Kryptonite
Encyclopedia
Kryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman
mythos —the ore
form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton
. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel
—the one weakness of an otherwise invulnerable hero.
Originating in the Superman radio show
series, the material is usually shown as having been created from the radioactive remains of Superman's native planet Krypton
, and generally has detrimental effects on Superman and other Kryptonian
s. The name "kryptonite" covers a variety of forms of the substance, but usually refers to the most common "green" form.
", by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel
. The K-metal in the story was a piece of Krypton which robbed Superman of his strength while giving humans superhuman powers, a plot point which made its way into the TV series Smallville
.
"Kryptonite" was introduced in 1943 on the Superman radio series
, as both a plot device
and to allow Superman's actor, Bud Collyer
, to take occasional time off. The substance played a part in at least one major plot-line during the course of the program.
It was not until 1949 that comic book writers incorporated kryptonite into their stories, as both a convenient danger and weakness for Superman and to add an interesting element to his stories. Kryptonite is most commonly depicted as green in coloring, with a few exceptions; it was red in its first appearance in Superman
#61 (November 1949). When Superman followed the time trail of a piece of red rock that weakened him, he was able to trace his origin back to Krypton for the first time. Other colors of kryptonite, having different effects, began to show up frequently beginning in late 1950s comics, reaching a peak in appearances in 1960s Superman series.
Kryptonite, in its first comic appearance (Superman (volume 1) #61 in 1949), was quite rare. It came to earth inside a single meteorite from the exploded planet Krypton. Superman captured the two small pieces of kryptonite, one from a fake swami (pretending to 'hex' Superman with it) and another he purchased from a jewelry store, and threw them into Metropolis' river. Over time, kryptonite was depicted as being so abundant that many ordinary criminals kept a supply as a precaution against Superman's interference. In several accounts, it was explained that the explosion of the planet Krypton had opened a "dimensional warp" (similar to a wormhole
in modern theoretical physics) which allowed the vehicle carrying the young Kal-El
to reach Earth in a relatively brief time, and a large amount of planetary debris had also passed through this "warp" and emerged near Earth at virtually the same time, accounting for the seemingly improbable abundance of kryptonite material and its availability to Superman's enemies. In his essay Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex
, science fiction writer Larry Niven
parenthetically (and tongue-in-cheek) theorized that, based on such abundance, Krypton was actually a Dyson sphere
with a surface hundreds of times that of a mere planet.
In an effort to reduce the use of kryptonite in Superman storylines, all known kryptonite on Earth was transmuted into k-iron in a 1971 storyline, though kryptonite could still be synthetically manufactured by a variety of known and unknown means, and additional material left over from the destruction of Krypton would continue to fall from space.
Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel
also stated how the naming of the planet Krypton was taken from the element Krypton due to the common denominators of high density and viscosity between the two.
, kryptonite was made much rarer in the DC Universe
and many of the multicolored varieties were eliminated. The only sample of kryptonite on Earth was a single fist-sized chunk, caught in the tail of the infant Kal-El's rocket and carried to Earth along with him upon the explosion of Krypton. This sample had been found by the scientist who resurrected John Corben as Metallo
, powering the cyborg with the alien matter in a paranoid attempt to save the world from Superman, as a mistranslation of a message from Jor-El caused the scientist to conclude that Superman was the leader of an alien invasion force. Metallo was soon kidnapped and his power source forcibly removed by Lex Luthor
who, after discovering its debilitating effects on Kryptonians, created a ring with a kryptonite gem to keep Superman at bay. This backfired badly on Luthor, as long-term exposure to kryptonite radiation from the ring gave him cancer, leading to the amputation of his hand and then apparent death
(Although he was able to have his brain transplanted into a cloned body). Superman took possession of the ring and entrusted it to Batman
, stating that he was the only person he could trust with the ability to kill him if necessary, Batman subsequently keeping the ring available whenever circumstances require him and Superman to work together.
Red kryptonite made a brief appearance during this era, where it had the effect of rendering Superman permanently powerless. However, the red kryptonite and resulting powerlessness turned out to be a magical illusion created by Mister Mxyzptlk
, with Superman's powers being restored once he learned of Mxyzptlk's involvement in accordance with the imp's usual restrictions. In time, through the use of Batman
's notes, Ra's al Ghul
was able to fashion a synthetic red kryptonite, this version turning Superman's skin transparent and leaving him almost exploding with power as the sunlight that gave him his powers was sent directly into his muscles without being filtered by his skin.
The amount of kryptonite on Earth increased dramatically, carried down to the planet's surface in a meteor storm that accompanied the rocket that brought Kara
to Gotham City
. Superman-friendly corporations, such as Wayne Enterprises
and Kord Industries
take it upon themselves to round up this influx of kryptonite, but much of it goes into illicit circulation or is stolen from holding facilities.
In the recreated universe, kryptonite is in such abundance that it again becomes easily available to ordinary criminals and crooks. Following orders issued by Lex Luthor
and Lana Lang
, LexCorp
starts stockpiling and selling it to government facilities and weapon makers. Superman and Batman embark on a mission to rid Earth of kryptonite, a mission that almost fails when the cornered Lana Lang, attempting to protect LexCorp
investments, launches a large number of dirty kryptonite warheads, tainting the whole Earth atmosphere. Hiro Okamura builds and frees a storm of nanobots devised to capture and deactivate the tiniest fragments of kryptonite.
Once again, as in the 1971 storyline, virtually all kryptonite is destroyed. The remaining fragments are wrapped in lead and hurled into the sun
by Superman himself, except for one fragment, which Superman gives to Batman. It is later revealed that Batman has acquired a fair amount of every variety of the alien material, keeping his samples in the Batcave
.
By the events told in the New Krypton storyline however, several Superman villains, like Metallo
and Reactron, have acquired some kryptonite samples to use against the Kryptonians on Earth. Lex Luthor
and Sam Lane, working for the government, have a cache of the precious material too.
of the element krypton
. However, krypton is a noble gas
that forms compounds only with great difficulty, and such an oxyanion is not known. Nevertheless, the University of Leicester
presented the Geological Society with krypton difluoride
to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Superman
.
In virtually all versions of the Superman
mythos, kryptonite is described as having formed through a process of nuclear fusion
attendant to the explosion which destroyed the planet Krypton. Some accounts describe the fusion process as a result of the planet-destroying explosion, others as the cause of it, but all agree that the majority of the debris of the planet was converted into kryptonite and propelled into interstellar space by the force of the explosion, with some ultimately reaching Earth and becoming a threat to Superman—and other Kryptonians.
The term kryptonite instead implies a meteorite
from the planet Krypton, as in the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
episode "The Green, Green Glow of Home," where it is given as "periodic element 126", which in reality corresponds to unbihexium/eka-plutonium
, the most stable of the elements in the so-called island of stability
. Superman: The Man of Steel Sourcebook (1992), while non-canon
, concurs, referring to kryptonite as "the common ore of the super-actinide kryptonium, an unusually stable transuranic element
, whose atomic number is believed to be 126." Kryptonium is given a radioactive half-life
of 250,000 years.
In Superman: The Movie, Lex Luthor describes Superman's enhanced Kryptonian physiology as being vulnerable to kryptonite's particular radioactive "signature". More recently, some issues of Superman indicate the mechanism by which green kryptonite may hurt Superman. Superman's cell
s absorb electromagnetic radiation
from stars (like Earth's sun
). Kryptonite's radioactivity interferes with this semi-photosynthetic
process, driving the energy out of his cells in a painful fashion.
Some versions of the adverse effects of kryptonite describe the radiation as affecting the blood chemistry of the victim, causing accelerated effects similar to sickle cell anemia
in terrestrial humans, and also causing the skin of the victim to turn green as exposure time increases.
Long-term exposure to kryptonite is said to have the same effects on terrestrial human beings as exposure to other radioactive materials; an extended storyline in the comics around 1990 involved Lex Luthor developing cancer
from the kryptonite ring he kept on his finger.
) and his cronies Eve Teschmacher and Otis (portrayed by Valerie Perrine
and Ned Beatty
, respectively) track a large chunk to Addis Ababa
, Ethiopia
, where they steal it from a museum under the cover of night. In this film's usage, the term "kryptonite" seems to mean simply a "Kryptonian meteorite". After co-opting and launching two missiles for opposite ends of the United States
, Luthor places the kryptonite on a chain around Superman's (Christopher Reeve
) neck and drops him into a swimming pool. When Teschmacher learns that one of the missiles is headed for Hackensack, New Jersey
(where her mother lives), she rescues Superman from drowning and removes the kryptonite, after which his strength and powers quickly return.
, computer programmer Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor
) determines that kryptonite is "an intense heat fusion" of: 15.08% plutonium
, 18.06% tantalum
, 27.71% xenon
, 24.02% promethium
, 10.62% dialium (which is a plant genus, not an element), 3.94% mercury
, with the last 0.57% being an unknown element not found on the periodic table
. Later in the film, an imperfect synthesis of artificial kryptonite containing tar
appears. Billionaire Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn
) orders the creation of synthetic kryptonite after remembering a Daily Planet
story about the last original chunk disappearing years earlier after falling to Earth
. Developed by Gorman, it was intended to be a copy of green kryptonite. After scanning the coordinates of Krypton's former location via satellite, results return a small percentage of an unknown component. The substitution of tar (which Gorman used after glancing at a pack of cigarettes) for a crucial, but unknown, component resulted in the synthetic kryptonite—like black kryptonite in the comics—turning Superman evil and eventually splitting him into two people. Retaining Superman's remaining good qualities, Clark Kent defeats the dark Superman, who vanishes. Later in the film, Gorman's creation, the Ultimate Computer, severely weakens Superman with a kryptonite ray before Gorman has a change of heart and attacks his own machine.
, Lex Luthor (now portrayed by Kevin Spacey
) enters the Metropolis Museum of Natural History and steals the Addis Ababa L9 Pallasite Meteorite, which was discovered at the Kebe Mine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is described in the exhibit display as “sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide with fluorine”. According to the exhibit display, the meteorite was discovered in 1978 — the year that Superman: The Movie was released.
Incidentally, in 2007, a white and harmless mineral with the above chemical formula (except without fluorine) was discovered by Rio Tinto Group
researchers in a mine in Serbia
.
Luthor uses the meteorite in his quest to create a new kryptonite landmass. In addition, he uses a shard leftover from processing it to create a kryptonite shiv
, which he uses to stab Superman (portrayed by Brandon Routh
).
, Blue Kryptonite makes a brief appearance. As the heroic Lex Luthor of the parallel universe battles his arch enemy Ultraman (that universe's evil Superman), he is beaten but, gains the upper hand by revealing, and weakening Ultraman with a piece of blue kryptonite, the only thing he is vulnerable to (mirroring Superman's weakness to the green variety). When confronted by it Ultraman is severely weakened, and claims to have destroyed all the pieces of it left; Lex admits that Ultraman did, but that he himself has been to other universes and gotten more.
. The Spider Lady and her gang use Kryptonite against Superman in Superman
(1948). Lex Luthor
, the Atom Man, creates a synthetic Kryptonite to use against Superman in Atom Man vs. Superman
(1950).
episodes. The specific color is not definite, given that it is never mentioned and that the series was initially in black-and-white
, but from its effects, it is presumably green kryptonite in each case:
TV series, most of it green. It first appeared in the first season episode "Kryptonite Kills" in which Professor Peterson retrieved it from Addis Adaba believing it to be a harmless meteorite and brought it to his gemology class at Shuster University. Superboy in his guise as Clark Kent (played by John Haymes Newton in Season 1, Gerard Christopher
in Seasons 2-4), a student in Peterson's science class, collapsed from the radiation and felt its effects for the first time. While attention was focused on Clark, Lex Luthor (played by Scott James Wells
), another student in the class, swiped a small piece of the rock for himself, using it as a power source and fashioning it as a necklace for his girlfriend. Superboy later threw most of the kryptonite into space, except for Lex's piece, which was washed into the sewer. That piece was later discovered by a scientist who used it as a power source for Metallo
(Roger Corben) in the second season episode of the same name.
Green kryptonite made several more appearances throughout the series, used primarily by Lex Luthor (played in these later episodes by Sherman Howard
) and Metallo (subsequently portrayed by Michael Callan
). In the third season episode "Bride of Bizarro", Luthor sent Bizarro to a military research base to steal a large amount of kryptonite, which Luthor was seen using on Superboy in later episodes. In the fourth season episode "Kryptonite Kid", a young man named Mike Walker (played by Jay Underwood
) working at the same military research base was caught in a kryptonite explosion while working to find a cure which would make Superboy immune to the radiation. The kryptonite entered his bloodstream and turned his skin green and he became "living, breathing kryptonite" able to fire kryptonite radiation from his hands. In "Obituary for a Super-Hero", Luthor used a kryptonite bomb planted on a yacht to attempt to kill Superboy.
Red kryptonite made an appearance in the second season episode "Super Menace". This version of Red K was created at a military research base where scientists were working to neutralize kryptonite's effect on Superboy while still retaining its radioactive properties so it could be used as a power source. Their experiments turned the Kryptonite red, making it useless as a power source and altering its effect on Superboy. This red kryptonite turned Superboy evil, much like red kryptonite would later do in the "Smallville" TV Series, except only a single exposure to it was required, rather than constant exposure. After Superboy wreaked havoc with Metallo, Lana Lang (played by Stacy Haiduk
) tricked Superboy into being exposed to another chunk of red kryptonite which reversed the effects of the first.
