death of Zodiac with no further messages recieved from XL5. When asked by reporters about Zodiac's condition, Commander Zero stated "I am completely confident in Dr. Venus's ability to deal with the situation". (COMIC: Genesis of Evil) It later transpired that Zodiac had not been killed but the crew of the XL5 had been captured by Batmen upon landing on a mysterious asteroid. Zodiac surrended the XL5 to the Batmen which spawned utmost concern at Space City for the saftey of all space freighters and passenger flights throughout the Universe. (PROSE: Fireball Surrenders!)

In March 2065, Space Station M5 launched an emergency rescue ship in a desperate bid to save Zodiac, Venus and Professor Matic. At that moment they were stranded in space with only the life-giving effects of their oxygen pills keeping them alive. (COMIC: Power Play) Zodiac's plight was also mentioned in a report which revealed Venus had finally collapsed from a lack of oxygen. (PROSE: Superjet Shot Down)

In April 2065, Zodiac was able to locate the dangerous Omega-Minus device, (PROSE: Zodiac's Rescue Bid) which had last been plotted by Jodrell Bank Observatory as it approached the Eros Asteroid Belt, (PROSE: Stingray Hunts Aliens) bolted beneath the space liner W.S.W.193 after recieving no reply to a search request. He gave Matic orders to destroy the ship with all aboard if he failed to release the device before it re-entered Earth's atmosphere. (PROSE: Zodiac's Rescue Bid!)

After the Tenth Space Fleet and the Astran space fleet engaged each other on 1 May 2065 thus beginning the Space War, (PROSE: Battle in Space) it was believed that Zodiac had been called to Unity City to see the President. Official rumours indicated that the Astran ambassador had also been called to Unity House. (COMIC: Duel of the Daleks) Around this time, Zodiac was pictured at the controls of the XL5 alongside Robert the Robot in an article with the headline "Space Battle - Cease Fire". (PROSE: Atlanta Kidnapped!)

Behind the scenes
Colonel Steve Zodiac originates from the television series Fireball XL5.