This article is about Zworder as depicted in Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love. For his counterparts in Space Battleship Yamato 2 and Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato, see Zwordar (OS).
My name is Zworder, I am he who knows love, deeper than anyone in the cosmos. True love.—Great Emperor Zworder, to Lt. Susumu Kodai[9]
Zworder (ZWORDER, Zworder)[10] was the name taken by adult Type Zworder Gatlanteans. Starting from the 12th century and continuing until June of 2203, all Zworders served as rulers of the Gatlantean race and as Great Emperors of the Gatlantis Empire. Because the Type Zworder could inherit the memories of its clone predecessors, Gatlantis was effectively governed by a single leader known as Zworder for over a millennium, although each incarnation of the emperor had some differences in their personalities.
The first Zworder was created on planet Zemuria and led his people in revolt against the Zemurians. He believed that the Gatlantis race could create a just society since they were free from love due to their lack of reproductive organs and necessities. However, when his wife, Sifar Saberah, and their adopted son were killed by the Zemurians, Zworder grew hateful and sought to reactivate the Ark of Destruction. From this point until the death of his last incarnation, Zworder led the Gatlantis Empire in an omnicidal campaign with the aim of eradicating all human species from the universe.
History[]
The first Zworder and the Gatlantis Rebellion[]
Around the eleventh century,[5] the Zemurians created the Gatlanteans, an artificial humanoid species designed to serve as foot soldiers. The Gatlanteans were filled only with a sense of loyalty and hostility towards the enemy. However, the Zemurians broke their own taboos and created a more advanced model called the Type Zworder. This new model was equipped with a neural network capable of projecting Cosmo Wave, a form of high-dimensional psychic communication that could be used to control troops on the battlefield. It also had a complex mental structure and massive memory capabilities. The first clone of this advanced model was named Zworder.[3][11]

A hologram of Zworder, Saberah, and the infant Mil
Zworder, with his enhanced capabilities, became more aware of his situation as a slave to the Zemurians. He led his people in a rebellion against them. During the revolt, he captured Golem, a Zemurian weapon capable of destroying all Gatlanteans upon its activation. However, he was unable to destroy it as any harm to device would automatically activate it.[3]d
Zworder believed that Gatlanteans, not reproducing through the love between sexes, were free from the restraints love and could create a fair society. Despite these beliefs, Zworder fell in love with a sympathetic Zemurian woman named Sifar Saberah. Together, they adopted a younger clone of Type Zworder, named Mil, whom they raised as their son.[3]

Zworder, amongst the spoils of his defeat
When the Zemurians found out about them, they took Saberah and Mil hostage and threatened their lives if Zworder didn't reveal the secret location of his armies. Forced to choose between his wife and his people, he gave them the information. However, the Zemurians betrayed their pact and murdered Saberah and Mil before wiping out Zworder's forces. Miraculously, Zworder survived and took the remaining survivors of his race, leaving the planet aboard a spaceship.[3]
Finding the Ark of Destruction[]
Filled with grief, Zworder came to believe that love was the root cause of all evil in the universe. He believed that the cosmos needed a purer form of love, which could only come about if all humans were wiped out, leaving Gatlantis as the sole living species in existence. To bring this idea to fruition, Zworder began searching for the Ark of Destruction, an ancient device created by the Archelias civilization to eradicate all humans if they ever became an evil species.[3]

Zworder and Gairen in 1203
The search for the ark lasted over a century, and Zworder eventually grew old. He adopted the name Gairen, while a younger clone of himself inherited his memories and name, becoming the new Zworder. This process became standard in Gatlantean society and would be repeated for another millennium. Although each new Zworder was essentially a new individual with a slightly different personality, they all presented themselves as a single sovereign.[3][4]

Saberah begs Zworder to stop his crusade
In 1203, Zworder found the Ark of Destruction. Together with Gairen, they attempted to awaken it, but discovered that no Gatlantean could do so because they did not consider themselves to be human. To activate the Ark, Zworder used its technology to create a perfect copy of the deceased Saberah. Although the process was successful, the new Saberah remained unstable. Zworder urged her to remember the pain and suffering that humans had caused her. Although her grief and pain initially led her to reactivate the Archelian device, she quickly came to her senses and refused to do so. She told the Gatlantean that the darkness he fought was inside his heart and urged him to cease his quest for vengeance before her body dissipated into red dust.[3]
Gairen approached Zworder, stating that their quest had come to an end. However, Zworder refused to accept this and ordered him to recreate Saberah using the same data but limiting her memories. They would create copies of her and progressively block off more and more of her memories until she decided to activate the Ark of Destruction.[3]
Waging total war[]
With a copy of Saberah, and thus the ark, firmly under his grasp, Zworder began waging war on all humans. He declared the Gatlantis Empire, with himself as the Great Emperor. The Ark of Destruction served as the foundation of the Comet City Empire, the mobile capital of Gatlantis. Zemuria was the first world to be captured inside the enormous space fortress.[3]
Despite the lock on her memories, all of Saberah's copies eventually regained the original's memories and refused to execute Zworder's commands, as the first copy had done. However, the emperor personally killed them and continued his campaign for centuries.[12] In the late 22nd century, Gatlantis clashed with the Greater Garmillan Empire, with the main conflict centered around the Small Magellanic Cloud, known as Gutaba to them.[13][2] During this time, Zworder noticed Goran Dagam, a Gatlantean bandit, and appointed him as his direct warrior and named him Grand Chief Commissioner of the Gatlantis-occupied territories of Gutaba.[14] He tasked the warrior with locating and capturing the "World of Tranquillity," Shambleau, an ancient Archelian ark equipped with a unique cloaking mechanism that could help him maintain his national policy. However, Dagam died before fulfilling his mission while fighting against an Earthling space battleship named Yamato.[2]
War against Yamato[]
Terezart and Teresa's call[]
For this topic in more detail, see Invasion of Planet Terezart.

