Green Kryptonite Radiation (DC Animated Universe)

**Green Kryptonite Radiation** is The Naming Coined by Professor Emil Hamilton for Green Radioactive Fragments of The Destroyed-Planet Krypton. This substance had immediate, detrimental effects on yellow sun-powered Kryptonians and Argoans, as well as long-term effects on humans.

## Biography/History

* **Powers/Skills:** Induced Radioactivity

Kryptonite are meteorites that were once made up the planet Krypton. After the planet's unstable core could no longer handle its growing irradiation, it exploded. Several shards of the planet were caught in the hyperspace window opened by Jor-El's lifeboat when it escaped to Earth. One 20 pound sample landed in China where it was carved into the Laughing Dragon statue. It was deemed cursed when all of its owners died prematurely. It was believed to be made of jade, as Kryptonite was undiscovered at the time. In the present, it was a collector's item and was $100,000. **30 years later, it was studied and concluded to be a transuranic element with an atomic number of 126 and discovered to be a weapon against Superman. Superman's Kryptonian physiology absorbs yellow sun electromagnetic radiation and gifts him with the range of super powers. The Kryptonite emits it's own radioactivity that interferes with Superman's solar absorption and painfully forces the energy out of him. As a result, Kryptonite causes extreme pain, loss of powers, and even death with prolonged exposure. Chemically it is found to contain 10.62% Dialium, 3.94% Mercury, 15.08% Plutonium, 24.02% Promethium, 18.06% Tantalum, 27.71% Xenon, and 0.57% of a previously unknown element. Professor Hamilton was given a sample by Lois Lane for analysis and deduced lead could block its radioactivity. He was the first to call it Kryptonite.** While reviewing security tapes of the Lex Luthor Museum, Luthor discovered Superman's weakness and proceeded to funnel millions into acquiring as much Kryptonite as he could. As a precautionary measure, he kept a piece of it on his person at all times. He then invested an equal amount to weaponize it and destroy Superman through LexCorp Research despite the potential to help mankind. His first attempt was outfitting a robot dinosaur with it. Although Lois Lane aided Superman, much of his genetic material was extracted in the battle and allowed Luthor to attempt cloning Superman. Another project was using the mineral to power Metallo alloy. Luthor manipulated John Corben to accepting an alternative surgery that turned him into a living robot. The power source, a Kryptonite core, could also be channeled into energy blasts, and years later as eye lasers. S.T.A.R. Labs also analyzed their sample and several of their creations were an Anti-Kryptonite Suit for Superman, weapons grade Kryptonite, and an implement rigged to perform surgery on Supergirl. **It proved just as effective against other Kryptonians and Parasite, when he absorbed Superman's powers. Superman's clone, Bizarro, was immune. Since his degenerated cell structure wasn't completely Kryptonian, an immunity was created by chance. Kryptonite proved to be successfully duplicated through both synthetic and mystical means. Mr. Mxyzptlk turned himself into Kryptonite during a battle against Superman, which proved just as deadly. Years later, Metamorpho also was able to transmutate himself into Kryptonite. Besides his Rogues Gallery, the Joker also once tried to kill Superman with the Laughing Dragon after stealing it from Gotham Antiques and contracting a deal with Luthor. However, Batman followed and with time running out, he used a cannister of hydrocholoric acid to dissolve half of the Kryptonite. The other half was later destroyed by Superman when he used a large lead-lined door to smash it and the robot it was attached to.** As part of his involvement with the federal government's Project Cadmus, Luthor supplied them with several liquefied Kryptonite syringes and warheads. They came of use when a brainwashed Superman led Darkseid's forces against Earth and years later when General Eiling attempted to kill Superman and Doomsday as they fought on the erupting drug-ridden San Baquero Island. In the latter, Batman reversed the polarity of a Javelin to attract the warhead away from its progammed path. The explosion generated a large tidal wave and left Batman bed-ridden. **Unlike Wayne, Luthor lacked any protection from his. As a result, he suffered a rare form of terminal blood poisoning. Apparently, it can affect humans over a longer period of time since it emits a low-level radiation. Ultra-Humanite grafted a containment suit to prolong death but it was a duplicate of Brainiac within him that eventually eliminated the disease. Some time later, A.M.A.Z.O. duplicated Superman's power and inherited his weakness. However, as part of an evolution initiative, A.M.A.Z.O. soon developed an immunity to it. When A.M.A.Z.O. returned to Earth, Luthor utilized an old bunker lined with Kryptonite to defend himself.** As part of a ruse to publicly humiliate Superman and the Justice League, Lex Luthor unveiled Lexor City, a community dedicated to low income family housing. He declared it would be powered by cheap alternative energy but kept the fact that its source was Kryptonite secret. When Superman scanned the city, he discovered it and attempted to destroy it. The misunderstanding led to a battle between he and Captain Marvel. After defeating Marvel, he destroyed the device and upon further analysis, the Atom confirmed the Kryptonite fusion generator was a legitimate energy source and not an explosive. **That proved to not be the most surprising use of it. A short time later, Supergirl, Stargirl, Stripe, and Green Lantern teleported to Skartaris and discovered the Monks of the Tabernacle kept the largest known sample of Kryptonite as a healing tool called the Great Stone. It was attributed to faith and magic that healed only those of pure heart. One known to survive and recover due to its exposure was Machiste. Thus, it also served a dual purpose as a symbol of hope for the people of Skartaris. The Legion of Doom learned of its existence and dispatched Metallo and Silver Banshee to take it. In exchange for providing military advise to Deimos, they would be allowed to take the Great Stone. After the JLU unit and Warlord's forces won, it was decided the Great Stone would be left alone as it was one of the few positive applications of Kryptonite. Instead, Green Lantern sealed the entrance to Skartaris to prevent further intrusion.** Upon the resurrection of Darkseid, he rallied his people to a war against Earth and New Genesis. Aware of an impending battle against Superman, Darkseid devised the Agony Matrix to neutralize him and a Kryptonite knife to apply the deathblow. Luckily, Lex Luthor arrived with the Solution to the Anti-Life Equation before he could use the knife.