The "Superboy" series also introduced a form of white kryptonite, created by Professor Peterson's duplicating ray in an attempt to create a form of kryptonite that would kill the molecularly unstable Bizarro. It had an opposite effect, actually stabilizing, curing, and preventing him from eventually exploding as previous Bizarro duplicates had. White kryptonite made only one appearance in the series in the episode "The Battle With Bizarro". It is referred to again in "The Bride of Bizarro" but it is not seen.
.
, a large quantity of green kryptonite falls to Earth (in the town of Smallville, Kansas) as a meteor shower in 1989—arriving at the same time as the spaceship containing the infant Kal-El. The size and quantity of the rocks are large enough to hide the spaceship from the radar
being employed by various nations in the late 1980s. Additionally, the meteor shower is directly responsible for the loss of Lex Luthor
's hair (caused by exposure to kryptonite radiation) and the death of Lana Lang
's parents (who were struck by a kryptonite meteor). The element is originally referred to as "meteor rock", rather than "kryptonite," even by Clark Kent
. In the season two episode "Rosetta", Clark learns the name of his home planet for the first time, and the term "kryptonite" eventually comes into use by those characters who know Clark's secret.
On the show, not only is green kryptonite harmful to Clark Kent, but it can produce bizarre changes in humans, animals, and plants, typically turning them into powerful metahuman
menaces, commonly known by the inhabitants of Smallville as "Meteor Freaks," that Clark must oppose. These changes seem to be linked to the circumstances under which the subject was exposed to kryptonite, the subject's emotional state, their personality, and even their profession (similar to how gamma radiation
affects people in the Marvel Comics universe
). Groups of people have been shown to acquire the same powers or similarly related powers from kryptonite by exposing themselves to it in the same manner. One hitch to these powers has been that they, for the most part, have no effect on Clark, provided they are generally used offensively and are powers that have manifested due to a single large exposure to kryptonite (either from the meteor showers or from some one-time clamity that results in instantly altering the person). Clark reacts to people who use kryptonite infused items to gain temporary powers (i.e.- laced tattoo ink; laced steriods; laced paint) in the same manner as he reacts to kryptonite as the infused item still radiates (albeit, not as potently), passive meteor powers often still work on Clark (in 'Obsession, Alicia is able to teleport Clark), and, in few cases, the 'freak-of-the-week's' ability has a much more drastic effect on Clark than on humans (In 'Hourglass,' Clark is able to see his future, where, with humans, only Cassandra can see their future and she has to tell them. In the episode 'Blank,' a teen with the ability to erase memories accidentally erases Clark's entire life, whereas, with humans, he is only able to erase a few minutes.)
The harm inflicted on Clark by kryptonite on Smallville is varied. He cannot be near green kryptonite without doubling over in nausea and pain, and if he were to hold a fragment of it in his hand, it would burn to the touch and the veins in his hand would become exposed and green. However, on other separate occasions Clark has held and even ingested kryptonite (albeit in diluted form) and been merely weakened. When a vial of Clark's blood was held up to kryptonite to verify its authenticity, the blood began to boil. Higher refined kryptonite seems to also have a stronger effect and larger effect radius.
In the season eight
episode "Power", Lana Lang (in an effort to gain the power necessary to fight crime alongside Clark) acquires an experimental skin-replacing "suit" known as "Project Prometheus". The suit was designed for Lex Luthor and grants Lana superhuman abilities. In season eight's "Requiem", she learns that the suit has the added ability to absorb and emit kryptonite radiation. In a cruel setup by Lex, Lana is forced to absorb a large amount of kryptonite radiation, which is being used as an explosive capable of leveling most of Metropolis. As a result, Lana is forced to leave Smallville and Clark forever, or risk killing Clark as she gets too close to him. Lex also fashioned kryptonite rings with Luthor's family insignia for himself in preparation for his eventual confrontations with Clark. Oliver Queen took one of the rings from Lex after his apparent death, though he does not confirm when confronted by Clark whether he intended it for use as an insurance policy against Clark himself.
Also, it is worth noting that, as a nod to some Superman comics, Clark on rare occasions has displayed some resistance towards kryptonite. A notable example was when he somehow survived an explosion while imprisoned in a kryptonite cage in the season ten episode "Patriot". He has also somehow retained some of his powers while under kryptonite exposure, such as X-ray vision when trapped in the kryptonite cage and super-breath when he was held captive by Granny Goodness
in the season ten episode "Abandoned".
Red kryptonite has also been shown in Smallville. Its effect on Clark Kent is to rid him of all inhibitions, making him rebellious and potentially dangerous if exposed to it for too long. Also created for the series was black kryptonite (first appearing in the episode "Crusade"), which is capable of separating certain entities within individual organisms, e.g., splitting a person's good and evil sides.
Black kryptonite was formed by heating up green kryptonite. In the series, after Clark's "reprogramming" by Jor-El in the caves, Martha Kent used black kryptonite to reveal the two psyches of Clark, the militant Kal-El (not to be confused with the rebellious "Kal" alias caused by red kryptonite), and normal Clark. In a later episode, Lex Luthor was experimenting with a process to heat up green kryptonite and irradiate seeds, in order to separate the "weak" genes from the "strong" genes in the seeds. The result was hardy but rotten-tasting fruit, implying a yin and yang
balance within fruit, as well as within humans. An accident with this process caused Lex to split into a good Lex and a bad Lex who referred to himself as "Alexander". In the eighth season episode "Injustice", Oliver Queen retrieved a supply of black kryptonite, which Chloe used on Davis in "Doomsday".
Silver kryptonite made an appearance in the fifth season episode entitled "Splinter'. Like the previous comics incarnation, this silver form was not a true form of the stone. In the episode, Clark pricked his finger on a rock that was black and had silver-metallic clusters, and subsequently became increasingly paranoid, hallucinating
that others were conspiring against him. In the episode's final scenes, it was revealed that a splinter of the element entered Clark's bloodstream. It was also shown that silver kryptonite was created artificially from the liquid metal which forms Brainiac
's body.
In the eighth episode of Smallville's 7th Season, entitled "Blue," there was a new form of Kryptonite. It was blue kryptonite, and it stripped Clark of his powers. This happened when Lara, Clark's mother, gave Clark his father's blue ring to wear, without knowing the effect it would have on him. The ring was impossible to remove until Clark returned to the Fortress of Solitude
. As in the comics, blue kryptonite is fatal to Bizarro
. It increases Bizarro's power exponentially so that his body is not able to contain it, causing him to explode.
In season 9 episode 7, titled "Kandor", Clark's father Jor-El, a prominent scientist on Krypton, is tasked by the Kryptonian high counsel to prepare DNA clones of the planet's finest soldiers during the war with Black Zero. Knowing the powers bestowed by Earth's yellow sun, Jor-El uses blue kryptonite to prevent the clones from having the powers bestowed upon his son, Kal-El (Clark) should they be unleashed from their transport orb on Earth.
In season 9 episode "Persuasion" a new Kryptonite called Gemstone Kryptonite gave Clark the ability to have others want to fulfill his wishes.
In season 10's "Luthor" gold kryptonite is mentioned by the alternate reality Clark Kent, the evil Clark Luthor/Ultraman. He implies that "gold K" is responsible for a notable scar on his wrist. Gold Kryptonite finally appears in the episode 20, "Prophecy", when Oliver, infected by Darkseid, was digging in a forest and ended up finding a piece of the gold meteor rock. It is later featured as a wedding ring given to Oliver to plant it on Clark, ridding him of his powers, but Oliver overcame Darkseid and crushed the ring.
animated series featured kryptonite in various episodes. In the episode "Rest in Peace", Sinestro
refers to a form of kryptonite called "Krypton Steel" as "a harmless form of kryptonite that only Superman can penetrate". In another episode, "Darkseid's Golden Trap", gold kryptonite appears, which is stated to have an effective range of 20 ft (6.1 m). Blue kryptonite also makes an appearance in an episode entitled "Terror From the Phantom Zone"; Superman, aging rapidly from exposure to red kryptonite, acquires a sample of blue kryptonite which had been discovered floating in space. Since blue kryptonite harms Bizarros, Superman reasons that it would help normal Kryptonians, and thus uses it to cure himself. In "Uncle Mxyzptlk", the Wonder Twins find a red, glowing stone and take it to the Hall of Justice. They show it to Superman, who immediately reacts to it. Samurai knocks the red kryptonite to the floor but the effects of the red kryptonite cause Superman to decrease in age, becoming a young child. The rest of the Super Friends refer to the kid as 'Super Brat'. In another episode, red kryptonite is exposed to Superman by Bizarro himself, causing Superman to transform into a gangly, weak klutz. In yet another episode, red kryptonite causes Superman to grow additional arms and legs. Most of the action takes place at the Fortress of Solitude
where Superman finds some blue kryptonite hidden away to fight off Bizarro, but unlike the earlier case of curing superman from his artificial old age, this session of blue kriptonite didn't heal superman (But the first case was a huge meteor, and the latter was just an small chunk)
, one explanation offered for the science of kryptonite is that Superman feels the detrimental effects of kryptonite radiation quicker than normal humans because his body absorbs it more readily, as a result of sharing a common point of origin with the element. The effect is so potent that even a tiny shard is enough to painfully affect Superman at a short distance. This makes it impossible for Superman to even touch the substance, as it would be the equivalent of a normal man touching radioactive rods from a nuclear reactor with his bare skin. Only the element lead can block the radiation, and it is therefore Superman's only protection. Fortunately, Professor Hamilton
supplies Superman with a distinctive and durable lead protection suit for such situations.
Kryptonite, in the animated series, still has effects on normal humans as well. There are two examples of this. First, the "Jade Dragon" from The Batman/Superman Movie (a crossover
between The New Batman Adventures
and Superman: The Animated Series
) is a statue of kryptonite carved in the form of a Chinese dragon, said to be cursed because all of its owners all died within a few years of acquiring the piece. Second is Lex Luthor's kryptonite poisoning/cancer as seen in Justice League
, attributed to Lex's admitted habit of keeping a fist-sized chunk of kryptonite in his pocket for years. Batman also carries a piece of kryptonite (possibly the same piece) in his own belt, presumably in a lead-lined pouch, as Superman is often seen next to Batman without suffering any ill effects. That piece was later shattered against Superman's chest by Amazo
, leaving only a small needle-like piece left. In Batman Beyond
, it was revealed in the two part episode "The Call" that Bruce Wayne kept the needle of kryptonite for the rest of his life, locked up securely in the Bat Cave.
Green kryptonite remains the only variety of the substance ever seen in the DC animated universe
.
cartoon, where it is revealed Brainiac 5
has a piece of it, and that the villain Drax, who, despite being an analogue to Superman, is immune to it. In the season 2 episode "Dark Victory", a brainwashed Brainiac 5 not only attacks Superman with a Kryptonite ray, but also produces a band of kryptonite from within him and places it on the hero's head, the band then tightening around it.
episode "The Battle of the Superheroes". The red kryptonite exposure causes Superman to turn evil and try to take over Metropolis. Lex Luthor is also shown to have his Kryptonite Ring when he tries to weaken Superman only to discover that Superman is actually Batman in disguise.
, the pediatrician who is the main permanent character of the show suggests using kryptonite to treat a boy who admires Spider-Man
and dresses up as him. The boy objects that kryptonite is part of the Superman Universe, not the Spider-man Universe. But of course the Doctor is right. Kryptonite may well enhance the powers of an Earth Human whose abilities were given to him in the first place by the bite of a radioactive spider.
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
mythos —the ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton
Krypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel
Achilles' heel
An Achilles’ heel is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, that can actually or potentially lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, metaphorical references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common.- Origin :In Greek...
—the one weakness of an otherwise invulnerable hero.
Originating in the Superman radio show
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
series, the material is usually shown as having been created from the radioactive remains of Superman's native planet Krypton
Krypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
, and generally has detrimental effects on Superman and other Kryptonian
Kryptonian
Kryptonians are a fictional extraterrestrial race of the DC Comics universe who hail from the planet Krypton. The term originated from the stories of DC Comics superhero, Superman...
s. The name "kryptonite" covers a variety of forms of the substance, but usually refers to the most common "green" form.
Original versions
A forerunner of the kryptonite concept was the unpublished 1940 story "The K-Metal from KryptonThe K-Metal from Krypton
"The K-Metal from Krypton" is an unpublished Superman story written by Jerry Siegel in 1940 and originally illustrated by the Joe Shuster Studio. Although the comic contained story developments that DC Comics may have ultimately concluded could be potentially damaging to the franchise, the reason...
", by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel
Jerry Siegel
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S...
. The K-metal in the story was a piece of Krypton which robbed Superman of his strength while giving humans superhuman powers, a plot point which made its way into the TV series Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
.
"Kryptonite" was introduced in 1943 on the Superman radio series
The Adventures of Superman (radio)
The Adventures of Superman was a long running radio serial that originally aired from 1940 to 1951, adapted from the DC Comics character. ....
, as both a plot device
Plot device
A plot device is an object or character in a story whose sole purpose is to advance the plot of the story, or alternatively to overcome some difficulty in the plot....
and to allow Superman's actor, Bud Collyer
Bud Collyer
Bud Collyer was an American radio actor/announcer who became one of the nation's first major television game show stars...
, to take occasional time off. The substance played a part in at least one major plot-line during the course of the program.
It was not until 1949 that comic book writers incorporated kryptonite into their stories, as both a convenient danger and weakness for Superman and to add an interesting element to his stories. Kryptonite is most commonly depicted as green in coloring, with a few exceptions; it was red in its first appearance in Superman
Superman (comic book)
Superman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book Action Comics #1 in June 1938...
#61 (November 1949). When Superman followed the time trail of a piece of red rock that weakened him, he was able to trace his origin back to Krypton for the first time. Other colors of kryptonite, having different effects, began to show up frequently beginning in late 1950s comics, reaching a peak in appearances in 1960s Superman series.