Zworder observes Terezart and talks with Teresa
In 2202, Zworder led the Ark of Destruction in an Invasion of planet Terezart, the home of the goddess Teresa. His goal was to capture the world and extract its overflowing energy. As his forces stormed through Teresa's sanctum, they killed the priests who were guarding it. The Great Emperor reflected on the universe and the futility of the monks sacrificing their lives. He explained to Teresa his belief that the universe needed pure love to eliminate all suffering and sarcastically asked her if she agreed.[15]

Zworder chooses to invade Earth
The goddess transmitted a message using her own Cosmo Wave, which the Gatlantis Empire attempted to trace. Eventually, Saberah reported that they had located the destination of the goddess's call, which corresponded with the last known position of one of their warships lost in battle against the combined forces of the Garmillans and Earthlings. Realizing they had finally discovered the location of planet Earth, Zworder implicitly ordered the woman to prepare for war against it.[16]
Battle of the eleventh planet[]
For this topic in more detail, see Battle of the eleventh planet
To prepare for the upcoming invasion of Earth's solar system, Zworder created a copy of Saberah and modified her to disguise herself as an Earthling. As she awoke, he telepathically apologized for what he had done to her.[12] The copy, who adopted the name Toko Katsuragi, was sent undercover to the eleventh planet of the solar system.[17]

Zworder laughs at Yamato's perceived lack of conviction
The Eighth Mobile Fleet was dispatched to the planet and began its attack[17] on December 24, 2202.[18] Commander-in-Chief Goenitz of the Imperial Mobile Fleet reported this news to Zworder.[19] As the battle unfolded, he and his staff reviewed video footage from their archives regarding the space battleship Yamato, which had received a distress call from Teresa and was currently engaged with their fleet. General Secretary Razera expressed alarm at the power of the Yamato's Wave-motion Gun, but the Great Emperor remained confident that they would not use the weapon and allowed himself to laugh boisterously. He later permitted Admiral Mazer to use his fleet to form a legionnaire cannon, to use the 11th planet's artificial sun to wipe out planet Earth from afar.[20]
During the battle, an Earthling space cavalryman named Hajime Saito was killed and then resurrected by the Gatlanteans as a living dead body.[21] He was connected through a Cosmo Wave to Zworder, which allowed the Great Emperor to discover that the supposed dead enemy commander, Admiral Ryu Hijikata, was actually still alive.[20] Another corpse, that of the archelogist Robert Redrowz, was also resurrected and linked to Zworder.[22]

Zworder smirks at Mazer's report
Contrary to Zworder's assumption, the Yamato did fire the Wave-motion Gun but only targeted the artificial sun. This resulted in an interference wave that dismantled the legionnaire cannon without destroying the Gatlantean fleet. Surprised that their enemies had allowed them to survive, Mazer and his sub-commander contacted the Great Emperor. With a smirk, Zworder remarked that the Yamato's acting captain had acted out of love.[20] He then issued an order for the Eighth Mobile Fleet to return to the imperial capital.[23]
Confrontation with Susumu Kodai[]
For this topic in more detail, see Battle on Planet Stravase
To confront Lieutenant Susumu Kodai, the acting commanding officer of the Yamato, Zworder devised a trap for the battleship on the planet Stravase. This was where they planned to leave the refugees they had rescued from the eleventh planet. Stravase was filled with ruins from the Archelias civilization, which Redrowz intended to investigate. Katsuragi, who had fortuitously[24] been brought on board with the other civilians, persuaded the archaeologist to leave the Yamato to explore the ruins. She then led Kodai to Redrowz's position, causing him to lose consciousness before abandoning him and returning to the ship alone.[22]

Zworder taking control of Professor Robert Redrowz's body
Zworder took control of Redrowz's body telepathically. As Kodai began to awaken, he addressed a nearby mural, wondering aloud why the Archelians would give their creations, the humans, the very forms that led to their destruction. Turning to Kodai, Zworder introduced himself as the leader of Gatlantis, claiming to understand love better than anyone in the universe.[22] He explained the artificial nature of his species and how they had wiped out their creators. He shared his philosophy, stating that only through Gatlantis' genuine love could humans and the universe find peace.[25]

