Kryptonite

A chunk of Kryptonite.

Kryptonite is a glowing green mineral that emits potent radiation that weakens Kryptonians in its vicinity. Even half-Kyptonians, such as Superboy, are affected by it, though to a lesser extent. Due to its lethality, the Justice League keeps inventory of the available quantities on Earth and throughout the galaxy.

Exposure to Kryptonite can lead to Kryptonite poisoning, which causes unconsciousness and discolored skin long after exposure ends.

The radiation from Kryptonite can be blocked by lead.

History

Batman keeps an amount stored in an "overwhelmingly impenetrable" vault in the Batcave. In 2010, Robin used it to incapacitate the mind-controlled Superman at the Watchtower.

A green-skinned Superman suffers from Kryptonite poisoning.

A decade later, Lor-Zod strapped Kryptonite onto Ma'alefa'ak's gene-bomb, resulting in the apparent death of Superboy. He had acquired the Kryptonite in the 31st century, where he stole the last known sample.

Metron kept a sample among his Kryptonian artifacts in his Infinity Vault. He used it to disable Lor-Zod after the Kryptonian tried to force him into handing over the Phantom Zone Projector. Lor suffered Kryptonite poisoning, turning his skin green and leaving him unconscious for a whole day.

Nightwing took a sample of Kryptonite into the Phantom Zone and attempted to use it when the group was captured by Dru-Zod. It had no effect in the Zone, and Zod took it. When he made it to Earth, Zod used it on Superman, with Ma'alefa'ak holding the lead box against his chest, poisoning him. Zod went to use the Kryptonite again on Superboy after he refused to kill Superman, but Kid Flash snatched it away. Zatanna cured Superman's Kryptonite poisoning with magic.

Kryptonite was found at the Krastmala mine by the Vlatavan National Mining Company. Though the Company and Queen Perdita Vladek tried to sneak the Kryptonite to STAR Labs in Star City under cover of royal visit, the Kryptonite (and Perdita) were taken by Lex-Bots. While searching for Perdita at a LexCorp Robotics factory in Madinat Altharwati, the Outsiders encountered Metallo, a cyborg who emitted Kryptonite radiation. Lex Luthor had concocted the scheme to abduct Perdita to steal the Kryptonite for use as a power source for Metallo. After rescuing Perdita and taking down Metallo, Miss Martian had planned to take the Kryptonite back, but left it with Metallo after being told he would die without it.

Sightings

• Season 1
  • 26. "Auld Acquaintance"
• Season 4
  • 04. "Involuntary"
  • 19. "Encounter Upon the Razor's Edge!" ^(flashback)
  • 20. "Forbidden Secrets of Civilizations Past!"
  • 24. "Zenith and Abyss"
  • 25. "Over and Out"
  • 26. "Death and Rebirth"
• Companion comics
  • YJT 04. "Foreign Affairs"
  • YJT 05. "Metallic Aftertaste"
  • YJT 06. "Last Rights"

Background information

Kryptonite's first appearance was not in the comics but in The Adventures of Superman radio serial in 1943. Originally, Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel devised the idea for an unpublished story three years prior. Since its introduction, Kryptonite has become a staple within the Superman mythos, mostly as a plot contrivance to offset Superman's extraordinary abilities. In the wider pop culture lexicon, Kryptonite is analogous to the term Achilles' heel, which denotes a fatal flaw of an otherwise upstanding individual.