Kryptonite, in its first comic appearance (Superman (volume 1) #61 in 1949), was quite rare. It came to earth inside a single meteorite from the exploded planet Krypton. Superman captured the two small pieces of kryptonite, one from a fake swami (pretending to 'hex' Superman with it) and another he purchased from a jewelry store, and threw them into Metropolis' river. Over time, kryptonite was depicted as being so abundant that many ordinary criminals kept a supply as a precaution against Superman's interference. In several accounts, it was explained that the explosion of the planet Krypton had opened a "dimensional warp" (similar to a wormhole
Wormhole
In physics, a wormhole is a hypothetical topological feature of spacetime that would be, fundamentally, a "shortcut" through spacetime. For a simple visual explanation of a wormhole, consider spacetime visualized as a two-dimensional surface. If this surface is folded along a third dimension, it...
in modern theoretical physics) which allowed the vehicle carrying the young Kal-El
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
to reach Earth in a relatively brief time, and a large amount of planetary debris had also passed through this "warp" and emerged near Earth at virtually the same time, accounting for the seemingly improbable abundance of kryptonite material and its availability to Superman's enemies. In his essay Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex
Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex
"Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" is an essay in which science fiction author Larry Niven details the problems that Superman would face in having sexual intercourse and reproducing with "a human woman designated LL for convenience", using arguments based on humorous reconciliation between physics,...
, science fiction writer Larry Niven
Larry Niven
Laurence van Cott Niven / ˈlæri ˈnɪvən/ is an American science fiction author. His best-known work is Ringworld , which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics...
parenthetically (and tongue-in-cheek) theorized that, based on such abundance, Krypton was actually a Dyson sphere
Dyson sphere
A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure originally described by Freeman Dyson. Such a "sphere" would be a system of orbiting solar power satellites meant to completely encompass a star and capture most or all of its energy output...
with a surface hundreds of times that of a mere planet.
In an effort to reduce the use of kryptonite in Superman storylines, all known kryptonite on Earth was transmuted into k-iron in a 1971 storyline, though kryptonite could still be synthetically manufactured by a variety of known and unknown means, and additional material left over from the destruction of Krypton would continue to fall from space.
Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel
Jerry Siegel
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S...
also stated how the naming of the planet Krypton was taken from the element Krypton due to the common denominators of high density and viscosity between the two.
Post-Crisis versions
Upon the John Byrne reboot of the Superman mythos after Crisis on Infinite EarthsCrisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
, kryptonite was made much rarer in the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
and many of the multicolored varieties were eliminated. The only sample of kryptonite on Earth was a single fist-sized chunk, caught in the tail of the infant Kal-El's rocket and carried to Earth along with him upon the explosion of Krypton. This sample had been found by the scientist who resurrected John Corben as Metallo
Metallo
Metallo is a comic book supervillain and cyborg who appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Metallo's trademark is his kryptonite power source, which he often uses as a weapon against Superman. His traditional identity is John Corben...
, powering the cyborg with the alien matter in a paranoid attempt to save the world from Superman, as a mistranslation of a message from Jor-El caused the scientist to conclude that Superman was the leader of an alien invasion force. Metallo was soon kidnapped and his power source forcibly removed by Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
who, after discovering its debilitating effects on Kryptonians, created a ring with a kryptonite gem to keep Superman at bay. This backfired badly on Luthor, as long-term exposure to kryptonite radiation from the ring gave him cancer, leading to the amputation of his hand and then apparent death
Comic book death
In the comic book fan community, the apparent death and subsequent return of a long-running character is often called a comic book death. While death is a serious subject, a comic book death is generally not taken seriously and is rarely permanent or meaningful...
(Although he was able to have his brain transplanted into a cloned body). Superman took possession of the ring and entrusted it to Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, stating that he was the only person he could trust with the ability to kill him if necessary, Batman subsequently keeping the ring available whenever circumstances require him and Superman to work together.
Red kryptonite made a brief appearance during this era, where it had the effect of rendering Superman permanently powerless. However, the red kryptonite and resulting powerlessness turned out to be a magical illusion created by Mister Mxyzptlk
Mister Mxyzptlk
Mr. Mxyzptlk , sometimes called Mxy, is a fictional impish supervillain who appears in DC Comics' Superman comic books.He was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and first appeared in Superman #30 . He is usually presented as a trickster, in the classical mythological sense, in that he enjoys...
, with Superman's powers being restored once he learned of Mxyzptlk's involvement in accordance with the imp's usual restrictions. In time, through the use of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
's notes, Ra's al Ghul
Ra's al Ghul
Ra's al Ghul is a DC Comics supervillain and is one of Batman's greatest enemies. His name in Arabic has been translated in the comics as "The Demon's Head" and references the name of the star Algol. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, he was introduced in Batman #232's...
was able to fashion a synthetic red kryptonite, this version turning Superman's skin transparent and leaving him almost exploding with power as the sunlight that gave him his powers was sent directly into his muscles without being filtered by his skin.
The amount of kryptonite on Earth increased dramatically, carried down to the planet's surface in a meteor storm that accompanied the rocket that brought Kara
Supergirl (Kara Zor-El)
Kara Zor-El is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and related media, created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino. As Supergirl, Kara Zor-El serves as the biological cousin and female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero Superman, created...
to Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
. Superman-friendly corporations, such as Wayne Enterprises
Wayne Enterprises
Wayne Enterprises is a company in the DC Universe, owned by Bruce Wayne and run by his business manager, Lucius Fox. It was founded by merchant ancestors of the Wayne family in the 17th century as a merchant house, although the company changed when the heir of Judge Solomon Wayne, Alan, utilized...
and Kord Industries
Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
Blue Beetle is the second Blue Beetle, a superhero who was originally published by Charlton Comics and later picked up by DC Comics...
take it upon themselves to round up this influx of kryptonite, but much of it goes into illicit circulation or is stolen from holding facilities.
In the recreated universe, kryptonite is in such abundance that it again becomes easily available to ordinary criminals and crooks. Following orders issued by Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
and Lana Lang
Lana Lang
Lana Lang is a fictional supporting character in DC Comics' Superman series. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist John Sikela, the character first appears in Superboy #10...
, LexCorp
LexCorp
LexCorp is the fictional company founded by Lex Luthor in the popular DC Comics Superman series. It made its first proper appearance in John Byrne's The Man of Steel miniseries, which established the post-Crisis Superman setting...
starts stockpiling and selling it to government facilities and weapon makers. Superman and Batman embark on a mission to rid Earth of kryptonite, a mission that almost fails when the cornered Lana Lang, attempting to protect LexCorp
LexCorp
LexCorp is the fictional company founded by Lex Luthor in the popular DC Comics Superman series. It made its first proper appearance in John Byrne's The Man of Steel miniseries, which established the post-Crisis Superman setting...
investments, launches a large number of dirty kryptonite warheads, tainting the whole Earth atmosphere. Hiro Okamura builds and frees a storm of nanobots devised to capture and deactivate the tiniest fragments of kryptonite.
Once again, as in the 1971 storyline, virtually all kryptonite is destroyed. The remaining fragments are wrapped in lead and hurled into the sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
by Superman himself, except for one fragment, which Superman gives to Batman. It is later revealed that Batman has acquired a fair amount of every variety of the alien material, keeping his samples in the Batcave
Batcave
The Batcave is the secret headquarters of fictional DC Comics superhero Batman, the alternate identity of playboy Bruce Wayne, consisting of a series of subterranean caves beneath his residence, Wayne Manor.-Publication history:...
.
By the events told in the New Krypton storyline however, several Superman villains, like Metallo
Metallo
Metallo is a comic book supervillain and cyborg who appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Metallo's trademark is his kryptonite power source, which he often uses as a weapon against Superman. His traditional identity is John Corben...
and Reactron, have acquired some kryptonite samples to use against the Kryptonians on Earth. Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
and Sam Lane, working for the government, have a cache of the precious material too.
Scientific basis
Under standard chemical naming procedures, the -ite suffix of kryptonite would denote an oxyanionOxyanion
An oxyanion or oxoanion is a chemical compound with the generic formula AxOyz− . Oxoanions are formed by a large majority of the chemical elements. The formulae of simple oxoanions are determined by the octet rule...
of the element krypton
Krypton
Krypton is a chemical element with the symbol Kr and atomic number 36. It is a member of Group 18 and Period 4 elements. A colorless, odorless, tasteless noble gas, krypton occurs in trace amounts in the atmosphere, is isolated by fractionally distilling liquified air, and is often used with other...
. However, krypton is a noble gas
Noble gas
The noble gases are a group of chemical elements with very similar properties: under standard conditions, they are all odorless, colorless, monatomic gases, with very low chemical reactivity...
that forms compounds only with great difficulty, and such an oxyanion is not known. Nevertheless, the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
presented the Geological Society with krypton difluoride
Krypton difluoride
Krypton difluoride, KrF2, was the first compound of krypton discovered. It is a volatile, colourless solid. The structure of the KrF2 molecule is linear, with Kr−F distances of 188.9 pm...
to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
.
In virtually all versions of the Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
mythos, kryptonite is described as having formed through a process of nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion is the process by which two or more atomic nuclei join together, or "fuse", to form a single heavier nucleus. This is usually accompanied by the release or absorption of large quantities of energy...
attendant to the explosion which destroyed the planet Krypton. Some accounts describe the fusion process as a result of the planet-destroying explosion, others as the cause of it, but all agree that the majority of the debris of the planet was converted into kryptonite and propelled into interstellar space by the force of the explosion, with some ultimately reaching Earth and becoming a threat to Superman—and other Kryptonians.
The term kryptonite instead implies a meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
from the planet Krypton, as in the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books...
episode "The Green, Green Glow of Home," where it is given as "periodic element 126", which in reality corresponds to unbihexium/eka-plutonium
Unbihexium
Unbihexium , also known as eka-plutonium or element 126, is a hypothetical chemical element with atomic number 126 and symbol Ubh. It is of interest because of its location at the peak of the hypothesized island of stability.-History:...
, the most stable of the elements in the so-called island of stability
Island of stability
The island of stability in nuclear physics describes a set of as-yet undiscovered isotopes of transuranium elements which are theorized to be much more stable than others...
. Superman: The Man of Steel Sourcebook (1992), while non-canon
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
, concurs, referring to kryptonite as "the common ore of the super-actinide kryptonium, an unusually stable transuranic element
Transuranium element
In chemistry, transuranium elements are the chemical elements with atomic numbers greater than 92...
, whose atomic number is believed to be 126." Kryptonium is given a radioactive half-life
Half-life
Half-life, abbreviated t½, is the period of time it takes for the amount of a substance undergoing decay to decrease by half. The name was originally used to describe a characteristic of unstable atoms , but it may apply to any quantity which follows a set-rate decay.The original term, dating to...
of 250,000 years.
In Superman: The Movie, Lex Luthor describes Superman's enhanced Kryptonian physiology as being vulnerable to kryptonite's particular radioactive "signature". More recently, some issues of Superman indicate the mechanism by which green kryptonite may hurt Superman. Superman's cell
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
s absorb electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
from stars (like Earth's sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
). Kryptonite's radioactivity interferes with this semi-photosynthetic
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
process, driving the energy out of his cells in a painful fashion.
Some versions of the adverse effects of kryptonite describe the radiation as affecting the blood chemistry of the victim, causing accelerated effects similar to sickle cell anemia
Sickle-cell disease
Sickle-cell disease , or sickle-cell anaemia or drepanocytosis, is an autosomal recessive genetic blood disorder with overdominance, characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various...
in terrestrial humans, and also causing the skin of the victim to turn green as exposure time increases.
Long-term exposure to kryptonite is said to have the same effects on terrestrial human beings as exposure to other radioactive materials; an extended storyline in the comics around 1990 involved Lex Luthor developing cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
from the kryptonite ring he kept on his finger.