Zworder mocks Kodai for his fear of loss
He mocked Kodai, suggesting that Teresa should never have relied on someone like him, who was paralyzed by his emotions. He criticized Kodai's reluctance to use the Wave-motion Gun to take lives, implying that his command of the Yamato would only lead to devastation. He argued that Kodai had experienced so much loss that he was terrified of seeing anyone else he cared about die. To challenge his perspective, he offered an alternative viewpoint to emphasize the selfish nature of human emotions and love.[25]
He explained that, as they spoke, a battle had erupted between the Yamato and a group of Garmillas rebels, which would lead to the collapse of Stravase. Three Garmillas ships were transporting refugees, including Kodai's fiancée, Yuki Mori. A living dead body had been planted on each of these ships, set to detonate at any moment. Kodai would need to decide which of the three ships to save. Katsuragi secretly monitored radio communications and would report Kodai's decision to him. However, before Kodai could make a choice, Mori threw herself off the ship that was carrying her. Kodai, refusing to make a decision, left the matter unresolved.[25]

Zworder disappointedly muses over Kodai's refusal to choose
Enraged by the Earthling's disobedience, Zworder commanded all of the revived corpses to detonate, causing all three vessels to plummet toward Stravase's collapsing surface. He reflected that Kodai's ego had prevented him from saving anyone and blamed him for wasting lives needlessly.[25]
However, the Yamato crew managed to avert Stravase's collapse, thus saving Mori, Kodai, and all the refugees.[25]
Observing Gorland[]

Gairen and Zworder talk as the latter observes his commanders
Days later, Zworder utilized telepathy to witness a conversation between Gorland and Zanrs Zurvival, the leaders overseeing the Terezart occupation forces, by tapping into the perspective of one of their servants. He anxiously observed that they had conversed about Gorland’s clone heir as if he were the commander’s son. Gairen suggested that the instincts of the Gatlanteans could stem from their human-like form, despite being artificial life forms. Zworder disregarded these concerns, affirming that obtaining Terezart’s energy would lead them to their objectives, with no regard for anything else. His predecessor brought his attention back to Teresa and the Yamato, but again, he tried to chalk everything up to coincidence. Gairen reminded him it was imprudent to talk about coincidence with Teresa’s prayer involved and that even Katsuragi’s presence onboard Yamato might not be a mere chance. He stated that Zworder was afraid and asked if he was scared of the goddess or something else.[24]
Later, Teresa appeared in vision to the Yamato crew, however, Saito only saw a silhouette of Zworder.[24]
Observing Desler[]

Zworder orders Desler to destroy the Yamato
After his defeat at the end of the Yamato in 2199, Abelt Desler, the disgraced dictator of Garmillas and Eternal Supreme Leader, was rescued by the Gatlantis Empire. In 2203, Zworder gifted him with a fleet, and he presented himself in front of him and his court. Saberah mocked him. The Great Emperor told her to respect a former ruler. Ironically, this angered Desler even more. Zworder asked him to show his people vindictiveness, something foreign to Gatlantean nature, and to destroy the Yamato.[24] Yet, he knew that Desler was no longer interested in the battleship, and intended to betray him.[12] The Supreme Leader understood Zworder's plans. He then thought Zworder didn't want the Yamato destroyed, finding its actions intriguing.[23]

Zworder observes Desler's actions with Saberah and Goenitz
He first ordered Desler to destroy the Eighth Mobile Fleet, which had disobeyed his command to return and was now chasing the Yamato out of hatred. On the Leader's flagship, he placed his clone successor, a new version of Mil, and watched Desler's actions alongside Saberah and Goenitz. The woman wondered aloud if Desler had chosen to serve Zworder out of loyalty or if he simply had nowhere else to go, but the Great Emperor suggested his motives might not be as simple as that. He urged his followers to look Desler's actions closely and observe the true nature of humans.[23]
At the end of his confrontation with the battleship, Desler assembled a fleet of Garmillan supporters and managed to interrupt Mil's Cosmo Wave link with Zworder.[23]
Yamato and Saberah's awekening[]
In the aftermath of Desler's rebellion, Zworder chose to allow the Supreme Leader to act undisturbed for the time being. Deciding they had extracted enough energy from Terezart, Zworder decided to warp the Ark of Destruction ahead and begin the invasion of Earth. He watched the Yamato, which was approaching their position, and declared he was tired of seeing it. He noted a growing connection between Saberah and Katsuragi.[12]

Zworder reassures Saberah
The ark warped out in front of the Yamato, and while Saberah attempted to destroy it with the fortress's supergravity, but stopped suddenly. Gairen then told a worried Zworder that Saberah's connection with Katsuragi was hindering her powers. Zworder approached her, offering reassurance. He stated she was the only one in Gatlantis who could control the Ark of Destruction. He also emphasized that he was following her judgment of humanity more than she was following him. He then moved toward a video panel to look closely at the battleship. This broke Saberah's confusion, allowing her to attack again. But, as the Yamato sank into the Ark's gas, no Gatlantean ship attacked, as they were all immobilized by the resonance between the two Saberahs.[12]

