Kryptonite

Kryptonite

Gallery

Official Name
Kryptonite

Aliases
K-Metal; Meteor Rock

Origin
Universe
Earth-One,  Earth-Two,  New Earth,  Prime Earth ,  Donnerverse,  Smallville (TV Series) ,  Arrowverse: Earth-38 ,  Arrowverse

First appearance

Adventures of Superman (Radio Series) Episode: The Meteor from Krypton

## History

**Kryptonite** is the name given to shards of matter cast off from the planet Krypton, during its destruction.

In Pre-Crisis Continuity, depending on the particular dimension such as Earth-One, there were many forms and shades of Kryptonite, while others showed only one form such as Earth-Two and Earth-Three. As far as Earth-One and related alternate realities were concerned, Kryptonite was a transuranium element that decayed to iron and didn't chemically react with oxygen (which was used to explain why small rocks of Kryptonite didn't burn up when entering Earth's atmosphere).

In the Post-Crisis primary New Earth universe, there is only one *natural* form of Kryptonite, Green, and it is a compound made up of various elements.

All others forms of Kryptonite in the New Earth dimension are artificially created from Green through certain techniques to produce these other forms, such as radiation bombardment to accelerate Green's half-cycle into Red. Luthor has successfully recreated Gold in the New Earth dimension, which strips all power processing of Kryptonians' bodies, though seemingly it is only temporary in its effect and not permanent, unlike the Pre-Crisis Earth-One Gold Kryptonite.

## Powers

Exposure to Kryptonite can have a wide variety of effects depending upon its color and present form, the majority of them detrimental if not outright deadly.

### Green Kryptonite

Main article: Green Kryptonite
Easily the most abundant and the first discovered, the green variety of Kryptonite sapped Kryptonians of their strength and abilities provided by a yellow sun. They initially get flu-like symptoms and would quickly get weaker until death if not removed from the radiation.
It was originally believed that the radiation emitted by green Kryptonite was harmless to anyone but Kryptonians, but it was later learned that long-time exposure was carcinogenic to humans, through Lex Luthor's use of a fragment of green Kryponite in a ring he wore.

### Red Kryptonite

Main article: Red Kryptonite
Red Kryptonite has unexpected consequences and what happens varies from exposure to exposure: turning into a dragon, excessive hair growth, gaining telepathy, etc..

In the Post-Crisis continuity, Batman created an artificial version of Red Kryptonite, which upon exposure would turn Kryptonian skin translucent--causing them to absorb copious amounts of solar energy to the point of being incapacitated.

In Smallville, Red Kryptonite's effect on Clark Kent is mental, making him act irrationally.

### Gold Kryptonite

Main article: Gold Kryptonite
This rare form of the mineral would destroy a Kryptonian's ability to process yellow sunlight, thus permanently removing their superpowers. It was not otherwise harmful to Kryptonian life.

### Blue Kryptonite

Main article: Blue Kryptonite
Has the same effect on Bizarros as Green Kryptonite does on normal Kryptonians. It's also an antidote to the effects of Red Kryptonite.

### White Kryptonite

Main article: White Kryptonite
Kills all plant life, regardless of origin.

### Platinum Kryptonite

Main article: Platinum Kryptonite
Gives Kryptonian powers to humans permanently.

### Kryptomites

Main article: Kryptomites
Living beings composed of various forms of Kryptonite.

### Yellow Kryptonite

Originally, the "Yellow Kryptonite" was part of a hoax masterminded by Lex Luthor. It was not actually Kryptonite, but a harmless yellow sphere (as were the other types of Kryptonite he used). He hoped the that Superman would think that it was Kryptonite and thus hold back - which he did. Luthor later learned it wasn't actually Superman he faced, but a Superman Robot.

* However, the Yellow Kryptonite first appeared in *Superman Family Adventures* #2 as a real variety. Nevertheless, the effects of this kryptonite are unknown as that subject was not touched on in depth.
* DC Super Hero Girls (Shorts) continuity shows both the Yellow K and its main effect, which is the same as the Sinestro Corps' Yellow Power Battery: it instills fear in everyone near it. And Lena Luthor used it to create yellow Kryptomites.