Variations
The various known forms of kryptonite in the Superman media:| Green Kryptonite | In various stories, Superman is shown to have become immune to the effects of green kryptonite due to either repeated non-fatal exposure, continuous long-term absorption of solar radiation, or extremely high short-term exposure to the sun. Green kryptonite is typically shown to have no short-term effects on humans or non-superpowered Kryptonians. However, in post-Crisis Crisis on Infinite Earths Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity... continuity, long-term exposure can cause radiation poisoning in humans. In Smallville Smallville Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross... , green kryptonite can cause normal humans to mutate and acquire superhuman abilities, although an outside catalyst (such as a strong electrical charge) is usually required. In the episode "Void," kryptonite injections cause near-death experiences in humans. After Clark is injected with kryptonite and apparently dies, Chloe Chloe Sullivan Chloe Sullivan is a fictional character from the television series Smallville. Series regular Allison Mack has portrayed the character since the pilot episode; two other actresses performed the role of Chloe Sullivan as a child. The character was created exclusively for Smallville, by series... reports "actually dying neutralizes the kryptonite in your system." Green kryptonite does have beneficial uses to Kryptonians, however. In Smallville, Green Kryptonite is used to counter the effects of any other form of kryptonite that may enter a kryptonian's system, for example a kiss with red kryptonite laced lipstick or Gem kryptonite dust in the eyes. In Lois and Clark, a green kryptonite bullet is also used to bring Superman back in control when his powers become over-amped by red kryptonite and a sample of kryptonite was used to starve out a kryptonian virus Superman was introduced to by Mrs. Church. Green kryptonite, being radioactive, has been used as an energy source to power reactors in power stations. The supervillain Metallo Metallo Metallo is a comic book supervillain and cyborg who appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Metallo's trademark is his kryptonite power source, which he often uses as a weapon against Superman. His traditional identity is John Corben... uses green kryptonite to power his cyborg body. In the cartoon series Justice League Unlimited Justice League Unlimited Justice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the... it is shown that prolonged exposure to kryptonite causes humans to contract cancer Cancer Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the... . Lex Luthor gets cancer due to his constant exposure. The chemical composition for the kryptonite according to the movie Superman III Superman III Superman III is a 1983 superhero film and the third film in the Superman film series based upon the long-running DC Comics superhero. Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure and Margot Kidder are joined by new cast members Annette O'Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn and... is plutonium Plutonium Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation... : 15.08%, tantalum Tantalum Tantalum is a chemical element with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73. Previously known as tantalium, the name comes from Tantalus, a character in Greek mythology. Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion resistant. It is part of the refractory... : 18.06%, xenon Xenon Xenon is a chemical element with the symbol Xe and atomic number 54. The element name is pronounced or . A colorless, heavy, odorless noble gas, xenon occurs in the Earth's atmosphere in trace amounts... : 27.71%, promethium Promethium Promethium is a chemical element with the symbol Pm and atomic number 61. It is notable for being the only exclusively radioactive element besides technetium that is followed by chemical elements with stable isotopes.- Prediction :... : 24.02%, dialium Dialium Dialium is a genus of legume in the Fabaceae family.It contains the following species:* Dialium bipindense* Velvet Tamarind * Dialium excelsum* Dialium guineense* Dialium holtzii* Dialium lopense... : 10.62%, mercury Mercury (element) Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum... : 3.94%, unknown: 0.57%. (The analysis was commissioned so that the green kryptonite could be synthesised using elements found on Earth, the unknown element was replaced by the tar from cigarette-tobacco smoke. The result was a sort of red or possibly black kryptonite, considering its effects, although it was green. After being exposed to it, Superman became easily irritated and sometimes violent, ultimately splitting into two versions of himself: One good, the other evil, who did battle until the good one won. The preponderance of other storylines describe kryptonite as a unique atomic element (kryptonium), not a chemical compound composed of other subsidiary elements. |
| Red Kryptonite | The debut of kryptonite in Superman #61 originally has kryptonite as being red in color; though it did not posses the same abilities as red kryptonite does now. Pre-Crisis Crisis on Infinite Earths Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity... red kryptonite was created from a "flock" of green kryptonite which passed through a (red-hued) "strange cosmic cloud," some of which arrived on Earth. In this continuity, each piece of red Kryptonite causes a different effect on Superman when he comes into contact with it. However, red kryptonite effects usually last for only 48 hours. Any given piece of red kryptonite could usually affect Superman only once. Effects included hallucinations, changing form, paralysis and, when combined with green kryptonite radiation, even the growing of a third eye at the back of Superman's head, which caused him to disguise the true effect by pretending that the kryptonite caused him to compulsively wear hats at all times. In post-Crisis continuity, Mister Mxyzptlk Mister Mxyzptlk Mr. Mxyzptlk , sometimes called Mxy, is a fictional impish supervillain who appears in DC Comics' Superman comic books.He was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and first appeared in Superman #30 . He is usually presented as a trickster, in the classical mythological sense, in that he enjoys... creates what he calls red kryptonite in the "Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite" story arc but it has no radioactive properties at all; Superman's depowering is all the result of Mxyzptlk's magic until Luthor unknowingly breaks the rules of his agreement with Mxyzptlk. The first appearance of actual red kryptonite is as a synthetic variant created by Ra's al Ghul Ra's al Ghul Ra's al Ghul is a DC Comics supervillain and is one of Batman's greatest enemies. His name in Arabic has been translated in the comics as "The Demon's Head" and references the name of the star Algol. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, he was introduced in Batman #232's... , using notes stolen from Batman Batman Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics... . This version of the Red Kryptonite causes Superman intense pain (but not to the lethal levels of Green Kryptonite) as well as his powers to behave oddly and his skin to become transparent. In The Brave and the Bold The Brave and the Bold The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983... series, the cloud was drawn to Earth by the deranged alchemist Megistus to shield humanity against the effects of the Final Crisis Final Crisis Final Crisis is a crossover storyline that appeared in comic books published by DC Comics in 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name written by Grant Morrison. Originally DC announced the project as being illustrated solely by J. G. Jones; artists Carlos Pacheco, Marco Rudy and... by warping it into something totally different; the villain Doctor Alchemy also proved capable of transmuting the Fortress of Solitude Fortress of Solitude The Fortress of Solitude is the occasional headquarters of Superman in DC Comics. Its predecessor, Superman's "Secret Citadel", first appeared in Superman #17, where it was said to be built into a mountain on the outskirts of Metropolis... in its entirety into red kryptonite using his philosopher's stone Philosopher's stone The philosopher's stone is a legendary alchemical substance said to be capable of turning base metals into gold or silver. It was also sometimes believed to be an elixir of life, useful for rejuvenation and possibly for achieving immortality. For many centuries, it was the most sought-after goal... . In Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books... , red kryptonite again has varying effects. Initially it causes Superman to become apathetic. It was hypothesized that, given enough exposure to red kryptonite, Clark's condition would become permanent. However, after talking to a psychiatrist, Clark is able to resist the effects of the red kryptonite, and he picks up the rock and throws it out of a window. Its later appearances included a red kryptonite laser which caused Superman's powers to transfer to Lois, and exposure causing Superman's powers to be increased beyond his ability to control them. On the TV series Smallville Smallville Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross... , red kryptonite has a drug-like effect, causing severe changes in Clark Kent's personality. Under this influence, Clark loses his inhibitions, becoming unpredictable and acting purely on erotic and selfish emotions. Once he ran away to Metropolis and became a criminal who broke into automated-teller machines to impress girls with expensive toys such as sports cars. He also stole his father's credit card to buy large screen TVs and high-end audio equipment. Smallville red kryptonite requires close contact with skin to be effective, such as being worn in a ring or necklace. In Krypto the Superdog Krypto the Superdog Krypto the Superdog is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation, based on the DC Comics character Krypto. The show premiered on Cartoon Network on March 25, 2005 and aired on Kids' WB! in September 2006... , effects on Krypto include temporary amnesia, loss of all his super-canine powers, causing Krypto's tail to detach from his body and come to life, turning into a fish, and body-swapping. In Batman: The Brave and the Bold Batman: The Brave and the Bold Batman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain... , Batman describes the effect of red kryptonite as being similar to the pre-Crisis variety, affecting Superman differently every time. In the episode, it is shown in that instance to affect Superman in much the same way it does in Smallville. Superman begins to engage in petty antics, such as sticking a young girl's cat in a tree and humiliating Lois by going on a date with Lana Lang while right in front of her. He also develops megalomaniacal tendencies, which result in him attempting take over Metropolis and declare himself the city's "king". It is discovered by Batman Batman Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics... that the effects of red kryptonite eventually wear off 24 hours after the initial exposure. |
| Gold Kryptonite | Pre-Crisis, it permanently removes superpowers from Kryptonians, by destroying the ability of Kryptonian cells to process solar energy. Because it was said to be permanent, this variety was rarely used in Superman stories. Gold kryptonite appears in The Flash (vol. 1) #175 and plays a key role in the 1982 limited series Limited series A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues.... "The Phantom Zone Phantom Zone The Phantom Zone is a fictional prison dimension featured in the Superman comic books and related media published by DC Comics. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 , and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp... ," as well as the 1986 "imaginary story" Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?" is a 1986 comic book story featuring the DC Comics character of Superman. The story was published in two parts, beginning in Superman #423 and ending in Action Comics #583, both published in September 1986... Post-Crisis, gold kryptonite has appeared in Adventures of Superman #444 and Superman (vol. 2) #22. In the Legion of Super-Heroes Legion of Super-Heroes The Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino.... (vol. 2) #293, during "The Great Darkness Saga The Great Darkness Saga "The Great Darkness Saga" is a five-issue Legion of Super-Heroes story arc written by Paul Levitz, with art by Keith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt. Published by DC Comics in 1982, the arc first appears in Legion of Super-Heroes vol. 2, #290-294... ", it is shown that Element Lad Element Lad Element Lad is a fictional character in the 30th and 31st centuries of the , a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. A native of the planet Trom, he has the power to transmute chemical elements.-Pre-Zero Hour:... can transmute matter into gold kryptonite. In Superfriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show, Darkseid Darkseid Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby.... buys a quantity of gold kryptonite in an auction, but thanks to the Superfriends, he accidentally uses it on Batman Batman Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics... , and Firestorm Firestorm (comics) Firestorm is the name of several comic book superheroes published by DC Comics. Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein, the first Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #1 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom. Martin Stein, by himself as Firestorm, debuted in Firestorm the Nuclear... transmutes it into a bowling ball before he can try again. In the Season 10 Smallville Smallville Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross... episode "Luthor", an alternate-universe Clark Ultraman is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q... bears a scar "L Lex Luthor Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and... " on his wrist to Tess Mercer. The explanation given is a passing comment, "There's no take-backs with gold K." Gold Kryptonite is further alluded in future episodes. A desperate Jonathan Kent from Earth-2 sought to buy his farm back using it, but it was worthless. A chunk of Gold K is later discovered by a possessed Darkseid Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby.... Oliver Queen, and is later presented as a "wedding ring" by the Unholy Trinity (Godfrey Glorious Godfrey Glorious Godfrey is a DC Comics villain created by Jack Kirby, originally as part of The Fourth World series of comic books in the early 1970s. He first appeared in Forever People vol. 1 #3 .-Fictional character biography:... , Granny Granny Goodness Granny Goodness is a fictional character, a deity and supervillain published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, Granny Goodness was modeled on comedienne Phyllis Diller and first appeared in Mister Miracle vol... and Desaad Desaad Desaad is a fictional comic book supervillain, appearing in books published by DC Comics. He is one of the followers of Darkseid from the planet of Apokolips in Jack Kirby's Fourth World meta-series.... ) for him to strip Clark of his powers permanently. Chloe Sullivan Chloe Sullivan Chloe Sullivan is a fictional character from the television series Smallville. Series regular Allison Mack has portrayed the character since the pilot episode; two other actresses performed the role of Chloe Sullivan as a child. The character was created exclusively for Smallville, by series... later notices this and stops it, but a fight happens between Oliver and Clark. Clark talks some sense into him and he crushes the ring, releasing his hold from Darkseid. In Action Comics Annual #11, Metallo mentions that the modern age gold kryptonite in his chest only temporarily removes a Kryptonian's powers. The effect wears off after fifteen seconds. |
| Blue Kryptonite | Blue kryptonite is the Bizarro Bizarro Bizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68... analogue to green kryptonite. Using Bizarro logic, this, in general, hurts Bizarros while having beneficial effects on ordinary Kryptonians. Pre-Crisis, blue kryptonite is the result of using Professor Potter Professor Potter Professor Phineas Potter is a supporting character in stories published by DC Comics featuring Superman and several related characters, most notably Jimmy Olsen... 's "duplicator ray" on some green kryptonite. Here, blue kryptonite affects Bizarro Bizarro Bizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68... s like green kryptonite affects Kryptonians. Blue kryptonite radiation is not blocked by normal lead, but by imperfectly duplicated lead. Bizarro World had animated blue-kryptonite golems underground that surfaced and attacked the superpowered Bizarros while the delighted non-powered Bizarros cheered them on. In the Super Friends Super Friends Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes, which ran from 1973 to 1986 on ABC as part of its Saturday morning cartoon lineup... episode "Terror from the Phantom Zone," blue kryptonite heals Superman from the effects of red kryptonite. Post-Crisis, its origin is unknown. Here, blue kryptonite makes Bizarros become polite, goodhearted, coherent, and intelligent. In the television series Smallville, blue kryptonite suppresses Kryptonians' powers and removes their sensitivity to green kryptonite. Blue kryptonite was first introduced as a Victory Ring given to Clark by a replicant of his mother Lara in "Blue." Also in Smallville, Bizarro's powers were increased exponentially by blue kryptonite (this version of Bizarro being an 'inverted' Clark, weakened by sunlight and strengthened by green kryptonite) which overloaded his body with power and killed him, much like "a light bulb being powered by a nuclear reactor," in the episode "Persona." In episode 7 of season 9, titled "Kandor", Jor-El is shown using blue kryptonite to remove the powers bestowed by Earth's yellow sun upon the Kandorian soldiers led by Zod as he prepares an orb which will carry to Earth the DNA clones of several of the Kryptonian capital's finest soldiers. In the season 9 finale, titled "Salvation", blue kryptonite is used in the form of a dagger by Zod to rid himself of his powers, thus sparing him the trip to whatever planet the Kandorians were going to after Clark used the Book of Rao to save Earth from the coming war. A fight between Clark and Zod ensued whereupon Clark sacrificed himself: he allowed the dagger to be plunged into his gut and then fell from a rooftop, sending Zod to the planet and leaving Clark on Earth. The now powerless Clark is seen falling to the streets below. The aftermath of these events was not expected to be seen till the first episode of season 10, as it was a cliff-hanger. In Episode 6 of Season 10, titled "Harvest", Blue Kryptonite is shown to purify water to the extent that humans drinking it do not become sick from common viruses. It also can be linked to improving crop production. Clark is unable to use his powers around people who have been drinking water contaminated by the blue kryptonite. In Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is a 2010 original direct-to-video animated film released on February 23, 2010. It is based on the abandoned direct-to-video feature, Justice League: Worlds Collide, which was intended as a bridge between the then-concluding Justice League animated television... , blue kryptonite has the same weakening effect on Ultraman Ultraman (comics) Ultraman is the name of several fictional characters, who are supervillains appearing in stories published by DC Comics. The characters are all evil alternate-universe counterparts of Superman. Ultraman first appeared in Justice League of America #29 .-Publication history:Ultraman first appeared as... that green kryptonite has on Superman. |