Zworder chokes Saberah to death
Zworder decisively ordered Saberah to warp away the Ark of Destruction, but the Silver Priestess once again stood still in terror as her link with Katsuragi strengthened. Realizing she was again regaining the original's memories, Zworder shouted for his staff to leave the throneroom immediately. He confronted her, attempting to remind her of the suffering love had brought her, but Saberah affirmed that both she and Zworder knew what love was and urged him to stop his madness. The Great Emperor repeatedly told her to stop, but she insisted that he was not trying to destroy the universe, but something of his own. Enraged, Zworder strangled her to death, as he had already done many times.As he exited the room, he coldly ordered Gairen to procure a new copy of Saberah.[12]
Battles on Terezart and beyond[]
For this topic in more detail, see Terezart Landing Operation
In the leadup to Yamato's arrival on Terezart, Zworder spied on a strategic meeting on board the battleship through Saito's eyes, and informed Gorland of the strategy the Earthling intended to follow in the coming battle.[26] Following Gorland's defeat at the end of the battleship, he wondered what gave its crew such determination.[27]
After the battle, Yamato made its way back toward the solar system. Eventually, the crew received messages from Earth. Through Saito, Zworder learned that the son of one of the crew members, Saburo Kato, was dying from an incurable illness known as Planet Bomb Syndrome.[28]

Zworder watches the new clone together with the factory chief
Since Gorland's clone successor had perished with him in battle, a new clone was created and placed under the care of the previous-generation Gorland. Zworder observed that all the Gatlanteans present were smiling at the newborn, despite the procedure being entirely mechanical. He coldly asked the factory chief why this was happening, but the chief could only say that it was a common occurrence whenever a new clone was produced. After Zworder and Gairen left, the Chief Intel Archivist informed him that Terezart had vanished again. Zworder responded that it was still there, but it had become invisible and intangible to them. He assured that Teresa was still watching and that they would invade Earth regardless.[28]

Zworder grabs observes his new Saberah
They arrived at the reproduction device for Saberah, where Gairen created a new copy of the Silver Priestess. He reassured the Emperor that further limitations had been imposed on her memories. When the Emperor questioned this further, Gairen explained that an emotional inhibitor had been placed on her, just as he had requested. This effectively transformed Saberah into a puppet, devoid of will. According to Gairen, this would prevent any possible resonance between her and Katsuragi. Zworder leaned over the newly created copy and grasped her chin, noting that Saberah would no longer suffer.[28]
Invading the Solar System[]
For this topic in more detail, see Battle of Saturn (2199).

Zworder threatens Valsey
On May 8, 2203,[18] the Seventh Mobile Fleet began the invasion of the Solar System, facing off against the United Nations Cosmo Navy at the Battle of Saturn. Zworder contacted Commander-in-Chief Valsey and stated he wouldn't tolerate hesitation. He then sat back smiling, stating he would enjoy the coming war. He contacted Katsuragi, currently trapped in Yamato's brig, and informed her of Kato's dying son. Katsuragi used the information to manipulate Kato, promising him a drug that could cure the Planet Bomb Syndrome in exchange for him betraying the Yamato.[28][29]
As the battle progressed, Valsey reported to Zworder that the Earth was fielding hundreds and hundreds of warships, and upon further analysis, Gairen revealed that the Earthlings had acquired a time fault. Having decided to acquire the fault for his empire, Zworder ordered Saberah to warp the Ark of Destruction to the battlefield and beckoned Valsey to withdraw. The Earth fleet attempted to fire their Wave-motion Guns at the fortress, but it had no effect other than dissipating its gaseous cover. Smiling sadistically Zworder ordered the Ark to advance and wipe out the enemy.[29]
Yamato arrived on the battlefield on May 9[30] and attempted to fire an augmented version of the Wave-motion Gun. Zworder watched on smiling as Kato sabotaged the battleship's engine, causing it to fall inside the Ark of Destruction.[29] He then listened as Goenitz relayed a speech on his behalf to Earth's leadership, also gifting them with the drug Katsuragi had promised.[31]
Yamato on Zemuria[]

