Kryptonite

Kryptonite

Lex Luthor in front of a display of kryptonite and holding green kryptonite.
From a panel in Action Comics Annual #10, 2007.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
First appearance Radio:
The Adventures of Superman
(circa 1943)
Comics:
Superman #61
(November 1949)
In story information
Type Element
Element of stories featuring Superman

Kryptonite is a fictional element from the Superman mythos, originating in the Superman radio show series. Despite the similar name, it has no connection to the real chemical element krypton.

The material is usually shown as having been created from the remains of Superman's native planet of Krypton, and generally has detrimental effects on Superman and other Kryptonians. The name "kryptonite" covers a variety of forms of the substance, but usually refers to the most common "green" form. Kryptonite is one of the few things that can kill Superman.

The word kryptonite is also used in modern speech as a synonym for Achilles' heel, the one weakness of an otherwise invulnerable hero.[1]

Contents

Fictional history

Original versions

A forerunner of the kryptonite concept was the unpublished 1940 story "The K-Metal from Krypton", by Superman creator Jerry Siegel.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).[2] 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 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.

Post-Crisis Versions

Upon the John Byrne reboot of the Superman mythos after Crisis on Infinite Earths, 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 stolen by rogue government operatives before Superman ever knew of it and cut apart for examination. Several of these samples ended up in the possession of criminals, especially Lex Luthor, who used a piece to power the cyborg Metallo and, 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. 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.[3]

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 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.

During the second recreation of the multiverse, 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.[4]

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.[5]

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, save for one fragment, which Superman gives to Batman. However, it is later revealed that Batman has acquired a fair amount of every variety of the alien material, keeping his samples in the Batcave [6]

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.[7]

Scientific basis

Superman suffering kryptonite poisoning.

Despite the matching name, it was never suggested that the element krypton had any significance to the name of the planet Krypton.

Under standard chemical naming procedures, the -ite suffix of kryptonite would denote an oxyanion 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.[8]

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 cells 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.

Forms of kryptonite

Variations

The various known forms of kryptonite in the Superman media:

Colors of Kryptonite Effects
Green Kryptonite The most common form of kryptonite, created by the "radioactive chain reaction" which destroyed Krypton, and "scattered throughout space as meteors."[9] In super-humanly powered Kryptonians, causes immediate physical pain and debilitation, reduces their powers, and kills within hours. Green kryptonite is a radioactive substance and as such, prolonged exposure to green kryptonite can cause cancer in humans. Green kryptonite has been shown to strengthen Bizarro, and in an issue of the revived Brave and the Bold which featured the unlikely team up of Superman and Ultraman from the antimatter universe, Ultraman also gains strength from Kryptonite, which has the same properties as the Anti-Kryptonite from his dimension. Lead, as well as normal containment methods for radioactive substances, has been shown to block kryptonite radiation, but the effect varies for different levels of radiation.

In the Superman movie continuity and the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (in the episode where kryptonite is introduced, but usually not in the others), green kryptonite is shown as effectively removing Superman's powers during the time he is exposed. In Lois & Clark he remains as vulnerable to injury as a human for a few minutes afterward. In most comics continuity, however, Superman retains his powers to some degree while exposed to green kryptonite, although dramatically weakened and in severe pain. Thus, attacking him with conventional weapons while exposed to kryptonite would be ineffective; only the exposure to kryptonite itself is potentially fatal. His skin also begins to turn green.

In various stories, Superman is shown to have become immune to the effects of green kryptonite due to either repeated non-fatal exposure,[10] continuous long-term absorption of solar radiation,[11] or extremely high short-term exposure to the sun.[12]

Green kryptonite is typically shown to have no short-term effects on humans or non-superpowered Kryptonians. However, in post-Crisis continuity, long-term exposure can cause radiation poisoning in humans.

In Smallville, 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 reports "actually dying neutralizes the kryptonite in your system."

Green kryptonite, being radioactive, has been used as an energy source to power reactors in power stations. The supervillain Metallo uses green kryptonite to power his cyborg body.

In the cartoon series Justice League Unlimited it is shown that prolonged exposure to kryptonite in humans causes them to contract cancer. Lex Luthor contracts cancer due to his constant exposure.

The chemical composition for the kryptonite according to the movie Superman III is plutonium: 15.08%, tantalum: 18.06%, xenon: 27.71%, promethium: 24.02%, dialium: 10.62%, mercury: 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, causing Superman to become mentally as well as physically affected.)