### Black Kryptonite

Main article: Black Kryptonite
First seen on TV's *Smallville*, the only time it was ever used on Clark was in the Season Four episode "Crusade", when he was reprogrammed as Kal-El. Martha Kent placed a chunk of Black Kryptonite (given to her by Dr. Swann's assistant, Bridgette Crosby) on his chest and the two personalities physically split. Clark then used the Black Kryptonite to eliminate Kal-El.

* In Arrowverse, the mineral goes by the Nom de guerre of Harun-El. A mythical, mystical mutagenic elements which not only splits and recombines Kryptonian and non-super powered alien entities. But also bestows superpowers on the later while granting extra abilities to halved beings of the former. In human subjects the powers were often fatal, needing regular injections of which in order to stabilize.
* It has come to light that in prior comics that there are derivatives of Black K in New Earth publishing. Post-Crisis showed Lex Luthor's Warsuit equipped with a knuckle armament that has the same, as well as potentially different, effects as the Smallville universe. That being the splitting of Kryptonian vices from their lighter selves; as well as reuniting them.
* Another aspect as shown in "All-Star Superman" that it caused kinder personas to darken and turn more reviled, but also weakened their superhuman abilities and mental acuity over time.
* In recent "Rebirth" publishing, it was also found in the Dark Multiverse and employed by the Batman who Laughs. It caused the affected to turn murderously rabid, turning them hostile to anyone and everyone around them.

### Artificial/Synthetic Kryptonite

Another version of faux kryptonite was developed by Gus Gorman in the movie *Superman III* where he substituted the "unknown element" in Green Kryptonite with tar. The result of the exposure to the Synthetic Kryptonite was that it caused Superman's moral behaviors to change to the point of being evil and destructive, both to himself and to others. It also eventually caused Superman to split into two separate selves, the evil self, and the heroic self, battling for dominance until his heroic self-prevailed, restoring his normal moral behaviors.

* In the continuity of the Superfriends, artificial kryptonite was created by a villain named Doctor Rebos.
* Ring wielders apart of the Green Lantern Corps can simulate the effect of the jade variant of the isotope at will. Originally only coming up during the Bronze & Silver Ages. It has appeared sporadically throughout various instances and it's lethal potency was just as diverse as it's scarce appearances, but artificial green K has proven potent enough to critically injure if not outright leave Supermen on the brink of death. As certain Kryptonians are immune to different dimension Kryptonite Rays due to the discrepancy of alt. universe Supermen are unaffected by Kryptonite from different worlds. The Lantern in question has to calibrate the energy signature of which to match that of the Kryptonian doppelganger for it to be effective.
* In a simulation, Grodd used a type of Kryptonite called Artificial Kryptonite. It was a cloud of Kryptonite that masked the Earth, keeping Superman off planet and Grodd as Earth's ruler.
* On Earth-Two, Synthetic Kryptonite was invented by Lex Luthor, using some extremely rare and unobtainable ingredients, including a mammoth pearl, dust from the dark side of the Moon, pollen from the man-eating Asiatic Homocessandi plant, and Binarium. A second formulation of Synthetic Kryptonite was developed by Dr. Vallin, using more readily available ingredients, including gold, silver, lead, and bismuth, fused together with acid and electricity. These forms of synthetic Kryptonite had the same paralyzing effect on Superman as Green Kryptonite, The Luthor synthesis was quite powerful but had a short half-life, such that after a few days of criminal use and some hours spent in a police evidence locker, its charge would fade to a level that was harmless to Superman.
* Within modern publishing Lex Luthor and a host of other criminal minded individuals got into the business of fabricating K-Rad emission emulations as well as carbon copy green kryptonite to ward off Superman. It's not as effective as genuine Kryptonite but it is potent enough to cause a Kryptonian physical harm.

