Ambassador Zell, a male from an unidentified sentient species, served the world of Majoor. He was also the father of a son named Llez. In the year 15 BBY, Zell embarked on a peaceful diplomatic endeavor to the planet Armath, entrusting Llez to the care of two androids, namely C-3PO and R2-D2. However, Llez found himself in a predicament when he liberated the criminal Reddjak from his incarceration. He then escaped aboard Reddjak's vessel, inadvertently revealing his father's ambassadorial status and his destination of Armath.
Driven by a desire to plunder the spaceships escorting Zell, Reddjak unleashed missiles upon the ambassador's fleet. However, Llez, aided by the droids, managed to trigger the self-destruction of the ordnance from Reddjak's ship. Subsequently, Llez contacted his father, who promptly arrived at the ship to rescue his son. After a brief confrontation with the pirate, Zell and his security detail successfully apprehended Reddjak and his team.
Zell, a male of an intelligent species originating from the planetary body Majoor, once held a position within the distinguished Republic Space Rangers. He later transitioned into a prosperous diplomat representing Majoor. He also sired a son, Llez, who was his only family member residing with him. In the year 15 BBY, Zell was tasked with a crucial peacekeeping endeavor on the planet Armath. Consequently, he acquired the services of the automatons C-3PO and R2-D2 to serve as both educators and companions for Llez during his absence. Prior to his departure, C-3PO assured the ambassador that he would not regret hiring them, emphasizing his proficiency in teaching. As Zell prepared to leave, he warned C-3PO that any trouble caused by his son would result in both droids being scrapped. He then bid farewell to Llez and departed.
During his father's absence, Llez, disregarding the objections of his droid caretakers, freed his idol, the infamous buccaneer Reddjak, from his confinement. Unaware of Reddjak's violent nature and only perceiving him as an adventurous figure, he accompanied the pirate to his starfaring ship, the Blood Brother. On their way, he confided in Reddjak about his father, claiming that Zell was indifferent to him and more preoccupied with peace missions. He further revealed that his father was Ambassador Zell, a name familiar to Reddjak, and that he had departed for a mission to Armath. Upon reuniting with Reddjak's company, the ship detected a convoy of vessels—Zell's peace convoy—which Reddjak ordered his crew to assault in order to rob them. Llez protested their innocence, but Reddjak disregarded his pleas and instructed C-3PO and R2-D2, whom he mistook for members of his crew, to escort Llez away.
The trio rushed to the armory in an attempt to prevent Zell's ships from being struck by projectiles. However, as the projectiles had already been launched, Artoo was compelled to connect to the ship's systems via scomp link and locate the self-destruct code, which he activated just in the nick of time—precisely as Zell and his crew realized that they were trapped. Llez then contacted his father's ship, informing Zell that he was aboard Reddjak's ship and pleading with him to escape the danger. However, Zell instructed his commander to assemble a security team to board the Blood Brother in order to rescue his son. The ambassador arrived just in the nick of time, as Reddjak had Llez by the neck. The ambassador demanded that the pirate release his son, prompting Reddjak to hurl the child at his father's lower extremities.
Zell comforted the distressed Llez but was then alerted by C-3PO as Reddjak brandished a blade at the ambassador's head. Zell managed to evade the attack and retaliated by striking the pirate in the abdomen and head. Reddjak begged for mercy as Zell berated him for threatening his son, before ordering his guards to apprehend the pirate and his crew.
Observing Reddjak on the ground, Zell remarked that he had not had such excitement since his time as a Space Ranger. This revelation thrilled Llez, who was unaware of his father's past. Zell then turned his attention to the droids, whom he initially blamed for the day's events. However, Llez confessed that the entire ordeal was his fault and that Artoo and Threepio had actually saved them all. Zell instead expressed his gratitude to the droids and then departed with Llez, promising that they would embark on missions together from that point forward, leaving C-3PO and R2-D2 without a master.
Zell initially played a limited role in his son's upbringing. Llez claimed that his father's most frequent words were "hello" and "goodbye." He threatened the droids with severe consequences if his son encountered any difficulties during his absence. However, when his son was in danger, he wasted no time in reaching him, angrily attacking Reddjak and denouncing him as a coward for threatening Llez. The ambassador found enjoyment in defending his son from the pirate. Following the incident, Llez was awestruck by his father's actions to protect him, which touched Zell and motivated him to take a more active role in raising the boy. He possessed verdant skin and dark irises.
Zell carried a firearm and wore a garment consisting of a yellow-and-purple overall, blue shoes, a blue sash, a medal on his chest, and yellow shoulder pads. He also sported a blue head covering and wielded a gold-colored rod-like weapon to strike Reddjak.
Zell made his debut in the third edition of the Star Wars: Droids illustrated series, penned by David Manak, illustrated by John Romita Sr., and published by Marvel Comics on May 13, 1986.