Queen Bee, whose true name is Zazzala, is an extraterrestrial supervillain in DC Comics, originating from the hive-world planet Korll. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky, she made her first appearance in Justice League of America #23 in November 1963. As the monarch of her insectoid society, Zazzala is driven by an insatiable desire for conquest and immortality, leading her to target Earth as a strategic acquisition. In her debut storyline, titled "Drones of the Queen Bee," she coerced members of the Justice League into assisting her quest for an elixir of eternal life by threatening planetary destruction and employing hypnotic control over male heroes.
Zazzala possesses a range of superhuman abilities derived from her alien physiology, including enhanced strength, speed, flight via insect-like wings, and the capacity to discharge venomous stings. Her most distinctive power is a hypnotic gaze that compels obedience, particularly effective against males, allowing her to transform victims into loyal drones. Throughout the Silver Age, she repeatedly clashed with the Justice League, employing advanced technology and armies of winged followers to advance her imperial ambitions. These encounters established her as a recurring antagonist, emblematic of extraterrestrial threats during that era.
In subsequent decades, Queen Bee experienced significant developments, including a revival in Grant Morrison's JLA run during the 1990s, where she aligned with broader villainous coalitions. She later assumed leadership of the criminal organization H.I.V.E., expanding her influence on Earth. In modern continuities, such as DC Rebirth, Zazzala reemerged as a member of the Cabal, collaborating with figures like Doctor Psycho and Per Degaton. While other characters have adopted the Queen Bee mantle in various storylines, Zazzala remains the most enduring and iconic iteration of the name.