The preponderance of other storylines describe kryptonite as a unique atomic element (kryptonium), not a chemical compound composed of other subsidiary elements.
Red Kryptonite Pre-Crisis 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.[9] In this continuity, red Kryptonite causes a different effect on Superman each time he comes into contact with it.

In post-Crisis continuity, Mister Mxyzptlk 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, using notes stolen from Batman. 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.[13] In The Brave and the Bold series, the cloud was drawn to Earth by the deranged alchemist Megistus to shield humanity against the effects of the Final Crisis by warping it into something totally different; the villain Doctor Alchemy also proved capable of transmuting the Fortress of Solitude in its entirety into red kryptonite using his philosopher's stone.

In Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, red kryptonite initially caused Superman to become apathetic.[14] It was hypothesized that, given enough exposure to red kryptonite, Clark's condition would become permanent. However, after talking to a psychiatrist, Clark was able to resist the effects of the red kryptonite, and he picked up the rock and threw it out of a window. Its later appearances included a red kryptonite laser which caused Superman's powers to transfer to Lois,[15] and exposure causing Superman's powers to be increased beyond his ability to control them.[16]

On the TV series Smallville, 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.[17]

In Krypto the Superdog, effects on Krypto include temporary amnesia,[18] loss of all his super-canine powers,[19] causing Krypto's tail to detach from his body and come to life,[20] turning into a fish,[21] and body-swapping.[22]
Gold Kryptonite Pre-Crisis, it permanently removes superpowers from Kryptonians, by destroying the ability of Kryptonian cells to process solar energy.[23] 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 "The Phantom Zone," as well as the 1986 "imaginary story" Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?

Post-Crisis, gold kryptonite has appeared in Adventures of Superman #444 and Superman (vol. 2) #22. In the Legion of Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #293, during "The Great Darkness Saga", it is shown that Element Lad can transmute matter into gold kryptonite.

In Action Comics Annual #11, Metallo mentions that the modern age gold kryptonite in his chest only temporarily removes a Kryptonian's powers. The exact time period is later revealed to be fifteen seconds.[24]
Blue Kryptonite Blue kryptonite is the Bizarro 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's "duplicator ray" on some green kryptonite. Here, blue kryptonite affects Bizarros 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 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.[25]

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—overloading his body with power and killing 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 Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, blue kryptonite has the same weakening effect on Ultraman that green kryptonite has on Superman.
Black Kryptonite Black kryptonite was first introduced in the Smallville 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 vegetations 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.

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 the self-proclaimed god Darkseid, 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.
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'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 powers of Phantom Zone 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 in the pre-Crisis comics. Post-Crisis, it is the power source of Ultraman, Superman's evil counterpart who lives in an alternate antimatter universe. Anti-kryptonite was also used by Green Lantern Hal Jordan while rescuing a member of the Green Lantern Corps (Guy Gardner) from the Phantom Zone by causing pain to General Zod, Kru-El, and Faora, 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.[26] The "unique combination of chemicals" used by Supergirl created "something new under the sun," whose radiation (and odor)[27] can imbue Earth-based life-forms with temporary superpowers.[26] It is primarily known as the source of Supergirl's pet cat, Streaky's superpowers.[26] Originally it had additional effect on Kryptonians (although the latent kryptonite radiation is still harmful to them)[26] but this was changed in 1974 to having the same effects as green kryptonite.[28]
Slow Kryptonite A modified variety of green kryptonite produced by supervillain Metallo that affects humans in a manner similar to normal green kryptonite on Kryptonians, appearing in The Brave and the Bold #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 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 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, 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.
Magic Kryptonite In Superman/Batman #46, an enchanted piece of kryptonite has a drug-like effect, until Batman finds another piece which cancels out the effects of the first piece. The first piece is a silver crescent. The second piece is a lavender round rock that fits into the crescent.
Pink Kryptonite From Supergirl (vol. 4) #79, an alternate timeline in a 2003 Supergirl storyline by Peter David. It affected the Superman of this reality; one of the results is Superman giving flattering compliments to Jimmy Olsen about his wardrobe and decorative sense. It spoofs the more "innocent times" of the Silver Age; Lois Lane is depicted in this story as not understanding what has gotten into Superman.[29]
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.

Simulated kryptonite

Hoaxes

In the comics and other media, some varieties of kryptonite that turned out to be hoaxes:

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.

Movies

Superman: The Movie

In Superman: The Movie, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) 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.