| Black kryptonite | Black kryptonite was first introduced in the Smallville Smallville Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross... television series, in the fourth season premiere episode "Crusade," as kryptonite with the ability to split the personality of Kryptonians along with reversing this process. It later appears in the fourth season episode "Onyx," where it is revealed it can also affect humans and vegetation Vegetation Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader... s as well in the same way as Kryptonians. In the series, black kryptonite can be created by super-heating green kryptonite. Later in the season eight finale "Doomsday," Clark acquires, and then Chloe uses, black kryptonite to successfully separate the Kryptonian monster Doomsday from its human alter ego Davis Bloome in order to defeat Doomsday without having to kill Davis. In the 1996 series episode "Monkey Business", black kryptonite caused Titano the monkey and several strains of bacteria to grow uncontrollably. It later made its first appearance in a DC comic in September 2005's Supergirl #2, where it apparently possessed the ability to split a person or a person's personality into two separate entities. In Supergirl #3, Luthor used black kryptonite on Supergirl, which caused her to split into two separate people, one wearing Supergirl's traditional costume, and another wearing a black-and-white version. Luthor claimed that he was given the black kryptonite by Darkseid Darkseid Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby.... , which had similar effects on Superman, creating an evil Superman. In All-Star Superman, which takes place outside of DC Universe continuity, black kryptonite makes Superman evil. In an issue of Superman/Batman, while remembering the abilities of the different forms of kryptonite, he exclaimed, "Black and I'm robbed of my sanity," accompanied by a broken wedding picture of Lois and Clark covered in blood. This suggests that in some form or another black kryptonite can negatively impact Superman's morals and behavior, twisting his normal state of mind. |
| White Kryptonite | Kills all plant life, whether Kryptonian or not. Induces decay immediately upon exposure, with a range of about 25 yards. The most prominent use of this variety in the comics was to destroy Virus X. In Superman III, synthesized white kryptonite caused Superman to become irritable and sometimes violent. In the TV show Superboy (renamed "The Adventures of Superboy" in its third season) White Kryptonite is referred to as "Bizarro Kryptonite". It had no effect on Superboy but when used on Bizarro Superboy, it made him become stable, and calmed his mind. |
| Silver Kryptonite | In Smallville, while visiting Lana in Metropolis, Clark opens a package addressed to Lana apparently sent by Lex Luthor and is wounded and infected by a splinter of silver "kryptonite." It causes Clark to have paranoid delusions, and he sees Chloe, Jonathan, Martha, Lana, and Lex plotting against him. He defends himself against his "enemies," jeopardizing the lives of his dearest friends and family. Eventually, help comes from a most unlikely source: Milton Fine. Milton Fine, aka Brainiac, had actually created silver kryptonite, using a sliver of his own morphing metallic body, only to help Clark, thus gaining his trust. In a storyline in the ongoing series Superman/Batman entitled "The Search for Kryptonite," a piece of silver kryptonite causes Superman to act like a hyperactive child and for his vision to depict everyone around him as strange, chibi versions of themselves drawn in a very cartoony style. The only way to restore him to normal was to use another piece of the material located in a volcanic region and expose him to it. The two shards of silver kryptonite are currently located in the Batcave. |
| Orange Kryptonite | Gives super-animalian powers, stronger than Krypto Krypto Krypto, also known as Krypto the Superdog, is a fictional character. He is Superman's pet dog in the various Superman comic books published by DC Comics. Krypto's first appearance was in a Superboy story in Adventure Comics #210 in March 1955... 's, for precisely 24 hours to any animal that touches it; ineffective on humans. May be repeated immediately following the 24 hours for quasi-continuous super-animalian powers. Introduced in Krypto Comics #4, Feb. 2007. |
| Jewel Kryptonite | Jewel kryptonite amplifies the psychic Parapsychology The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research... powers of Phantom Zone Phantom Zone The Phantom Zone is a fictional prison dimension featured in the Superman comic books and related media published by DC Comics. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 , and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp... residents, allowing them to project illusions into the "real world" or perform mind control. It was made from what was left of a mountain range on Krypton called the Jewel Mountains. |
| Anti-Kryptonite | Has no effect on superpowered Kryptonians, but has the same effects as green kryptonite on non-superpowered Kryptonians. This version of kryptonite is what killed most of the residents of Argo City Argo City Argo City is a fictional Kryptonian city in the DC Comics Universe, and the birthplace of Supergirl. Argo City was first seen in Action Comics #252 .-Earth-One:... in the pre-Crisis comics. Post-Crisis, it is the power source of Ultraman Ultraman (comics) Ultraman is the name of several fictional characters, who are supervillains appearing in stories published by DC Comics. The characters are all evil alternate-universe counterparts of Superman. Ultraman first appeared in Justice League of America #29 .-Publication history:Ultraman first appeared as... , Superman's evil counterpart who lives in an alternate antimatter universe. Anti-kryptonite was also used by Green Lantern Green Lantern The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and... Hal Jordan Hal Jordan Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker... while rescuing a member of the Green Lantern Corps Green Lantern Corps The Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa... (Guy Gardner Guy Gardner (comics) Guy Gardner is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He is a core member of the Green Lantern family of characters, and for a time was also a significant member of the Justice League family of characters.He was created by John Broome and Gil Kane in Green Lantern... ) from the Phantom Zone by causing pain to General Zod General Zod General Zod is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, a supervillain who is one of Superman's more-prominent enemies. The character first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 , and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp... , Kru-El, and Faora Faora Faora is the name of several female super-villains in DC Comics Superman titles. All of them have some connection to Superman's home planet of Krypton.-Pre-Crisis:The first Faora, Faora Hu-Ul, was introduced in Action Comics #471... , since regular kryptonite has no effect on individuals in the Phantom Zone. |
| X-Kryptonite | Not to be confused with Kryptonite-X, it was created accidentally (and unknowingly) by pre-Crisis Supergirl during experimentation with green kryptonite, in an unsuccessful attempt to find an antidote. The "unique combination of chemicals" used by Supergirl created "something new under the sun," whose radiation (and odor) can imbue Earth-based life-forms with temporary superpowers. It is primarily known as the source of Supergirl's pet cat, Streaky Streaky the Supercat Streaky the Supercat is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Streaky first appeared in Action Comics #261 , and was created by Otto Binder and Jim Mooney.-Fictional character biography:... 's superpowers. Originally it had additional effect on Kryptonians (although the latent kryptonite radiation is still harmful to them) but this was changed in 1974 to having the same effects as green kryptonite. |
| Slow Kryptonite | A modified variety of green kryptonite produced by supervillain Metallo Metallo Metallo is a comic book supervillain and cyborg who appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Metallo's trademark is his kryptonite power source, which he often uses as a weapon against Superman. His traditional identity is John Corben... that affects humans in a manner similar to normal green kryptonite on Kryptonians, appearing in The Brave and the Bold The Brave and the Bold The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983... #175. |
| Magno-Kryptonite | Artificially created by the villain Nero, "magno-kryptonite" is magnetically attracted to all substances originally from Krypton, with such incredible force that not even the strength of Superman or Bizarro can escape it according to Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #92. |
| Bizarro Red Kryptonite | Affects humans the same way red kryptonite affects Kryptonians. Appeared in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #80. |
| Kryptonite-X or Kryptisium | Not to be confused with X-Kryptonite, Kryptonite-X is a form of filtered/purified kryptonite. Professor Hamilton Professor Hamilton Professor Emil Hamilton is a fictional character in DC Comics' Superman titles. He is generally portrayed as a stereotypical absent-minded professor, with a gray beard and thick glasses and, at times, a "Mr. Wizard" type character... used the term "kryptonite-X" (The Adventures of Superman #511, April 1994, page 13) to describe the substance that restored Superman's powers after a confrontation with the villain known as the Cyborg Superman Hank Henshaw Hank Henshaw is a fictional supervillain featured in the DC Comics universe. While originally featured primarily as an enemy of Superman, recent years have repositioned him as one of the main enemies of the Green Lantern Corps... in Engine City (Superman v2, #82, part of the "Return of Superman" storyline). This substance was created when the Cyborg used a huge chunk of green kryptonite in an attempt to kill the weak, powerless, recovering Superman. The Eradicator Eradicator (comics) The Eradicator is a fictional comic book superhero character having a recurring role in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Originally created as a weapon by an ancient alien race, he is over 200,000 years old and is considered an artifact of Krypton... , who had fashioned a faux-Kryptonian body, jumped in front of Superman before the release of the kryptonite energy could kill him. Despite the Eradicator's efforts, the kryptonite energy hit Superman, but instead of killing him, it transferred all of the characteristic Kryptonian powers from the Eradicator to Superman, as well as saturating Superman's body with a purified/filtered form of kryptonite. |
| Pink Kryptonite | From Supergirl (vol. 4) #79, an alternate timeline in a 2003 Supergirl storyline by Peter David Peter David Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games... . It affected the Superman of this reality; one of the results is Superman giving flattering compliments to Jimmy Olsen Jimmy Olsen Jimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White... about his wardrobe and decorative sense. It spoofs Parody A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation... the more "innocent times" of the Silver Age Silver Age of Comic Books The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the... ; Lois Lane is depicted in this story as not understanding what has gotten into Superman. |
| Gemstone Kryptonite | On Smallville, this new Kryptonite gives Clark the ability to make others want to fulfill his wishes. Simple conversations with a gemstone infected person influence others to act out of character to do whatever they perceive was asked of them. Likewise, the infected person could also influence himself. The influenced person could not then be counter influenced by the infected person asked. Green Kryptonite removes the infection. |
| Hybrid-K | In Lois and Clark, Hybrid-K has the same effect on humans that Green Kryptonite has on Kryptonians. Created by a former S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Jefferson Cole, it was described as pure death, able to kill thousands without destroying any surrounding structures, making it 'environmentally friendly.' After framing Lois for murder, Cole stole the Hybrid-K from S.T.A.R. Labs, hoping to slaughter the people of Metropolis and have the carnage blamed on Superman and Dr. Klein in revenge for having him fired from S.T.A.R. Labs and imprisoned. He seeded rain clouds with the Hybrid-K to create a toxic storm. However, the chemical composition differed enough from normal Kryptonite as to have no effect on Kryptonians, thus, unaffected by the rain, Superman was able to whirlwind the Hybrid-K out of Metropolis. |
Simulated kryptonite
- Green Lantern CorpsGreen Lantern CorpsThe Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa...
power rings can be used to emit simulated green kryptonite radiation. Kyle RaynerKyle RaynerKyle Rayner is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by DC Comics, usually in those starring the Green Lantern Corps, an extraterrestrial police force of which Rayner is a member. Created by writer Ron Marz and artist Darryl Banks, Rayner first appeared in Green Lantern vol...
did so in Man of Tomorrow #19 (1998). The duplicate "Hal JordanHal JordanHarold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
" Green Lantern form of N'Gon also created Power Ring-based green kryptonite in DC Comics Presents #26, and Superman used the yellow of his cape's "S" design to block the effect. Green Lantern Hal Jordan also uses his ring to make Kryptonite effects in numerous Justice League of America stories in order to cause Superman to be temporarily affected by things his invulnerability would otherwise prevent. This radiation is apparently just as powerful and painful to Superman and other Kryptonians as the genuine rays, but it can be blocked by interposing anything yellow between the Green Lantern's green kryptonite and the Kryptonian (however, this may no longer be an option due to the recent development of yellow no longer being an automatic weakness of power ringsGreen Lantern: RebirthGreen Lantern: Rebirth was a six-issue monthly American comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver...
). Breaking the ring-bearer's concentration will also dispel the effect. - Synthetic kryptonite (usually the green or, occasionally, red variety) has been successfully produced by Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
, BatmanBatmanBatman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, and Ra's al GhulRa's al GhulRa's al Ghul is a DC Comics supervillain and is one of Batman's greatest enemies. His name in Arabic has been translated in the comics as "The Demon's Head" and references the name of the star Algol. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, he was introduced in Batman #232's...
in the comics. It has proven to be less powerful than genuine kryptonite, which proves to be extremely difficult to create, and to have a short half-lifeHalf-lifeHalf-life, abbreviated t½, is the period of time it takes for the amount of a substance undergoing decay to decrease by half. The name was originally used to describe a characteristic of unstable atoms , but it may apply to any quantity which follows a set-rate decay.The original term, dating to...
that renders it useless after a short period of time. In the ElseworldsElseworldsElseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
story The Dark Knight Returns, Green ArrowGreen ArrowGreen Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
wounds Superman with a synthetic kryptonite arrow, allowing Batman to defeat him. Bruce Wayne notes it was very expensive to develop, taking years to properly synthesize. Superman IIISuperman IIISuperman III is a 1983 superhero film and the third film in the Superman film series based upon the long-running DC Comics superhero. Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure and Margot Kidder are joined by new cast members Annette O'Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn and...
featured synthetic kryptonite with substituted ingredients, that altered Superman's personality and eventually caused him to split into two beings with differing personalities. - Hybrid kryptonite was seen on Lois and Clark in Season 4 Episode 07 (Dead Lois Walking). This kryptonite was made by a villain who used to work with Dr. Klein at S.T.A.R. LabsS.T.A.R. LabsS.T.A.R. Labs, is a fictional research facility, and comic book organization appearing in titles published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Superman vol. 1 #246 , and was created by Cary Bates and Rich Buckler.-Publication history:...
until he was fired. Hybrid kryptonite seemed to have the effects of green kryptonite on humans, but had no effect on Kryptonians. - Magic: Individuals adept at the use of magic may be able to create kryptonite, such as Mr. MxyzptlkMister MxyzptlkMr. Mxyzptlk , sometimes called Mxy, is a fictional impish supervillain who appears in DC Comics' Superman comic books.He was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and first appeared in Superman #30 . He is usually presented as a trickster, in the classical mythological sense, in that he enjoys...
did in the "Krisis of the Krimson Kryptonite" storyline (though his version of Red Kryptonite differed from the traditional version in its workings, temporarily eliminating Superman's powers). Jimmy Olsen, when changed into a genie in Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #42 (January 1960), was ordered by his master, Abdul, to turn himself into living kryptonite; Jimmy chose green kryptonite. - On one occasion, Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
combined the element-duplicating substance that composes the robots known as the Metal MenMetal MenThe Metal Men are fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The characters first appeared in Showcase #37 and were created by writer Robert Kanigher and penciller Ross Andru...
into a single robot that imperfectly duplicated the properties of green kryptonite. While its presence caused Superman severe pain, it was not severe enough to completely incapacitate him, and did not affect his powers at all; thus, Superman was able to focus past the pain and defeat the robot. - Telepathy: During the first confrontation with the White MartianWhite MartianThe White Martians are one of three fictional extraterrestrial races native to Mars in the DC Comics' shared universe. White Martians, also known as Pale Martians, appear in the comics of the DC Universe, chiefly JLA, Martian Manhunter, and Son of Vulcan.-History:As a race of shapeshifters,...
s, their leader, Protex, was able to incapacitate Superman by using his telepathy to convince Superman that he was in the presence of green kryptonite, but Superman was able to resist this influence after he realized what was happening. - Radiation: In the film Superman IIISuperman IIISuperman III is a 1983 superhero film and the third film in the Superman film series based upon the long-running DC Comics superhero. Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure and Margot Kidder are joined by new cast members Annette O'Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn and...