Zworder attempt to kill Katsuragi through Saito
Zworder soon found out that Yamato had crashlanded on planet Zemuria, still enclosed inside the Ark of Destruction, and wondered if Teresa had guided the ship there. He took control of Saito and attempted to use him to kill an unconcious Katsuragi, however, he was found out by Mori which forced him to stop. He ended up discovering that Mori, who had been injured after the crashlanding, was now suffering from amnesia and had forgotten everything about Kodai. Finding the notion ironic, he decided to let her live.[31]
Six days of stalling later,[32] Zworder loudly declaimed his philosophy from his throne, before ordering Saberah to launch an attack on the anti-warp field that was blocking the Ark of Destruction near Saturn. With the field destroyed, the Gatlantean forces advanced toward Mars.[3]
The Yamato crew eventually came into contact with a pair of Zemurian AIs and discovered the origin of Zworder and the Gatlantis Empire.[3] The crew convinced Katsuragi to speak with the AIs, and they revealed the existance of Golem. Either he or Gairen deactivated the AIs remotely via the Cosmo Wave, but Katsuragi recovered the weapon's current location, the Great Emperor's throne room, from her memories.[33]
Sensing the danger, Zworder ordered the immediate destruction of Zemuria to stop the Yamato from escaping with the information and asked Teresa if she was the one leading him down that path. Despite this sacrifice, the battleship was able to escape the Ark of Destruction.[33]
Confrontation with Mil[]
For this topic in more detail, see Battle against Neu Deusura.
Now back in the service of Gatlantis, Desler set up an ambush for the Yamato before it could reach the Earth's orbit. During the subsequent battle, Saito discovered his nature as a revived corpse under the Emperor's control. Standing in the Ark of Destruction's meditation room, Zworder once again pondered love and human nature.[21]
Meanwhile, Desler's nephew Ranhardt, who had previously allied with the Yamato, met with his uncle. During their conversation, Mil interrupted, injured Desler, and promised the young Garmillan that Gatlantis would spare both Earth and Garmillas for ten thousand years if he would kill his uncle.[21] Zworder telepathically inquired about his successor's motives, and Mil explained that he wanted to see how a human's fragile emotions could shift when tempted by a short-term benefit.[4]

Mil talks telepathically with Zworder and Gairen
Kodai interrupted the confrontation, urging Ranhardt not to make a choice and expressing his resolve not to "pull the trigger" against Gatlantis. Zowrder listened, mocking Kodai's idealism. Just as Mil attempted to shoot Kodai, Mori took the bullet intended for him. Mil was shocked to witness the supposedly amnesiac Mori sacrifice herself for someone she shouldn't even recognize, leading him to reevaluate his views on human emotions and love. Gairen suggested that Zowrder listen to their younger counterpart as he shared his new perspective and advocated for ending the war. However, in that moment, Mil was gunned down by a group of Garmillan soldiers.[4]
Final stand and the activation of Golem[]
For this topic in more detail, see Final Battle Over Earth.

Zworder ponders Gatlantis' bond with the Yamato
Having breached Earth's defense line at Mars, the Ark of Destruction advanced toward Earth. Zworder suddenly sensed Yamato's presence as the battleship fired its enhanced DWIE at the space fortress, inflicting significant damage. While his staff panicked, Zworder smiled, musing on the peculiar bond between Yamato and Gatlantis.[34]
With the backing of the Garmillas Empire's military, the Yamato launched a final assault on the imperial capital in an attempt to seize Golem. Using Katsuragi's Cosmo Wave for support, they navigated through the Ark of Destruction. Zworder ordered Saberah to intercept them, but he quickly realized that his emotionless puppet was no match for Katsuragi. He then commanded General Chairman Razera to take charge of the defenses; however, Razera was killed while leading the effort.[34]

Zworder communicates with Katsuragi
As the Yamato approached the gates to the throne room, Zworder telepathically communicated with Katsuragi. She tried to reason with him, asserting that he was human too, but Zworder manipulated their conversation to pinpoint her location and dispatched a swarm of Needleslave androids to eliminate her. Without Katsuragi’s telepathy, the Yamato could only deploy a small team led by Kodai near the throne room.[34]
Zworder confronted the group, boasting that they had lost the woman's protection. He angrily responded to Kodai when he tried to ask why Zworder intended to kill her. Zworder mocked Kodai for his hypocritical insistence on "not pulling the trigger," despite the countless lives Kodai had sacrificed in order to confront him. As a firefight broke out in the throne room, Gairen attempted to persuade Zworder to leave. However, Kodai sneaked up behind them and held them at gunpoint. He insisted that negotiation was possible if the Gatlanteans were truly human, something he believed Mil had taught him. Zworder found this ironic, stating that Mil's future had already died.[34]

Zworder holds the dying Gairen
At that moment, a stray bullet threatened the Great Emperor, and Gairen leaped in front of him to protect him, dying in his arms. Witnessing his predecessor sacrifice himself like a father would for a son, Zworder was forced to acknowledge that the Gatlanteans were humans too. However, instead of retreating, he chose to activate the Golem himself,[34] believing that his newfound understanding would shield him from the weapon's activation.[35]