### Silver Kryptonite

In *Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen* #70, Silver Kryptonite is part of a joke played by Jimmy to celebrate Superman's silver anniversary. It doesn't have any powers; it's just a prop.

* In *Smallville*, Silver Kryptonite is an artificial form of Kryptonite created by Professor Milton Fine (the human alias of the Kryptonian artificial intelligence known as Brainiac) using ordinary rock and the liquid metal that his body is made of. When Clark is pricked by this artificial form of Kryptonite, he begins having paranoid delusions and becomes convinced that his friends and family are out to destroy him. Silver Kryptonite causes hallucinations, such as an imagined conversation between Clark and Professor Fine, and delusions that what is actually occurring is, in fact, something much more sinister.
* In Post-Crisis continuity, Silver Kryptonite demonstrates certain mystical properties that are of great value to the supernatural community. Two known samples of this "magic Kryptonite" have been forged into a pair of twin medallions known as the Ach-om Rashay - the Amulet of Mindfulness. One-half of the amulet was located inside of a volcano on Dinosaur Island while its twin was forged into a stone tablet found at the Oblivion Bar. For Kryptonians, exposure to Silver Kryptonite yields effects similar to that of Cannabis on a human being. Those affected by it experience a loss of inhibition, altered perceptions, extreme hunger cravings, and some psychotropic hallucinations.
* In the *Supergirl* TV series, Silver Kryptonite induces hallucinations. After coming into contact with it, Superman believes his cousin to be Zod.

### Pink Kryptonite

In *Supergirl* (Volume 4) #79, when Linda Danvers takes the original Kara Zor-El's place and arrives in the Pre-Crisis era, there is a comical scene where Superman is apparently exposed to Pink Kryptonite, with the implication that it temporarily turned him gay.

* Justice League Action (Shorts) sports Metallo's Kryptonite heart being transmuted into Pink Kryptonite by Firestorm. Which flips the physical genders of Kryptonians, having turned Superman into a woman of steel instead.

### Purple Kryptonite

In an early appearance of Kryptonite (*Adventure Comics* #171), the Kryptonite that appeared was purple, but it acted like green. Some speculate that purple may have been an incredibly rare version of Kryptonite that disappeared, but the chances of this are unlikely and it is most likely because of the writer's indecision over color, or a coloring error.

* DC Super Hero Girls (Shorts) shows the purple kryptonite as an existing variety. The effect of this kryptonite is hypnotic, and it can control the minds of anyone nearby, and Lena Luthor used it to create purple Kryptomites.

### Kryptonite-X or Kryptisium

Professor Hamilton coined this term to refer to the change that occurred to the Kryptonite that the Cyborg Superman blasted the Eradicator with when it passed through the latter and struck Superman. Instead of being lethal, it restored Superman's powers. Unfortunately, it also apparently clung to him and caused him to absorb solar energy at a rapidly accelerated rate, eventually causing his powers to go out of control and his body to build more mass. Superman was purged of it after battling the Parasite. Not to be confused with X-Kryptonite.

### Slow Kryptonite

Slow Kryptonite is a variety of Kryptonite produced by Metallo that affects humans. Why it is called "Slow Kryptonite" is because the rays sent out by normal Kryptonite are "fast" (high in frequency) and synced with the accelerated Kryptonian body. Slow Kryptonite, which releases "slow" rays, is synced with a slow human body, allowing it to affect it.

### Kryptonite Plus

Kryptonite Plus was a batch of 30 or so multi-colored stones that were left behind by aliens, who said that they were "Kryptonite Plus" or Ultra-Kryptonite. They were actually Tikron stones.

### Magno-Kryptonite

Magno-Kryptonite is a variation of Kryptonite that tracks objects from Krypton. It apparently affects people from Krypton as well, and not even the strength of Superman or Bizarro can escape.

### Jewel Kryptonite

Main article: Jewel Kryptonite
Jewel Kryptonite possesses the ability to amplify the psychic powers of people in the Phantom Zone.