, the computer Webster built was able to analyze Superman and find his weakness, and emitted a beam of radiation that simulates that of green kryptonite. It was stopped only when Gus Gorman pulled the plug. - Crystals: The film Superman ReturnsSuperman ReturnsSuperman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
has Lex Luthor combining KryptonianKryptonianKryptonians are a fictional extraterrestrial race of the DC Comics universe who hail from the planet Krypton. The term originated from the stories of DC Comics superhero, Superman...
crystal technology with green kryptonite, causing the rapidly growing crystals to take on the properties of kryptonite and making the entire landmass of "New Krypton" deadly to Superman.
Hoaxes
In the comics and other media, some varieties of kryptonite that turned out to be hoaxes:- Silver Kryptonite: Featured in Superman's Pal, Jimmy OlsenJimmy OlsenJimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
#70, silver kryptonite is a hoax revolving around the silver anniversary (25th) of Superman's career. Silver kryptonite in another form is a part of the Smallville TV series (see Smallville below), and was shown in the comics continuity in Superman/BatmanSuperman/BatmanSuperman/Batman was a monthly comic book series published by DC Comics that features the publisher's two most popular characters: Batman and Superman...
#46. - Yellow Kryptonite: This one was used in a hoax masterminded by Lex LuthorLex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
Action Comics #277. - Blood Kryptonite: In 5252 (comics)52 was a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid with layouts by Keith Giffen...
, the Cult of Conner - a religious sect dedicated to resurrecting SuperboySuperboy (Kon-El)Superboy is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. A modern update of the original Superboy, who is a younger version of Superman, the character first appeared in Adventures of Superman #500 , and was created by writer Karl Kesel and artist Tom Grummett.Originally...
, employed "blood kryptonite" in a preliminary ritual to resurrect Sue DibnySue DibnySusan "Sue" Dearbon Dibny is a fictional character from DC Comics associated with the Elongated Man. Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the character first appeared in Flash vol. 1 #119...
. While physically resembling red kryptonite, the "blood" variant drains a portion of life force from present attendees, intended to direct this energy towards an effigyEffigyAn effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
of the deceased as part of a Kryptonian resurrection ceremony. It is later revealed that this was a manipulation of Felix FaustFelix FaustFelix Faust is a fictional character and supervillain who appears in stories published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in 1962 as an adversary of the Justice League of America...
and the rock was either regular red kryptonite or not kryptonite at all. - Kryptonite Plus: 30 or so non-glowing, varicolored, banded rocks invading unnamed Super-aliens had left on Earth's moon and then said were kryptonite plus or maybe a form of ultra-kryptonite. They are really Tikron Stones. From Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #126 (January 1970).
- Purple Spotted Kryptonite: Mentioned in Streaky's fictional story in the animated cartoon Krypto the SuperdogKrypto the SuperdogKrypto the Superdog is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation, based on the DC Comics character Krypto. The show premiered on Cartoon Network on March 25, 2005 and aired on Kids' WB! in September 2006...
. This phony kryptonite made Krypto chase his tail. - Fake Kryptonite: Seen in an episode of the SuperboySuperboy (TV series)Superboy is a half-hour live-action television series based on the fictional DC Comics comic book character Kal-El's early years as Superboy. The show ran from 1988–1992 in syndication...
1988 TV series, Superboy's friends are selling crystals which are labeled as "fake kryptonite" to raise money for charity. These crystals are clearly false and the vendors make no dispute about it. However, they use humorous references such as "Buy one and have nothing to fear; even Superboy will run away from you!"
In other media
As noted above, kryptonite was originally created for the 1940s Superman radio series. Kryptonite has appeared in various forms in the various Superman media spinoffs, however.Superman: The Movie
In Superman: The Movie, Lex Luthor (Gene HackmanGene Hackman
Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman is an American actor and novelist.Nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two, Hackman has also won three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs in a career that spanned five decades. He first came to fame in 1967 with his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde...
) and his cronies Eve Teschmacher and Otis (portrayed by Valerie Perrine
Valerie Perrine
- Life and career :Perrine was born in Galveston, Texas, the daughter of Winifred , a dancer who appeared in Earl Carroll's Vanities, and Kenneth Perrine, a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army. Owing to her father's career, Perrine lived in many locations as the family moved to different...
and Ned Beatty
Ned Beatty
Ned Thomas Beatty is an American actor who has appeared in more than 100 films and has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain and a Golden Globe Award; won a Drama Desk Award....
, respectively) track a large chunk to Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, where they steal it from a museum under the cover of night. In this film's usage, the term "kryptonite" seems to mean simply a "Kryptonian meteorite". After co-opting and launching two missiles for opposite ends of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Luthor places the kryptonite on a chain around Superman's (Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
) neck and drops him into a swimming pool. When Teschmacher learns that one of the missiles is headed for Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
(where her mother lives), she rescues Superman from drowning and removes the kryptonite, after which his strength and powers quickly return.
Superman III
In Superman IIISuperman III
Superman III is a 1983 superhero film and the third film in the Superman film series based upon the long-running DC Comics superhero. Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure and Margot Kidder are joined by new cast members Annette O'Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn and...
, computer programmer Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
) determines that kryptonite is "an intense heat fusion" of: 15.08% plutonium
Plutonium
Plutonium is a transuranic radioactive chemical element with the chemical symbol Pu and atomic number 94. It is an actinide metal of silvery-gray appearance that tarnishes when exposed to air, forming a dull coating when oxidized. The element normally exhibits six allotropes and four oxidation...
, 18.06% tantalum
Tantalum
Tantalum is a chemical element with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73. Previously known as tantalium, the name comes from Tantalus, a character in Greek mythology. Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion resistant. It is part of the refractory...
, 27.71% xenon
Xenon
Xenon is a chemical element with the symbol Xe and atomic number 54. The element name is pronounced or . A colorless, heavy, odorless noble gas, xenon occurs in the Earth's atmosphere in trace amounts...
, 24.02% promethium
Promethium
Promethium is a chemical element with the symbol Pm and atomic number 61. It is notable for being the only exclusively radioactive element besides technetium that is followed by chemical elements with stable isotopes.- Prediction :...
, 10.62% dialium (which is a plant genus, not an element), 3.94% mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, with the last 0.57% being an unknown element not found on the periodic table
Periodic table
The periodic table of the chemical elements is a tabular display of the 118 known chemical elements organized by selected properties of their atomic structures. Elements are presented by increasing atomic number, the number of protons in an atom's atomic nucleus...
. Later in the film, an imperfect synthesis of artificial kryptonite containing tar
Tar (tobacco residue)
Tar is the common name for the resinous partially combusted and healed particulate matter produced by the burning of tobacco and other plant material in the act of smoking. Tar is purportedly the most destructive component in habitual tobacco smoking, accumulating in the smoker's lungs over time...
appears. Billionaire Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn
Robert Vaughn
Robert Francis Vaughn, , is an American actor noted for stage, film and television work. His best known roles include the suave spy Napoleon Solo in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., wealthy detective Harry Rule in the 1970s television series The Protectors, Albert Stroller in...
) orders the creation of synthetic kryptonite after remembering a Daily Planet
Daily Planet
The Daily Planet is a fictional broadsheet newspaper in the , appearing mostly in the stories of Superman. The building's original features were based upon the AT&T Huron Road Building in Cleveland, Ohio...
story about the last original chunk disappearing years earlier after falling to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. Developed by Gorman, it was intended to be a copy of green kryptonite. After scanning the coordinates of Krypton's former location via satellite, results return a small percentage of an unknown component. The substitution of tar (which Gorman used after glancing at a pack of cigarettes) for a crucial, but unknown, component resulted in the synthetic kryptonite—like black kryptonite in the comics—turning Superman evil and eventually splitting him into two people. Retaining Superman's remaining good qualities, Clark Kent defeats the dark Superman, who vanishes. Later in the film, Gorman's creation, the Ultimate Computer, severely weakens Superman with a kryptonite ray before Gorman has a change of heart and attacks his own machine.
Superman Returns
In Superman ReturnsSuperman Returns
Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
, Lex Luthor (now portrayed by Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
) enters the Metropolis Museum of Natural History and steals the Addis Ababa L9 Pallasite Meteorite, which was discovered at the Kebe Mine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is described in the exhibit display as “sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide with fluorine”. According to the exhibit display, the meteorite was discovered in 1978 — the year that Superman: The Movie was released.
Incidentally, in 2007, a white and harmless mineral with the above chemical formula (except without fluorine) was discovered by Rio Tinto Group
Rio Tinto Group
The Rio Tinto Group is a diversified, British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne. The company was founded in 1873, when a multinational consortium of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto river, in Huelva, Spain from the...
researchers in a mine in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
.
Luthor uses the meteorite in his quest to create a new kryptonite landmass. In addition, he uses a shard leftover from processing it to create a kryptonite shiv
Shiv (weapon)
A shiv is a slang term for any sharp or pointed implement used as a knife-like weapon. However, the word in practical usage is frequently used when referring to an improvised bladed weapon. Shivs are commonly made by inmates in prisons across the world...
, which he uses to stab Superman (portrayed by Brandon Routh
Brandon Routh
Brandon James Routh is an American actor and former fashion model. He grew up in Iowa before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and subsequently appeared on multiple television series throughout the early 2000s. In 2006, he gained greater recognition for his role as the titular hero...
).
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
In the animated direct to video movie, Justice League: Crisis on Two EarthsJustice League: Crisis on Two Earths
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths is a 2010 original direct-to-video animated film released on February 23, 2010. It is based on the abandoned direct-to-video feature, Justice League: Worlds Collide, which was intended as a bridge between the then-concluding Justice League animated television...
, Blue Kryptonite makes a brief appearance. As the heroic Lex Luthor of the parallel universe battles his arch enemy Ultraman (that universe's evil Superman), he is beaten but, gains the upper hand by revealing, and weakening Ultraman with a piece of blue kryptonite, the only thing he is vulnerable to (mirroring Superman's weakness to the green variety). When confronted by it Ultraman is severely weakened, and claims to have destroyed all the pieces of it left; Lex admits that Ultraman did, but that he himself has been to other universes and gotten more.
Serials
Kryptonite was used in both 15 part movie serials produced by Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
. The Spider Lady and her gang use Kryptonite against Superman in Superman
Superman (serial)
Superman is a 15-part black-and-white Columbia film serial based on the comic book character Superman. It stars an uncredited Kirk Alyn and Noel Neill as Lois Lane. It is notable as the first live-action appearance of Superman on film and for the longevity of its distribution...
(1948). Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
, the Atom Man, creates a synthetic Kryptonite to use against Superman in Atom Man vs. Superman
Atom Man vs. Superman
Atom Man vs. Superman , Columbia's 43rd serial, finds Lex Luthor , secretly the Atom Man, blackmailing the city of Metropolis by threatening to destroy the entire community...
(1950).
Adventures of Superman
Kryptonite was used in several Adventures of SupermanAdventures of Superman (TV series)
Adventures of Superman is an American television series based on comic book characters and concepts created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The show is the first television series to feature Superman and began filming in 1951 in California...
episodes. The specific color is not definite, given that it is never mentioned and that the series was initially in black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
, but from its effects, it is presumably green kryptonite in each case:
- In "Panic in the Sky", Superman’s attempt to shift a meteor hurtling toward Earth leaves him with amnesia. Although the scientists in the episode only say the meteor consist of "unknown elements", a fragment of this meteor is later used in "The Deadly Rock", referred to at that time as Kryptonite.
- In "The Defeat of Superman", an overacting scientist working for a crime boss synthesizes kryptonite after working out the formula from a tiny fragment found in a meteorite. As Superman lies dying from the metal's effects, Lois and Jimmy rescue him for once, sealing the block of kryptonite in a leadLeadLead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
pipe, and Superman recovers. He then flings the pipe through the sky and into the sea with a super-throw. The escaping criminals, startled by the rocketing pipe, veer off the road and plummet to their deaths, keeping this dangerous secret "safe" in the hands of Superman's two friends.