Zworder fuses with the Ark in front of a bewildered Kodai
His assumption turned out to be correct. Now that he saw himself as human, Zworder was able to control the Ark of Destruction and command its true awakening. Laughing maniacally, he merged with the Ark as it transformed and began absorbing all nearby matter. The Ark initiated a massive matter-to-energy conversion process, charging up a superweapon and aiming it at Earth. Saito and Ranhardt Desler sacrificed their lives in an attempt to stop the weapon, but their efforts only diminished its power, causing it to strike the Moon instead of Earth. Zworder proclaimed to Kodai that they could not stop him and urged them to accept his salvation before bidding farewell to the warriors of Earth.[35]
He turned the Ark of Destruction toward the remains of Saturn, to make it absorb the destroyed planet's mass. Zworder adressed a copy of Saberah that was being produced inside of the Ark, telling her she had been able to awaken the ark millennia prior because she was human, and as a human, she both hated her people and wanted to protect them. Kodai and Mori led the Yamato in one final suicide run against the Ark of Destruction, hoping to buy time for the evacuation of Earth. Instead, the ship's engine went critical and hopped a pathway to Teresa's dimension, allowing her to safely manifest in the universe. Together with her power, the battleship managed to destroy the Ark of Destruction, killing Zworder in the process.[35]
Philosophy[]
Every clone of Zworder had a different personality,[4] this implies that each could've had differing thoughts on their philosophy on love. Indeed, early in his life, the first Zworder initially had completely different views on the Gatlantis people and on the role they would play in the universe.[3] The last Zworder clone also changed his outlook on the Gatlanteans at the end of his life.[34][35]
The first Zworder[]
The first incarnation of Zworder had a unique philosophy that was completely different from the beliefs followed by all subsequent clones and by Zworder himself later in life. During this phase, Zworder was convinced that the Gatlanteans were not bound by love due to their inability to reproduce sexually. He concluded that this lack of reproduction allowed them to create a perfect society—one that was fair and peaceful.[3]
However, his beliefs changed dramatically after the devastating end of the Gatlantis Rebellion, as well as the murder of his wife and adopted son.[3]
The subsquent incarnations[]
Views on love and "Genuine Love"[]
Following his exile from Zemuria,[3] Zworder came to believe that love and human emotions were the root causes of all the evil in the universe. He thought that Humans committed acts of violence, theft, and harm in the name of love, which could take many forms—such as love for family, nation, or personal ideals. Zworder argued that these expressions of love were merely manifestations of ego.[24] He feared that this love could ultimately lead to the death of the universe itself.[25]
Additionally, he viewed human love as weak and fragile, easily broken by difficult choices or even short-term benefits.[21][25] Zworder regarded love as nothing more than an electrical impulse in the brain and believed Humans valued it only as a means to escape their misery.[4]
In contrast, Zworder believed that the universe required a "Genuine Love"[15] that was not driven by the desire to perpetuate the species[21] or by personal gain.[25] He argued that only this love could remain unbreakable by circumstance.[21] Zworder viewed this genuine love as a mercy killing of all human beings,[25] asserting that it was the only way to bring peace to the universe[25] and to Humans,[4] ultimately rooting out all pain.[15] He believed that this form of love was the only one aligned with the true nature of the universe.[25]
Zworder also regarded the universe itself as being alive, which led him to conclude that it needed Gatlantis' love.[15]
Views on Humans[]

Zworder believed the Humans species (three of them pictured here) needed to be exterminated to bring peace to the universe
Zworder believed that all humans were trapped by a distorted understanding of love, the fruit of their emotions,[25] which led them to both hate and destroy one another while simultaneously loving and trying to protect each other.[35] He thought that humans could never free themselves from love due to their biological nature and their need for sexual reproduction.[3][22][25] In his view, human emotions were the source of all evil, and thus, he believed that humans needed to be exterminated.[25]
However, he also felt pity for them, viewing misery and suffering as their natural state.[21][25] Zworder regarded the human tendency to sacrifice their lives for love as a pointless waste, believing that nothing, including love, justified the pain they endured.[15] He thought that humans required Gatlantis' genuine love and that their extinction was necessary for them to find peace.[21][25]
Zworder viewed his campaign to eradicate human life as true salvation for humanity.[25] He believed that humans were constantly manipulated by fate without their awareness.[21] Despite his pity for their condition, Zworder ultimately considered humans to be an evil species and deemed their extermination essential for achieving harmony throughout the cosmos.[3]
Views on the Gatlanteans[]

Zworder believed the Gatlanteans (pictured) to be free from love
Even after abandoning his belief that Gatlantis could establish a utopian society for all,[3] Zworder still held the conviction that the Gatlanteans were not human and were free from of love. He believed it was Gatlantis' duty to bring peace to the universe through their genuine love and the extermination of all humans. Zworder maintained that the Gatlanteans were the only beings capable of fulfilling this task, and he believed they could achieve it through the grace of the goddess Teresa of Terezart.[25]
While Earthling Lieutenant Commander Shiro Sanada theorized that the Gatlanteans intended to wipe out all humanoid species, including themselves,[28][N 2] Zworder's true plan was for Gatlantis to be the last civilization standing after the destruction of all humans. He envisioned that they would then wait for the birth of a new intelligent species capable of bringing about order and harmony.[3]
Amended view of the Gatlanteans[]
Despite his ongoing skepticism and disdain for the idea, on June 2, 2203,[30] in his final hours of life, the last clone of Zworder was forced to acknowledge that the Gatlanteans were indeed humans and, therefore, capable of experiencing love. However, this realization did not alter his perspective on humans or love itself. The only difference was that he now regarded the Gatlanteans as yet another species that needed to be exterminated, rather than seeing them as the executioners who would pass judgment on all other sentient life. He believed that this role fell solely to him, and he merged with the Ark of Destruction to bring it to completion.[34][35]
Appearance[]
The various Zworder clones all matured similarly and shared the same appearance when at the same age.[3][15]
Zworder was a tall (well over 190 cm)[36] Gatlantean man with a strong build, golden eyes, and a prominent chin and nose. In his youth, during the Gatlantis Rebellion, the first Zworder had long black hair. As he grew older, his hair was cut shorter and became much messier. His older appearance featured bushy eyebrows that connected to form a unibrow, extending to his hairline. He also maintained sideburns.[3][15]