* Jewel Kryptonite was introduced in season 9 of Smallville. It enabled Clark to make someone do whatever he asked of them but the process worked only once on each person, he could even effect himself.

### Anti-Kryptonite

Main article: Anti-Kryptonite
Pre-Crisis: Anti-Kryptonite does nothing to harm super-powered Kryptonians, but has the same effects of normal Green K on non-superpowered Kryptonians.
Post-Crisis, this is the formal name of the Kryptonite source of the first antimatter universe that the reformatted Clark Kent of the Crime Syndicate of AmeriKa is powered by. This is very different from the second Antimatter Ultraman and long dead Earth-Three Ultraman who are both powered by the same Kryptonite that harms Superman.
Anti-Kryptonite from the first antimatter universe of Crime Syndicate of AmeriKa has no effect on matter-based Kryptonians.

### Bizarro Red Kryptonite

This variety affects humans the same way Red Kryptonite affects Kryptonians.

### X-Kryptonite

Main article: X-Kryptonite
X-Kryptonite (in Pre-Crisis only) is a synthetic Kryptonite that granted Streaky superpowers.

### Blood Kryptonite

In *52*, the Cult of Conner - a religious sect dedicated to resurrecting Superboy, employed "Blood Kryptonite" in a preliminary ritual to resurrect Sue Dibny. While physically resembling Green Kryptonite, the "Blood" variant drains a portion of life force from present attendees, intended to direct this energy towards an effigy of the deceased as part of a Kryptonian resurrection ceremony. It is later revealed that this was a manipulation of Felix Faust and the rock was either regular Green Kryptonite or not Kryptonite at all.

### Purple Spotted Kryptonite

A fake Kryptonite in the *Krypto the Superdog* cartoon, this variety made Krypto chase his tail.

### Fake Kryptonite

Seen in an episode of *Superboy*, 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!"

### Bizarro White Kryptonite

Also seen in an episode of *Superboy*: In order to stop Bizarro's rampage, Superboy ran green Kryptonite through the same duplication process that created Bizarro from him in the first place. To Superboy's surprise, the resulting mineral had the effect of healing Bizarro, curing the instability that threatened to make him violently explode.

### Red/Green Kryptonite

A synthetic Kryptonite created by Brainiac that mutated Superman, this variety made him grow a third eye on the back of his head. Superman tricked Brainiac with his mutation, however, as he waited for his return (he went into space to monitor the change) and allowed everyone on Earth to believe the K made him go mad, as he would never appear without a hat, and he would act out a hat's properties to solve crimes. He also used this to cover his eye. Brainiac attacked Superman with a dunce cap, but Superman used the force of heat vision from all three eyes to dissolve Brainiac's force field. He then took Brainiac into custody. It appears the Green K in Red/Green Kryptonite does nothing, although the mutation did last longer than 24 hours, perhaps indicating the Green K amplified the effects.

### Krypton Steel

Appearing only in the *Challenge of the Super Friends* episode "Super Friends, Rest in Peace", Krypton Steel was described by Lex Luthor as a "harmless form of Kryptonite" that only Superman could break. It is, presumably, a refined metal with similar properties to the iron alloy steel. Superman forged a box made of this material to store a weapon they confiscated from the Legion of Doom at some point. The Legion figured out how to trick Superman into opening the box for them.

### Opal Kryptonite

Opal Kryptonite is a synthesized version of Kryptonite that was created by Terrence Sloan on Earth 2, which can apparently drive Kryptonians temporarily insane. Opal Kryptonite can only work for a short time, however, and will eventually burn out and turn into an ordinary stone after a certain amount of time.

### Krimson Kryptonite

In Post-Crisis continuity, Krimson Kryptonite appeared as an artificial construct of Mr. Mxyzptlk that eliminated Superman's powers. The effect of this Kryptonite could be everlasting until Luthor confessed to Clark Kent that the fifth-dimensional elf gave him the rock, without knowing Superman's alter ego. Unlike other Kryptonite, that one was not radioactive.