- In "Superman Week", Jimmy, under the influence of truth serumTruth drugA truth drug or truth serum is a psychoactive medication used to obtain information from subjects who are unable or unwilling to provide it otherwise. The unethical use of truth drugs is classified as a form of torture according to international law. However, they are properly and productively...
, reveals the secret to some criminals. Superman stages an elaborate ruse in which he pretends to have retrieved the lead-encased metal from the ocean, and uses it to lead a wanted criminal into a trap. This ruse also presumably proves that Superman is not vulnerable to it, thus staving off criminals' thoughts of using it... for a while.
- In "The Deadly Rock", another eccentric scientist finds a meteorite that happens to be from Krypton, and a crime boss tries to use it to destroy Superman, who instead destroys it through the unlikely method of burning it with a flame-thrower. "The Deadly Rock" is also one of the first stories to depict Kryptonite affecting a human. Gary Allen, a pilot, is said to have been exposed to the resulting meteor shower during the events of "Panic in the Sky" and as a result gains invulnerability in the presence of kryptonite but loses consciousness as well.
- In "The Magic Secret", yet another eccentric scientist teams with a criminal, this time tricking Superman into descending a narrow and deep well to rescue Lois and Jimmy, then proceeding to shower the Man of Steel with kryptonite particles.
- In "The Gentle Monster", Professor Pepperwinkle—a very eccentric but good-natured scientist—constructs a superpowered robot whose strength is derived from a chunk of the metal that the scientist has found, not knowing the danger it poses to Superman.
- In the series' final episode, "All That Glitters", Jimmy is struck on the head by a falling sandbag and rendered unconscious. During a very lifelike dream, Jimmy imagines that Professor Pepperwinkle has discovered that Kryptonite is actually made of two components: Kryptonite-positive and Kryptonite-negative. Superman's body is said to be charged with K-positive—thus granting him his powers—while K-negative is said to neutralize the K-positive charge, destroying his powers. Pepperwinkle develops a means of isolating and purifying the K-positive, and of reducing it to pill form. Before he awakens from the dream, Jimmy imagines that he and Lois each develop powers like those of Superman after swallowing a K-positive pill.
The Adventures of Superboy
Kryptonite made frequent appearances in the syndicated "Superboy"Superboy (TV series)
Superboy is a half-hour live-action television series based on the fictional DC Comics comic book character Kal-El's early years as Superboy. The show ran from 1988–1992 in syndication...
TV series, most of it green. It first appeared in the first season episode "Kryptonite Kills" in which Professor Peterson retrieved it from Addis Adaba believing it to be a harmless meteorite and brought it to his gemology class at Shuster University. Superboy in his guise as Clark Kent (played by John Haymes Newton in Season 1, Gerard Christopher
Gerard Christopher
Gerard Christopher is an American actor. He was the second actor to play the role of Superboy in the series of the same name . During his tenure on Superboy he would later also be a producer and writer on the series...
in Seasons 2-4), a student in Peterson's science class, collapsed from the radiation and felt its effects for the first time. While attention was focused on Clark, Lex Luthor (played by Scott James Wells
Scott James Wells
Scott James Wells is an American actor, primarily noted for playing the villain Lex Luthor during the first season of the television series Superboy. Not much can be found on the actor, who seems to have disappeared into obscurity after being replaced by Sherman Howard for the remainder of the...
), another student in the class, swiped a small piece of the rock for himself, using it as a power source and fashioning it as a necklace for his girlfriend. Superboy later threw most of the kryptonite into space, except for Lex's piece, which was washed into the sewer. That piece was later discovered by a scientist who used it as a power source for Metallo
Metallo
Metallo is a comic book supervillain and cyborg who appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Metallo's trademark is his kryptonite power source, which he often uses as a weapon against Superman. His traditional identity is John Corben...
(Roger Corben) in the second season episode of the same name.
Green kryptonite made several more appearances throughout the series, used primarily by Lex Luthor (played in these later episodes by Sherman Howard
Sherman Howard
Howard Lee Sherman is an American actor.-Theatre:In 1989 he appeared at the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. He played the title role in Hamlet and Malvolio in Twelfth Night...
) and Metallo (subsequently portrayed by Michael Callan
Michael Callan
Not to be confused with Michael Callen.Michael Callan is an American actor.Born Martin Harris Calinieff in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Callan began his career as Mickey Calin, and it was with this name he appeared on Broadway in The Boy Friend , Catch a Star , and West Side Story .Callan's film...
). In the third season episode "Bride of Bizarro", Luthor sent Bizarro to a military research base to steal a large amount of kryptonite, which Luthor was seen using on Superboy in later episodes. In the fourth season episode "Kryptonite Kid", a young man named Mike Walker (played by Jay Underwood
Jay Underwood
Jay Underwood is an American actor.In 1983, he attended Moreau Catholic High School for one year in Hayward, California. He is married to Julie Underwood and has three children. His most recognized work includes portraying Ernest Hemingway in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, "Bug" in Uncle...
) working at the same military research base was caught in a kryptonite explosion while working to find a cure which would make Superboy immune to the radiation. The kryptonite entered his bloodstream and turned his skin green and he became "living, breathing kryptonite" able to fire kryptonite radiation from his hands. In "Obituary for a Super-Hero", Luthor used a kryptonite bomb planted on a yacht to attempt to kill Superboy.
Red kryptonite made an appearance in the second season episode "Super Menace". This version of Red K was created at a military research base where scientists were working to neutralize kryptonite's effect on Superboy while still retaining its radioactive properties so it could be used as a power source. Their experiments turned the Kryptonite red, making it useless as a power source and altering its effect on Superboy. This red kryptonite turned Superboy evil, much like red kryptonite would later do in the "Smallville" TV Series, except only a single exposure to it was required, rather than constant exposure. After Superboy wreaked havoc with Metallo, Lana Lang (played by Stacy Haiduk
Stacy Haiduk
Stacy Haiduk is an American actress. She is known for playing Lana Lang on Superboy from 1988 to 1992, Katherine Hitchcock on season 1 of seaQuest DSV from 1993 to 1994, Hannah Nichols on All My Children from 2007 to 2008, and the dual roles of Patty Williams and Dr...
) tricked Superboy into being exposed to another chunk of red kryptonite which reversed the effects of the first.
The "Superboy" series also introduced a form of white kryptonite, created by Professor Peterson's duplicating ray in an attempt to create a form of kryptonite that would kill the molecularly unstable Bizarro. It had an opposite effect, actually stabilizing, curing, and preventing him from eventually exploding as previous Bizarro duplicates had. White kryptonite made only one appearance in the series in the episode "The Battle With Bizarro". It is referred to again in "The Bride of Bizarro" but it is not seen.
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Kryptonite was used throughout the 1990s television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was a live-action American television series based on the Superman comic books...
.
- In "The Green, Green Glow of Home" the first piece was unearthed on the Smallville farm of Kent family friend Wayne Irig. He sent a sample of the rock to a local university. This came to the attention of Jason Trask. Trask headed Bureau 39, a secret government organization that investigated perceived alien threats. Trask had the paranoid belief that Superman was the first agent of an alien invasion. Understanding that the radioactive meteorite came from Krypton, he attempted to use the rock to kill Superman. Subsequently the main fragment of the meteorite was destroyed and Trask was killed by the local sheriff. Consequently only Clark Kent and his parents knew of its true existence. Clark and his partner Lois Lane reported on the incident in The Daily PlanetDaily PlanetThe Daily Planet is a fictional broadsheet newspaper in the , appearing mostly in the stories of Superman. The building's original features were based upon the AT&T Huron Road Building in Cleveland, Ohio...
and described Trask's delusions of a fabled rock that could kill Superman. Ironically in this article it was Clark Kent himself who first named it "kryptonite".
- As shown in "Barbarians at the Planet" and "The House of Luthor", the story of kryptonite intrigued Superman's archenemy Lex Luthor. He used the many resources at his disposal to track down and confirm the existence of the original sample that Irig had sent to be studied. Luthor ground down part of this kryptonite and used it to coat the bars of a cage to entrap the Man of Steel. It is mentioned earlier that Lex's people were studying the "K-field", and probably found a way to enhance the natural radiation of kryptonite, since the bars had relatively minor effect on Superman until somehow activated. After Superman's escape from this kryptonite prison and Luthor's apparent death, the legend of kryptonite continued to grow.
- Many criminals and former Lexcorp employees sought to acquire Luthor's kryptonite. In fact most of the kryptonite to be featured on the series originated from that first chunk found by Wayne Irig. During the 3rd season a new second piece was discovered, which Superman turned over to S.T.A.R. LabsS.T.A.R. LabsS.T.A.R. Labs, is a fictional research facility, and comic book organization appearing in titles published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Superman vol. 1 #246 , and was created by Cary Bates and Rich Buckler.-Publication history:...
for testing. This was the source of most of the kryptonite featured for the remainder of the series. It was attempted by S.T.A.R. Labs to make Superman immune to kryptonite by controlled exposure to the radiation. The exact amount of success is unknown, but it is known that kryptonite never affected Superman as strongly as the very first time, when a short exposure caused a temporary complete loss of powers. This sample was later stolen at the beginning of the fourth season by the military, ground down to lace a gas grenade in an attempt to kill an invading force of Kryptonians (and Superman as collateral damage.)
- On Lois and Clark, green kryptonite was delivered in a variety of ingenious ways. A bullet was fashioned from pure kryptonite in one episode, and in another, a wicked woman tried to bring about Superman's demise by kissing him after coating her lips with a kryptonite-contaminated lipstick. In the episode "MetalloMetalloMetallo is a comic book supervillain and cyborg who appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Metallo's trademark is his kryptonite power source, which he often uses as a weapon against Superman. His traditional identity is John Corben...
", scientist Emmett Vale, who studied Luthor's kryptonite while working at Lexlabs, used a piece to power the cyborg he created from fatally wounded criminal John Corben.
- Red kryptonite was also featured in the series. In one episode, it made Superman apathetic; in another, it transferred his powers to Lois Lane after being focused through a laser beam. In yet another, it uncontrollably supercharged his powers, causing him to do things such as accidentally fly through the sidewalk when landing.
- A renegade S.T.A.R. Labs scientist created a "hybrid kryptonite," which was supposed to be just as deadly to humans as to Kryptonians. When used however, it was discovered that while the hybrid kryptonite made humans sick, it had no effect on Superman.
Smallville
In the 2000s and 2010s television series SmallvilleSmallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
, a large quantity of green kryptonite falls to Earth (in the town of Smallville, Kansas) as a meteor shower in 1989—arriving at the same time as the spaceship containing the infant Kal-El. The size and quantity of the rocks are large enough to hide the spaceship from the radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
being employed by various nations in the late 1980s. Additionally, the meteor shower is directly responsible for the loss of Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor (Smallville)
Lex Luthor is a fictional character from the television series Smallville. He was a series regular from the pilot episode until the season seven finale, and has been played continuously by Michael Rosenbaum, with various actors portraying Lex as a child throughout the series...
's hair (caused by exposure to kryptonite radiation) and the death of Lana Lang
Lana Lang (Smallville)
Lana Lang is a fictional character on the television series Smallville. She has been a series regular since the pilot episode, and has been played continuously by Kristin Kreuk, with two other actresses having portrayed Lana Lang as a child and as an elderly woman...
's parents (who were struck by a kryptonite meteor). The element is originally referred to as "meteor rock", rather than "kryptonite," even by Clark Kent
Clark Kent (Smallville)
Clark Kent is a fictional character on the television series Smallville. The character of Clark Kent, first created for comic books by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938 as the alternate identity of Superman, was adapted to television in 2001 by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar—this is the fourth...
. In the season two episode "Rosetta", Clark learns the name of his home planet for the first time, and the term "kryptonite" eventually comes into use by those characters who know Clark's secret.
On the show, not only is green kryptonite harmful to Clark Kent, but it can produce bizarre changes in humans, animals, and plants, typically turning them into powerful metahuman
Metahuman
Metahuman is a term to describe superhumans in DC Comics' shared universe, the DC Universe. It is roughly synonymous with both mutant and mutate and posthuman in the Wildstorm and Ultimate Marvel Universes. Use of the term in reference to superheroes was coined in 1986 by author George R. R...
menaces, commonly known by the inhabitants of Smallville as "Meteor Freaks," that Clark must oppose. These changes seem to be linked to the circumstances under which the subject was exposed to kryptonite, the subject's emotional state, their personality, and even their profession (similar to how gamma radiation
Gamma ray
Gamma radiation, also known as gamma rays or hyphenated as gamma-rays and denoted as γ, is electromagnetic radiation of high frequency . Gamma rays are usually naturally produced on Earth by decay of high energy states in atomic nuclei...
affects people in the Marvel Comics universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
). Groups of people have been shown to acquire the same powers or similarly related powers from kryptonite by exposing themselves to it in the same manner. One hitch to these powers has been that they, for the most part, have no effect on Clark, provided they are generally used offensively and are powers that have manifested due to a single large exposure to kryptonite (either from the meteor showers or from some one-time clamity that results in instantly altering the person). Clark reacts to people who use kryptonite infused items to gain temporary powers (i.e.- laced tattoo ink; laced steriods; laced paint) in the same manner as he reacts to kryptonite as the infused item still radiates (albeit, not as potently), passive meteor powers often still work on Clark (in 'Obsession, Alicia is able to teleport Clark), and, in few cases, the 'freak-of-the-week's' ability has a much more drastic effect on Clark than on humans (In 'Hourglass,' Clark is able to see his future, where, with humans, only Cassandra can see their future and she has to tell them. In the episode 'Blank,' a teen with the ability to erase memories accidentally erases Clark's entire life, whereas, with humans, he is only able to erase a few minutes.)