Superman III

In Superman III, computer programmer Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor) determines that kryptonite is composed of: 15.08% plutonium, 18.06% tantalum, 27.71% xenon, 24.02% promethium, 10.62% dialium, and 3.94% mercury, with the final 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.

Superman Returns

In Superman Returns, 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 “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 was discovered by Rio Tinto Group researchers in a mine in Serbia[30].

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).

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

In the animated direct to video movie, Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, 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.

Television series

Adventures of Superman

Kryptonite was used in several Adventures of Superman 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 presumed to be green kryptonite in all cases:

The Adventures of Superboy

Kryptonite made frequent appearances in the syndicated "Superboy" 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.

Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Kryptonite was used throughout the 1990s television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

Smallville

In the 2000s television series Smallville, a large quantity of green kryptonite comes to Earth at the same time as the infant Kal-El. It is 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 and the subject's emotional state (similar to how gamma radiation affects people in the Marvel Comics universe). Groups of people have been shown to acquire the same powers from kryptonite by exposing themselves to it in the same manner.

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.

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.[31] 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.[32] Lex also fashioned kryptonite rings with LuthorCorp 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.

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"[33]), 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".[34] In the eighth season episode "Injustice", Oliver Queen retrieved a supply of black kryptonite, which Chloe used on Davis in "Doomsday".[35][36]

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.[37]

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.[38]

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.

Animated series

Super Friends

The 1970s and 1980s Super Friends 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.

DC Animated Universe

In the 1990s series, Superman: The Animated Series, 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. Two moments are evidence 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. This does bring up the question of Batman's habit of also carrying a piece of kryptonite in his own belt; however, since Batman has seen what the kryptonite did to Luthor, the famed methodicality of Batman may mean that he likely has the pouch lined with lead. The lead pouch theory seems to be confirmed by the fact that Superman can stand near Batman without being affected by the piece. In Batman Beyond, it was revealed in the two part episode "The Call" that Bruce Wayne kept the kryptonite for the rest of his life, and kept the needle of kryptonite locked up very securely in the Bat Cave. The Justice League series also reveals how Batman obtained the kryptonite.

Green kryptonite remains the only variety of the substance ever seen in the DC animated universe.

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 Heroes 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.

Popular culture

In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Club Kryptonite was open from 2002 to 2009, with dance and techno music and a 1,500-square-foot (140 m2) dance floor.[39] Kryptonite was used in a rap song called kryptonite by rapper Big Boi, but in the song kryptonite means marijuana because they are both green.

Kryptonite is mentioned in the lyric "Mild Mannered supermen are held in kryptonite" from the song "The Carpet Crawlers" by Genesis.

In "Love", a song by R&B artist Erykah Badu, she sings "I thought I fell in love with Superman, it's true, but even Kryptonite can't make you do your thang; I'ma about to go insane" (2010).

Kryptonite also appears in the 2000 3 Doors Down hit by the same title as well as the Five For Fighting 2000 song "Superman." Both songs deal with the often over-looked difficulties in being a superhero, depicting a trend in the superhero genre where these classic heroes—once seen as untouchable and, indeed, superhuman—are portrayed as flawed and troubled.

Kryptonite is referenced in the SR-71 song, "Broken-Handed", although a play on the pronunciation is made by switching what was being said mid-word (the person the song is speaking to is called a "Krypto-Nightingale Snow White" to the singer's broken-handed Superman).

Kryptonite was used as a double entendre on the album Pocket Full of Kryptonite and song "Jimmy Olsen's Blues" by the musical group Spin Doctors.

"Black Kryptonite" was what Will Smith described the Men in Black to be in the soundtrack to Men in Black II.

Professional wrestler Mike Bucci, who performed under a superhero gimmick called Super Nova, named his finishing move the "Kryptonite Krunch".

In the TV series Empty Nest, the main character, a pediatrician, facetiously speculates that kryptonite, though harmful to Superman, may be of medical benefit to Spider-Man.

In the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, while attempting to deduce Buffy's sudden loss of abilities, Xander suggests the cause may be a form of "slayer kryptonite". Oz then suggests this is a faulty metaphor as kryptonite kills, igniting a debate as to which form of kryptonite (green, red, or gold) drains Superman's abilities.

Five Iron Frenzy's song "American Kryptonite" is about the danger and selfishness of mass consumerism, a common theme of the band's music.