### Orange Kryptonite

In the Tiny Titans continuity, a chunk of Orange Kryptonite was in the possession of Lex Luthor.

* In the League of Super-Pets film, Lulu and Lex Luthor spent decades contemplating it's effects upon living biology. The mad scientist mistakenly believed this kryptonite variant would empower normal individuals like himself with abilities greater than even that of his nemesis. But it was said experimental animal Lex used to test his thesis's whom was the only one to realize Orange K only works on lower animal forms, or in this case. Simple House Pets.
* DC Super Hero Girls (Shorts) shows a completely different effect on the orange Kryptonite. In this version, this kryptonite makes people paranoid, and Lena Luthor used it to create orange Kryptomites.

### Periwinkle Kryptonite

In the Tiny Titans continuity, Brainiac hit Superman with a Periwinkle Kryptonite ray. It turned his skin and costume periwinkle and caused him to briefly charm Lois Lane with charm and dance skills. Later that day, Lois used a piece of physical Periwinkle Kryptonite on Clark Kent, achieving the same effect.

In DC Super Hero Girls (TV Series) continuity Periwinkle Kryptonite makes Kryptonians feel 'giddy' and naturally puts Bizarros into fits of rage.

### Amber Kryptonite

A Last 52 Multiverse iteration of Lois Lane had used an unheard of kryptonite form to transfer her world's Superman's abilities into herself before killing him. She would go onto take said pieces of kryptonite and hand them out to like-minded anti-meta constitutes whom she would turn into an army to wage genocidal war on the supers.

## Notes

* The Kryptonite concept was first developed by Superman co-creator, Jerry Siegel for an unpublished Superman story. In Siegel's original vision, the deadly mineral was known as K-Metal.
* The first use of Kryptonite was actually in an unaired episode of the radio dramatization The Adventures of Superman titled "The Meteor from Krypton". The first comic book appearance of Kryptonite was in *Superman* #61.

1. ↑ *Superman* #130
2. ↑ *Action Comics* #591
3. ↑ *Action Comics Annual* #13
4. ↑ *Action Comics* #277
5. ↑ DC Super Hero Girls (Shorts)
6. ↑ *Supergirl* (Volume 5) #4
7. ↑ *All-Star Superman* #4
8. ↑ *The Batman Who Laughs* #1
9. ↑ *Super Friends (TV Series) Episode: The Androids*
10. ↑ *DC Comics Presents* #26
11. ↑ *Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps* #44
12. ↑ *Superman: The Man of Tomorrow* #13
13. ↑ *Justice League* (Volume 4) #15
14. ↑ *Dark Nights: Death Metal Multiverse's End* #1
15. ↑ *Superman/Batman* #63
16. ↑ *Action Comics* #141
17. ↑ *World's Finest* #56
18. ↑ *World's Finest* #56
19. ↑ *Action comics* #145
20. ↑ *Action Comics Annual* #11
21. ↑ *Trinity* (Volume 2) #20
22. ↑ *Superman vs The Terminator* #3
23. ↑ *Batman/Superman* (Volume 2) #7-8
24. ↑ *Batman: The Dark Knight Returns* #1
25. ↑ *Superman/Batman* #46
26. ↑ Supergirl (TV Series) Episode: Nevertheless, She Persisted‎
27. ↑ DC Super Hero Girls (Shorts)
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 *Superman Family Adventures* #9
29. ↑ *DC League of Super-Pets (Movie)*
30. ↑ DC Super Hero Girls (Shorts)
31. ↑ *DC Super Hero Girls (TV Series) Episode: Double Danvers*
32. ↑ *Dark Nights: Death Metal The Last 52: War of the Multiverses* #1
33. ↑ Kryptonite article at Wikipedia

## See Also

* Appearances of Kryptonite
* Item Images: Kryptonite
* Item Gallery: Kryptonite
* Fan-Art Gallery: Kryptonite

## Links and References

* When We First Met: The Evolution of Green and Red Kryptonite