As Great Emperor, Zworder donned an armored bodysuit and a red-lined cape
During the Gatlantis Rebellion, he wore a long black robe adorned with a golden border along the corners and featuring a green gem embellished in gold. He secured the robe with a large belt that had green and red colors, decorated with a golden geometric pattern. Additionally, he wore a brown diagonal sash featuring gray geometric designs, complemented by thin ropes hanging from his belt. Over his outfit, he donned a long, dark-colored coat with gold and red decorative accents, similar to those on his robes, and a white fur collar with flared sleeves.[3]
As the Great Emperor of Gatlantis, Zworder donned a dark, fitted bodysuit featuring a tall collar and segmented armor plating on the shoulders, chest, and thighs. A strap connected the shoulders to the groin, linking with a clasp in the middle of his chest. Light grey decorative geometric patterns adorned his neck, forearms, and thighs, and silver lines decorated the entire outfit. The bottom of his shirt included an orange section, over which he wore a large, loose, decorated belt used to secure his sword. The sword showcased an elaborate golden hilt with intricate orange details along the blade. Zworder wore white gloves, each decorated with a rectangle and a triangle, and on his feet, he sported grey armored boots. He also had a long cape lined in red, secured by an orange and gold pin that resembled the emblem of Gatlantis.[15]
Personality[]
Each clone of the Type Zworder was a unique individual who, despite sharing the memories of his predecessors, possessed his own soul. Consequently, each incarnation of Zworder developed a slightly different personality while still retaining some common traits.[4]

The first Zworder gently holds Mil
The first Zworder was initially much more benevolent and deeply cared for his wife, Saberah, and his cloned adopted son, Mil. Although these feelings conflicted with his teachings, which argued for the Gatlanteans being naturally free from love, he valued his family's lives enough to betray his men’s positions to protect them when the Zemurians forced him to make that choice. Tragically, after the Zemurians brutally murdered Saberah and Mil, the first Zworder became disillusioned with humans and sought the Ark of Destruction to eliminate them. However, a copy of Saberah later claimed that Zworder was not trying to eradicate humans but rather something within himself.[3]
The alternative the Zemurians imparted to the first Zworder significantly influenced his subsequent incarnations. The last Zworder often presented similarly cruel options to humans in an attempt to make them recognize the folly of their emotions.[22][25][29][33] All later clones exhibited a profound hatred for humanity, along with a deep-seated and sometimes arrogant belief that love was the root of all suffering in the universe.[3][15] The Zworder who ultimately discovered the Ark of Destruction held such a strong conviction in his hatred for humans and his belief in Gatlantean superiority that, even after a copy of his deceased wife refused to activate the weapon of mass destruction, he chose to manipulate her memories, transforming her into a tool to pilot the ark on his behalf.[3]
Despite his manipulation of Saberah, that clone of Zworder, as well as all others that followed, still deeply loved the woman, although they could not admit it to themselves.[3][12][34] Despite their continuous creation of new Saberah copies to pilot the ark against their will,[12] they saw the limitations imposed on their memories and emotions as a way not to make her suffer.[28]

Zworder smiles at the Battle of Saturn
The last clone of Zworder was particularly confident in his philosophy, often boasting about his superiority over humans and laughing scornfully at his enemies.[15][25][20] He was utterly convinced of his empire's inevitable triumph and believed that his plans would succeed.[24] At first, he regarded the Earthling space battleship Yamato, which Teresa had called upon to destroy Gatlantis, as nothing more than a toy.[23] While he was initially intrigued by the impact of the battleship's actions on his subjects,[23] he soon recognized the serious threat it posed to his ambitions.[12] Despite this realization, Zworder took pleasure in battling the Yamato throughout the Gatlantis Campaign, even when it struck at the heart of the Ark of Destruction.[34] In general, Zworder enjoyed a challenging war.[28]

Zworder meditates on human nature
Deeply contemplative, this Zworder often reflected on his philosophy and attempted to help certain humans understand it.[3][15][21][25] However, when confronted with the possibility that his worldview might be flawed—whether due to Gatlanteans exhibiting human emotions or Teresa's evident influence—he tended to ignore the issue or dismiss it as mere coincidence. This included every instance when his predecessor, Gairen, who had previously held the name Zworder himself, tried to reason with him.[24][28]
Although he did not outwardly show it, Zworder felt a deep attachment to Gairen, almost as if he were a father figure. It was through Gairen's self-sacrifice that Zworder ultimately recognized the human nature of the Gatlantean race.[34] He also formed a similar attachment to a later clone of Mil.[4]
Battles[]
Gatlantis Campaign[]
- Battle on Planet Stravase
- Encounter with the White Comet Empire
- Battle of Saturn
- Attack on the annihilation missile fleet
- Decisive Battle off Mars
- Final Battle Over Earth
Others[]
Gallery[]
Behind the scenes[]
Zworder is the counterpart of the character Zwordar from Space Battleship Yamato 2 and Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato, and appears in Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love.