When Krypton exploded, its fragments flew into space in every direction, with several fragments following Kal-El's spacecraft to Earth. **The existence of Kryptonite was first discovered shortly after Superman's first public appearance in Metropolis. Early tests were conducted by LexCorp scientists, and further tests by Professor Hamilton, who theorized that the low-level radiation generated by the element was a result of the explosion that destroyed Krypton.** The fragments found on Earth varied in size, ranging from small slivers to pieces several feet across.

### Effects

Kryptonite's most noteworthy effect was sapping the strength of Kryptonians powered by a yellow sun. Prolonged exposure to its radiation could quickly lead to death. Kryptonite also left a burning sensation, and it was the only known non-magical substance that could pierce Superman's normally invulnerable skin. **Kryptonite exerted the same malevolent effect on Argoans, offshoots of the Kryptonian species, such as Supergirl. However, it was harmless to Bizarro, presumably because his genetic makeup was too flawed, despite having Kryptonian DNA. He even called it "pretty" when he held it. Having been largely depowered by Skartaris' red sun, Supergirl still experienced great pain when exposed to The Great Stone, the single biggest piece of Kryptonite known to exist, but stated if she had been fully powered, the same amount of exposure would have killed her outright. Supergirl's clone Galatea stated that she shared a weakness to Kryptonite.** The radiation could also affect humans, although much longer exposure was required for them to suffer ill effects. In comparison to Superman who felt the effects almost instantly, the side effects experienced by humans could apparently vary for any number of reasons. For example, previous owners of "The Laughing Dragon" statue, carved from a large chunk of Kryptonite erroneously thought to be made of jade, all died prematurely; Lex Luthor developed Kryptonite poisoning of the blood, essentially a form of cancer as a consequence of carrying a piece of Kryptonite around with him for years. The resulting cancer was apparently so severe that no form of treatment could be successfully provided. **Like all Earth-bound radioactive materials, Kryptonite's radiation could be blocked by lead.**

### Uses

Kryptonite's most frequent use was as a weapon against Superman and Supergirl, and sometimes against other Kryptonians, such as Mala. It also affected beings with the ability to absorb or copy Superman's abilities, including Parasite and Amazo. **The radiation emanated by even the smallest chunk of Kryptonite could be harnessed and used as an infinite power source. One piece was used to fuel Metallo. Another piece was used to power Lex Luthor's artificially built housing community, Lexor City.** Kryptonite could be molded into different forms to suit specific purposes. Lex Luthor incorporated Kryptonite into a missile to stop Superman's rampage across Metropolis. He also managed to liquefy the substance to create an injection meant to kill both Superman and Supergirl. **In Kara's dream, she (or Galatea) is pursued by men armed with Kryptonite laser rifles. Also, Professor Hamilton constructed a surgical robot using a Kryptonite-tipped scalpel for operating on Supergirl.** Despite being generally harmful, if properly employed, Kryptonite's radiation also had benign effects, as evidenced by the use of The Great Stone among the populace of Skartaris.

### Others

* Mr. Mxyzptlk transformed himself into a missile with a Kryptonite warhead, while chasing Superman.
* Metamorpho was able to alter his chemical makeup to replicate Kryptonite's radiation.