In the 2009 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Nate Robinson dressed in a green New York Knicks uniform complete with a green compression sleeve and green shoes. Using a green basketball, the five-foot-nine Knicks guard leaped over the six-foot-eleven Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to secure the victory. Robinson made this wardrobe change in the middle of the competition to parody himself as "Krypto-Nate" after Howard dressed in a Superman cape in the contest and the year before.

In Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains episode 2, James Clement suggests that Stephenie LaGrossa is the kryptonite on their team, the Heroes. This is because Stephenie's tribe, Ulong, on Survivor: Palau lost every single immunity challenge which she was the last one standing. Stephenie was voted out in the same episode. Oddly enough, the Heroes won the next challenge after Stephenie's boot.

References

  1. ↑ TvTropes
  2. ↑ Byrne, Craig (November 2007). Smallville: The Official Companion Season 5. London: Titan Books. p. 40. ISBN 1845765427. 
  3. ↑ Action Comics #654 (June 1990)
  4. ↑ Countdown to Infinite Crisis
  5. ↑ Superman/Batman #47/#48
  6. ↑ Superman/Batman #49
  7. ↑ Action Comics #871
  8. ↑ Le.ac.uk (February 2003). "The Man of Steel Carries Kryptonite to Piccadilly". Press release. http://www.le.ac.uk/press/press/themanofsteel.html. Retrieved 2010-07-08. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "The Untold Story of Red Kryptonite!" in Superman #139 (Aug 1960). Story by Otto Binder, Pencils by Curt Swan, inks by George Klein.
  10. ↑ "The Great Kryptonite Mystery," Superboy (volume 1) #58, July 1957
  11. ↑ Kingdom Come
  12. ↑ All Star Superman #1 (January 2006)
  13. ↑ JLA #44, August 2000
  14. ↑ Season 2, Episode 20, titled "Individual Responsibility"
  15. ↑ The Season 3, Episode 7, installment titled "Ultrawoman."
  16. ↑ The Season 4, Episode 12, installment titled "Lethal Weapon."
  17. ↑ Smallville, Episode 02x04 "Red"
  18. ↑ Krypto the Superdog episode "Superdog? Who's Superdog?"
  19. ↑ Krypto the Superdog episode "Bat-Hound for a Day"
  20. ↑ Krypto the Superdog episode "The Living End"
  21. ↑ Krypto the Superdog episode "Furry Fish"
  22. ↑ Krypto the Superdog episode "Dog-Gone Kevin"
  23. ↑ Action Comics Annual #10, 2007
  24. ↑ Supergirl #37
  25. ↑ Superman/Batman #25
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 "Supergirl's Super Pet!" in Action Comics #261 (Feb 1960). Written by Jerome "Jerry" Siegel. Art by Jim Mooney.
  27. ↑ "The World's Mightiest Cat!" in Action Comics #266 (Jul 1960). Written by Jerry Siegel, Art by Jim Mooney.
  28. ↑ Superman Family #203 (1974)
  29. ↑ Superdickery.com: Seduction of the Innocent
  30. ↑ 'Kryptonite' discovered in mine.
  31. ↑ "Power". Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer (writers) & Allison Mack (director). Smallville. The CW. 2009-01-29. No. 13, season 8.
  32. ↑ "Requiem". Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson (writers) & Michael Rohl (director). Smallville. The CW. 2009-02-05. No. 14, season 8.
  33. ↑ "Crusade". Alfred Gough, Miles Millar (writers) & Greg Beeman (director). Smallville. The WB. 2004-09-22. No. 1, season 4.
  34. ↑ "Onyx". Steven S. DeKnight (writer) & Terrence O'Hara (director). Smallville. The WB. 2005-04-13. No. 17, season 4.
  35. ↑ "Injustice". Al Septien, Turi Meyer (writers) & Tom Welling (director). Smallville. The CW. 2009-05-07. No. 21, season 8.
  36. ↑ "Doomsday". Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders (writers) & James Marshall (director). Smallville. The CW. 2009-05-14. No. 22, season 8.
  37. ↑ "Splinter". Steven S. DeKnight (writer) & James Marshall (director). Smallville. The WB. 2005-11-10. No. 7, season 5.
  38. ↑ "Blue". Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Glen Winter (director). Smallville. The CW. 2007-11-150. No. 8, season 7.
  39. ↑ Newton, Monique (2009-11-10). "Club Kryptonite in Myrtle Beach shuts doors". The Sun News. http://www.thesunnews.com/142/story/1158678.html?storylink=omni_popular. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 

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See also: Superman in other media · Lex Luthor in other media · Supergirl in other media

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