Zarkon

The Galra Emperor whose conquest spans millennia and targets the legendary Voltron.

Emperor Zarkon rules the Galra Empire, a force that has plagued the universe for millennia by destroying civilizations and enslaving various races. He is the primary antagonist driving the conflict in Voltron: Legendary Defender, which ran from June 10, 2016, to December 14, 2018, spanning 78 episodes across 8 seasons. Zarkon seeks the legendary robot Voltron, a threat to his empire composed of five lion-styled starships hidden by King Alfor before the destruction of planet Altea. The Emperor's relentless search for Voltron leads the Galra Empire directly to Earth's solar system, where they encounter the new Paladins: Shiro, Keith, Lance, Pidge, and Hunk.

Quick Facts

Role: Emperor of the Galra Empire
Affiliation: Galra Empire

Lore & Background

For thousands of years, the Galra Empire has waged war against the universe under Zarkon's command. The only defense against this tyranny is Voltron, which King Alfor separated into five lions to hide from the Emperor before planet Altea was destroyed. These Lions were scattered across different locations in the galaxy. In the present timeline of the series, Zarkon's forces locate Earth and discover the Blue Lion, prompting a group of space pilots to become the new Paladins. The conflict centers on the Paladins learning to work together to form Voltron and defeat the Emperor. In Season 2, Zarkon is physically defeated by the Paladins forming Voltron, after which Shiro uses the teludav to trap Zarkon's physical body in a rift. Zarkon's body is destroyed/disintegrated in the rift, but his spirit later survives and is transferred into a clone body in Season 3.

Reader's Guide

Zarkon serves as the central antagonist for the entire run of Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016-2018). His primary objective is acquiring Voltron to maintain his empire's dominance over the stars. The series highlights the Paladins' struggle to master their roles and work together to counter Zarkon's vast military power. Key turning points include Shiro's capture a year before the series starts, his escape in season three, and the revelation of his connection to Haggar in season five. While Zarkon is defeated by the Paladins using Shiro's bayard in season two, he remains a persistent threat until the final battle against Honerva in season eight, where Voltron merges with the Atlas battleship.