The harm inflicted on Clark by kryptonite on Smallville is varied. He cannot be near green kryptonite without doubling over in nausea and pain, and if he were to hold a fragment of it in his hand, it would burn to the touch and the veins in his hand would become exposed and green. However, on other separate occasions Clark has held and even ingested kryptonite (albeit in diluted form) and been merely weakened. When a vial of Clark's blood was held up to kryptonite to verify its authenticity, the blood began to boil. Higher refined kryptonite seems to also have a stronger effect and larger effect radius.
In the season eight
Smallville (season 8)
Season eight of Smallville, an American television series, began airing on September 18, 2008. The series recounts the early adventures of Kryptonian Clark Kent as he adjusts to life in the fictional town of Smallville, Kansas, during the years before he becomes Superman...
episode "Power", Lana Lang (in an effort to gain the power necessary to fight crime alongside Clark) acquires an experimental skin-replacing "suit" known as "Project Prometheus". The suit was designed for Lex Luthor and grants Lana superhuman abilities. In season eight's "Requiem", she learns that the suit has the added ability to absorb and emit kryptonite radiation. In a cruel setup by Lex, Lana is forced to absorb a large amount of kryptonite radiation, which is being used as an explosive capable of leveling most of Metropolis. As a result, Lana is forced to leave Smallville and Clark forever, or risk killing Clark as she gets too close to him. Lex also fashioned kryptonite rings with Luthor's family insignia for himself in preparation for his eventual confrontations with Clark. Oliver Queen took one of the rings from Lex after his apparent death, though he does not confirm when confronted by Clark whether he intended it for use as an insurance policy against Clark himself.
Also, it is worth noting that, as a nod to some Superman comics, Clark on rare occasions has displayed some resistance towards kryptonite. A notable example was when he somehow survived an explosion while imprisoned in a kryptonite cage in the season ten episode "Patriot". He has also somehow retained some of his powers while under kryptonite exposure, such as X-ray vision when trapped in the kryptonite cage and super-breath when he was held captive by Granny Goodness
Granny Goodness
Granny Goodness is a fictional character, a deity and supervillain published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, Granny Goodness was modeled on comedienne Phyllis Diller and first appeared in Mister Miracle vol...
in the season ten episode "Abandoned".
Red kryptonite has also been shown in Smallville. Its effect on Clark Kent is to rid him of all inhibitions, making him rebellious and potentially dangerous if exposed to it for too long. Also created for the series was black kryptonite (first appearing in the episode "Crusade"), which is capable of separating certain entities within individual organisms, e.g., splitting a person's good and evil sides.
Black kryptonite was formed by heating up green kryptonite. In the series, after Clark's "reprogramming" by Jor-El in the caves, Martha Kent used black kryptonite to reveal the two psyches of Clark, the militant Kal-El (not to be confused with the rebellious "Kal" alias caused by red kryptonite), and normal Clark. In a later episode, Lex Luthor was experimenting with a process to heat up green kryptonite and irradiate seeds, in order to separate the "weak" genes from the "strong" genes in the seeds. The result was hardy but rotten-tasting fruit, implying a yin and yang
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
balance within fruit, as well as within humans. An accident with this process caused Lex to split into a good Lex and a bad Lex who referred to himself as "Alexander". In the eighth season episode "Injustice", Oliver Queen retrieved a supply of black kryptonite, which Chloe used on Davis in "Doomsday".
Silver kryptonite made an appearance in the fifth season episode entitled "Splinter'. Like the previous comics incarnation, this silver form was not a true form of the stone. In the episode, Clark pricked his finger on a rock that was black and had silver-metallic clusters, and subsequently became increasingly paranoid, hallucinating
Hallucination
A hallucination, in the broadest sense of the word, is a perception in the absence of a stimulus. In a stricter sense, hallucinations are defined as perceptions in a conscious and awake state in the absence of external stimuli which have qualities of real perception, in that they are vivid,...
that others were conspiring against him. In the episode's final scenes, it was revealed that a splinter of the element entered Clark's bloodstream. It was also shown that silver kryptonite was created artificially from the liquid metal which forms Brainiac
Brainiac (comics)
Brainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
's body.
In the eighth episode of Smallville's 7th Season, entitled "Blue," there was a new form of Kryptonite. It was blue kryptonite, and it stripped Clark of his powers. This happened when Lara, Clark's mother, gave Clark his father's blue ring to wear, without knowing the effect it would have on him. The ring was impossible to remove until Clark returned to the Fortress of Solitude
Fortress of Solitude
The Fortress of Solitude is the occasional headquarters of Superman in DC Comics. Its predecessor, Superman's "Secret Citadel", first appeared in Superman #17, where it was said to be built into a mountain on the outskirts of Metropolis...
. As in the comics, blue kryptonite is fatal to Bizarro
Bizarro
Bizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68...
. It increases Bizarro's power exponentially so that his body is not able to contain it, causing him to explode.
In season 9 episode 7, titled "Kandor", Clark's father Jor-El, a prominent scientist on Krypton, is tasked by the Kryptonian high counsel to prepare DNA clones of the planet's finest soldiers during the war with Black Zero. Knowing the powers bestowed by Earth's yellow sun, Jor-El uses blue kryptonite to prevent the clones from having the powers bestowed upon his son, Kal-El (Clark) should they be unleashed from their transport orb on Earth.
In season 9 episode "Persuasion" a new Kryptonite called Gemstone Kryptonite gave Clark the ability to have others want to fulfill his wishes.
In season 10's "Luthor" gold kryptonite is mentioned by the alternate reality Clark Kent, the evil Clark Luthor/Ultraman. He implies that "gold K" is responsible for a notable scar on his wrist. Gold Kryptonite finally appears in the episode 20, "Prophecy", when Oliver, infected by Darkseid, was digging in a forest and ended up finding a piece of the gold meteor rock. It is later featured as a wedding ring given to Oliver to plant it on Clark, ridding him of his powers, but Oliver overcame Darkseid and crushed the ring.
Super Friends
The 1970s and 1980s Super FriendsSuper Friends
Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes, which ran from 1973 to 1986 on ABC as part of its Saturday morning cartoon lineup...
animated series featured kryptonite in various episodes. In the episode "Rest in Peace", Sinestro
Sinestro
Thaal Sinestro is a fictional character, an alien supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, Sinestro is the former mentor of Hal Jordan and the arch-nemesis of the entire Green Lantern Corps. Sinestro first appears in Green Lantern #7 . In 2009, Sinestro was...
refers to a form of kryptonite called "Krypton Steel" as "a harmless form of kryptonite that only Superman can penetrate". In another episode, "Darkseid's Golden Trap", gold kryptonite appears, which is stated to have an effective range of 20 ft (6.1 m). Blue kryptonite also makes an appearance in an episode entitled "Terror From the Phantom Zone"; Superman, aging rapidly from exposure to red kryptonite, acquires a sample of blue kryptonite which had been discovered floating in space. Since blue kryptonite harms Bizarros, Superman reasons that it would help normal Kryptonians, and thus uses it to cure himself. In "Uncle Mxyzptlk", the Wonder Twins find a red, glowing stone and take it to the Hall of Justice. They show it to Superman, who immediately reacts to it. Samurai knocks the red kryptonite to the floor but the effects of the red kryptonite cause Superman to decrease in age, becoming a young child. The rest of the Super Friends refer to the kid as 'Super Brat'. In another episode, red kryptonite is exposed to Superman by Bizarro himself, causing Superman to transform into a gangly, weak klutz. In yet another episode, red kryptonite causes Superman to grow additional arms and legs. Most of the action takes place at the Fortress of Solitude
Fortress of Solitude
The Fortress of Solitude is the occasional headquarters of Superman in DC Comics. Its predecessor, Superman's "Secret Citadel", first appeared in Superman #17, where it was said to be built into a mountain on the outskirts of Metropolis...
where Superman finds some blue kryptonite hidden away to fight off Bizarro, but unlike the earlier case of curing superman from his artificial old age, this session of blue kriptonite didn't heal superman (But the first case was a huge meteor, and the latter was just an small chunk)
DC Animated Universe
In the 1990s series, Superman: The Animated SeriesSuperman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series is an American animated television series starring DC Comics' flagship character, Superman. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on The WB from September 6, 1996 to February 12, 2000. Warner Bros...
, one explanation offered for the science of kryptonite is that Superman feels the detrimental effects of kryptonite radiation quicker than normal humans because his body absorbs it more readily, as a result of sharing a common point of origin with the element. The effect is so potent that even a tiny shard is enough to painfully affect Superman at a short distance. This makes it impossible for Superman to even touch the substance, as it would be the equivalent of a normal man touching radioactive rods from a nuclear reactor with his bare skin. Only the element lead can block the radiation, and it is therefore Superman's only protection. Fortunately, Professor Hamilton
Professor Hamilton
Professor Emil Hamilton is a fictional character in DC Comics' Superman titles. He is generally portrayed as a stereotypical absent-minded professor, with a gray beard and thick glasses and, at times, a "Mr. Wizard" type character...
supplies Superman with a distinctive and durable lead protection suit for such situations.
Kryptonite, in the animated series, still has effects on normal humans as well. There are two examples of this. First, the "Jade Dragon" from The Batman/Superman Movie (a crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
between The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman Adventures is the successor to Batman: The Animated Series produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Although bearing different character designs and animation styles, both shows take place in the same continuity, with TNBA set two years after BTAS. The series aired on The WB from...
and Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series is an American animated television series starring DC Comics' flagship character, Superman. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on The WB from September 6, 1996 to February 12, 2000. Warner Bros...
) is a statue of kryptonite carved in the form of a Chinese dragon, said to be cursed because all of its owners all died within a few years of acquiring the piece. Second is Lex Luthor's kryptonite poisoning/cancer as seen in Justice League
Justice League (TV series)
Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics...
, attributed to Lex's admitted habit of keeping a fist-sized chunk of kryptonite in his pocket for years. Batman also carries a piece of kryptonite (possibly the same piece) in his own belt, presumably in a lead-lined pouch, as Superman is often seen next to Batman without suffering any ill effects. That piece was later shattered against Superman's chest by Amazo
Amazo
Amazo is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in The Brave and the Bold #30 and was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. An android, Amazo's special ability is to replicate the special abilities of various superheroes and...
, leaving only a small needle-like piece left. In Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond is an American animated television series created by Warner Bros. Animation in collaboration with DC Comics as a continuation of the Batman legacy...
, it was revealed in the two part episode "The Call" that Bruce Wayne kept the needle of kryptonite for the rest of his life, locked up securely in the Bat Cave.
Green kryptonite remains the only variety of the substance ever seen in the DC animated universe
DC animated universe
The DC Animated Universe is a fan term that refers to a series of popular animated television series and related spin-offs produced by Warner Bros. Animation which share the same continuity. Most of these series are adapted from DC Comics properties...
.
Krypto the Superdog
As mentioned above, the Krypto the Superdog episode "Streaky's Cat Tail" features "purple-spotted kryptonite", which causes Superdog to compulsively chase his tail. However, this was almost certainly a product of Streaky's imagination. Red kryptonite has appeared and is stated as having weird effects on Kryptonians for a day; it has swapped the minds of Kevin and Krypto, removed Krypto's powers, and in another episode caused Krypto's tail to become sentient and separated from his body.Legion of Super Heroes
Kryptonite also appears in an episode of the Legion of Super HeroesLegion of Super Heroes (TV series)
Legion of Super Heroes is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation that debuted on September 23, 2006, based on characters appearing in the DC Comics comic book series. The series centers on the young Superman's adventures in the 31st century, fighting alongside a...
cartoon, where it is revealed Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5
Brainiac 5 is a fictional character who exists in the 30th and 31st centuries of the DC Universe. He is a long standing member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Brainiac 5 is from the planet Colu...
has a piece of it, and that the villain Drax, who, despite being an analogue to Superman, is immune to it. In the season 2 episode "Dark Victory", a brainwashed Brainiac 5 not only attacks Superman with a Kryptonite ray, but also produces a band of kryptonite from within him and places it on the hero's head, the band then tightening around it.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Green Kryptonite and Red Kryptonite appear in the Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold
Batman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode "The Battle of the Superheroes". The red kryptonite exposure causes Superman to turn evil and try to take over Metropolis. Lex Luthor is also shown to have his Kryptonite Ring when he tries to weaken Superman only to discover that Superman is actually Batman in disguise.
Empty Nest
In the comedy TV series Empty NestEmpty Nest
Empty Nest is an American sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1988 to 1995. The series was created as a spin-off of The Golden Girls by creator and producer Susan Harris. For its first three seasons, Empty Nest was one of the year's top 10 most-watched programs...
, the pediatrician who is the main permanent character of the show suggests using kryptonite to treat a boy who admires Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and dresses up as him. The boy objects that kryptonite is part of the Superman Universe, not the Spider-man Universe. But of course the Doctor is right. Kryptonite may well enhance the powers of an Earth Human whose abilities were given to him in the first place by the bite of a radioactive spider.
External links
- BBC Nature
- The Superman Homepage's section on kryptonite
- Supermanica entry on Pre-Crisis forms of kryptonite
- The first appearance of K-metal
- The Superman.nu Encyclopaedia entry on Kryptonite
- The Colors Out of Space
- The Photonucleic Effect
- The Superman.nu Encyclopaedia entry on K-Metal
- Howstuffworks.com: "How Kryptonite Works"
- Superdickery