The rough draft of Zworder design posted o by Yuki on his personal account
He is first seen on screen in "AD 2202 - Revive, Space Battleship Yamato," which is the series' first episode.[15] However, he is mentioned in "Prison Planet 17," the 21st episode of Space Battleship Yamato 2199. In Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark, he is only referenced by characters from Gatlantis speaking their native language. The Japanese subtitles refer to him as "Great Emperor," but the word spoken on-screen when referring to him is "Zworder."[2][37]
He is designed by Nobuteru Yuki, who based his character design on a drawing he did of him while designing Saberah during the production of Odyssey of the Celestial Ark.[38] He stated that the final design was a combination of that drawing and Odyssey of the Celestial Ark itself.[39]
He is portrayed by Hideaki Tezuka in Japanese and Greg Dulcie in English.[15]
Notes[]
- Professor Redrowz's surname is "Zworder" spelled backwards.[40]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "AD 2202 - Revive, Space Battleship Yamato"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 "Gatlantis, the Cursed Children"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 "Warriors of Love"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 In "Gatlantis, the Cursed Children" Gairen and Zworder are shown finding the Ark of Destruction in 1203, Gairen affirms that they had been searching for the Ark for more than 100 years meaning the Rebellion must have taken place prior to 1103
- ↑ "Farewell, Space Battleship Yamato"
- ↑ Trajectory of YAMATO official 2024 calendar
- ↑ "Zworder, the Devil's Alternative"
- ↑ "The Trap at Planet Stravase!"
- ↑ Official spelling confirmed in Space Battleship Yamato Travelogue Character File: 06 Zworder on V-storage
- ↑ Yamato 2202 Chapter 7 blu-ray booklet p.7
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 "The Shocking White Comet Empire - The Yamato Rams Through!"
- ↑ "A World I Once Saw"
- ↑ Ark of the Stars character guide's file for Goran "Thunder" Dagam.
- ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 "AD 2202 - Revive, Space Battleship Yamato"
- ↑ "Tension – Reach the Embassy on the Moon"
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Shock – Legacy of the Cosmo Reverse"
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Era of Space Battleship Yamato: Choice of 2202
- ↑ "Battle to the Death – The 11th Planet Rescue Operation"
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 "The Beam of Light Flashes! / Radiance of the Wave Motion Gun"
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7 21.8 21.9 "The Fated Showdown!"
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 "The Trap at Planet Stravase!"
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 "Dessler's Challenge!"
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 "Bewitching - The Space Fireflies Beckon a Crisis"
- ↑ 25.00 25.01 25.02 25.03 25.04 25.05 25.06 25.07 25.08 25.09 25.10 25.11 25.12 25.13 25.14 25.15 25.16 25.17 25.18 25.19 25.20 "Zworder, the Devil's Alternative"
- ↑ "The Terezart Landing Operation – Crush the Enemy Missile Fleet!
- ↑ "Zurvival's Fierce Assault - Find Teresa"
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 "Battle off the Coast of Saturn - Gather the Wave Motion Gun Fleet!"
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 "Yamato in Crisis - The Devil's Alternative Once More"
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Trajectory of YAMATO official 2024 calendar
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Heir to the Yamato, Her Name is Ginga"
- ↑ The The Era of Space Battleship Yamato: Choice of 2202 theatrical program book p. 27 establishes May 14 as the beginning of the Decisive Battle off Mars, meaning the Attack on the annihilation missile fleet ended on the same day
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 "Escape from the Nightmare!"
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 34.5 34.6 34.7 34.8 34.9 "Yamato, Attack the Comet Empire!"
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 "Farewell, Space Battleship Yamato"
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2202 Complete Works Vol.2 p. 106
- ↑ "Prison Planet 17"
- ↑ @nobuteruyuuki on X "Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Star-Voyaging Ark" is on sale today (^-^)/ ; May 26, 2015
- ↑ @nobuteruyuuki on X "@sin007777 Happy New Year! I added "Star-Voyaging" to the image I announced here before (=゚ω゚)ノ" January 7, 2017
- ↑ Redrowz's document In "Tension – Reach the Embassy on the Moon"
- ↑ It's unclear if the Zemurians refer to the first Zworder as "King of Gatlantis" out of ignorance of his real title, or if he did use that title during the Gatlantis Rebellion.
- ↑ This wrong theory is supported by the character description for Zworder on the official Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love website. This might be because Sanada formulates it in episode 17, "Battle off the Coast of Saturn - Gather the Wave Motion Gun Fleet!", while Zworder's proclaim about his goal to await the coming of a new species is uttered in episode 20, "Gatlantis, the Cursed Children". The website might have chosen to not update the character description to avoid spoiling a future plot point.
Japanese language information[]
ズォーダー Zuōdā