### Known Owners

Kryptonite being a very rare substance, there are only a few known pieces: **The first was discovered by Lex Luthor in the collection of his Natural History Museum; after Luthor's attempt to use it to kill Superman failed, Superman hurled it into space in a lead container. A small sliver of the rock was kept by S.T.A.R. Labs.** ***S.T.A.R. Labs also acquired a much larger piece, used to test the Anti-Kryptonite suit Hamilton built for Superman.*** **Superman used a chunk to temporarily restrain Mala. It was unknown whether this was the chunk possessed by S.T.A.R. Labs, or another one. This chunk was sent into the Phantom Zone by Jax-Ur. *Luthor used a chunk of Kryptonite as an infinite power source for the cyborg Metallo.*** **A sizable piece fell to Earth in China and, being mistaken for jade, was carved into a statue known as "The Laughing Dragon". The statue temporarily came into possession of the Joker, but was destroyed.** ***At some point, Luthor acquired another piece, which he carried with him for several years as protection against Superman, until he developed Kryptonite poisoning.* This piece of Kryptonite eventually came into the possession of Batman, who took it from Luthor after he was exposed as a criminal and imprisoned. Batman carried it around in his utility belt as "insurance", but Amazo pulverized it by throwing it against Superman's chest. Batman eventually acquired another piece of Kryptonite that he carried around, as acknowledged by Superman. *During the Thanagarian invasion, Thanagarian soldiers used a Kryptonite energy cannon to incapacitate Superman.* Toyman manufactured life-sized toy soldiers with Kryptonite mixed with plastic. *General Hardcastle owned a gun with a Kryptonite-tipped bullet.* In Luthor's hideout, one of its underground tunnels was rigged with many Kryptonite pebbles. *In Skartaris, there was a giant piece of Kryptonite called The Great Stone, which was kept in a monastery and could be used to treat maladies.* During his final invasion of Earth, Darkseid carried a knife with a Kryptonite blade.**

## History

### *Superman: The Last Son of Krypton*

Jor-El also conducted geological surveys of the planet's subterranean layers, and concluded that the planet was unstable and on the verge of a catastrophic explosion. Mere minutes before the planet exploded, Jor-El and his wife, Lara, launched their infant son, Kal-El, into space, bound for Earth. When Krypton exploded, its fragments flew into space in every direction, with several fragments following Kal-El's spacecraft to Earth. The explosion culminated in a chemical/geological reaction that imbued the remaining fragments of the planet with a specific radiation level that proved harmful and ultimately fatal to Kryptonians. Several of these fragments found their way to Earth, where they would be known as Kryptonite.

### *Superman: Little Girl Lost*

The shock waves from Krypton's explosion also ravaged the surface of Argo and tore the planet from its orbit, causing it and its inhabitants to slowly freeze over. Deep in space, in Krypton's own solar system, Superman flies by in his space ship. Krypton is now nothing more than an asteroid belt of Kryptonite floating in space but Superman still checks for signs of life. There are none. However, the ship picks up a distress signal from another planet in the system. Feeling hopeful, Superman heads out to answer the call. Superman follows the signal to a frigid world at the edge of the system. Finding that the planet is devoid of Kryptonite radiation, he investigates further. He finds a lab buried in the ice and snow. Inside, he discovers a recorded message from Kala In-Ze, the planet's former chief physician: the planet is called Argo and was once a thriving civilization. But when Krypton exploded, Argo was ravaged by shock waves and torn from its orbit. Eventually, it moved so far from the sun that all inhabitants froze to death. To survive, Kala placed herself and her family in stasis chambers in hope of rescue. After the message finishes, Superman finds the chambers have all been destroyed by weathering - except one, holding a teenaged girl named Supergirl.

### *Superman: Blasts from the Past*

Superman used a chunk to temporarily restrain Mala. It was unknown whether this was the chunk possessed by S.T.A.R. Labs, or another one. This chunk was sent into the Phantom Zone by Jax-Ur.

### *Superman: Legacy*

Kryptonite could be molded into different forms to suit specific purposes. Lex Luthor incorporated Kryptonite into a missile to stop Superman's rampage across Metropolis. He also managed to liquefy the substance to create an injection meant to kill both Superman and Supergirl.

### *The Batman/Superman Movie*

The radiation could also affect humans, although much longer exposure was required for them to suffer ill effects. In comparison to Superman who felt the effects almost instantly, the side effects experienced by humans could apparently vary for any number of reasons. For example, previous owners of "The Laughing Dragon" statue, carved from a large chunk of Kryptonite erroneously thought to be made of jade, all died prematurely A sizable piece fell to Earth in China and, being mistaken for jade, was carved into a statue known as "The Laughing Dragon". The statue temporarily came into possession of the Joker, but was destroyed.

### *Justice League: Starcrossed*

During the Thanagarian invasion, Thanagarian soldiers used a kryptonite energy cannon to incapacitate Superman.

### *Justice League Unlimited: Destroyer*

During his final invasion of Earth, Darkseid carried a knife with a Kryptonite that Draws An Blade.

#### Popular Culture

In popular culture, the word "Kryptonite" was often used in the same sense as "Achilles Heel", to refer to a weakness which immediately disables a seemingly strong individual. Galatea once claimed that "Boredom is my Kryptonite... Okay,, actually, *Kryptonite* is my Kryptonite, but you know what I mean".