Kryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman mythos: specifically the ore form
of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton.
First mentioned in The Adventures of Superman radio show in June 1943, the material has
featured in a variety of forms and colors in DC Comics publications and other merchandise,
including feature films, television series, and novelty items such as toys and trading
card sets.
The established premise is that Superman and other Kryptonian characters are susceptible
to its radiation, which created usage of the term in popular culture: Kryptonite being
a reference to an individual's perceived weakness, irrespective of its nature.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Superman, the University of Leicester participated in
a public relations exercise and presented the Geological Society with "mock kryptonite",
termed krypton difluoride.
Origin An unpublished 1940 story "The K-Metal from
Krypton", by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel featured a prototype version of kryptonite,
being a mineral from the planet Krypton that drained Superman of his strength whilst giving
humans superhuman powers.
"Kryptonite" proper was introduced in the story arc "The Meteor from Krypton" in June
1943 on the Superman radio series.
In 1949 kryptonite was incorporated into the comic mythos with issue #61 of Superman.
In August 1993 pioneering female editor Dorothy Woolfolk stated in an interview with Florida
newspaper Today that she had found Superman's invulnerability dull, and that DC's flagship
hero might be more interesting with an Achilles' heel such as adverse reactions to a fragment
of his home planet.
Kryptonite gradually appeared more frequently, causing science fiction writer Larry Niven
to theorize in tongue-in-cheek fashion that Krypton was in fact a Dyson sphere, and that
this was the underlying reason for so much of the mineral finding its way to Earth courtesy
of meteor showers.
In an effort to reduce the use of kryptonite in storylines, all known forms on Earth were
transmuted into "k-iron" in a 1971 story arc titled "The Sandman Saga".
Forms of Kryptonite Various forms of the fictional mineral have
been created in the Superman publications:
Other varieties of the mineral have appeared but have been revealed to be hoaxes, such
as yellow; "kryptonite Plus" and "blood".
In other media Serials
Columbia Pictures produced two 15-part radio serials that used kryptonite as a plot device:
Superman and Atom Man vs. Superman.
Films Superman: The Movie: Lex Luthor deduces that
a meteorite found in Addis Ababa is actually a radioactive piece of the exploded planet
Krypton.
Luthor uses the mineral to weaken Superman, who is saved by Luthor's lover Eve Teschmacher.
Superman III: billionaire Ross Webster orders the creation of synthetic Kryptonite.
Computer programmer Gus Gorman uses tar to compensate for an unknown component of kryptonite,
causing the newly created mineral to eventually turn Superman evil and split the hero into
two beings.
Gorman's "super computer" later fights Superman and uses a kryptonite ray.
Superman Returns: Lex Luthor steals the Addis Ababa L9 Pallasite Meteorite and uses it to
create a new Kryptonite landmass and a dagger for use against Superman.
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths: an alternate universe version of Lex Luthor uses blue kryptonite
against the villain Ultraman.
Justice League: Doom: the villain Metallo wounds Superman with a kryptonite bullet,
but is saved by the JLA.
Television Adventures of Superman: episodes "Panic in
the Sky", "The Defeat of Superman", "Superman Week", "The Deadly Rock", "The Magic Secret",
"The Gentle Monster" and "All That Glitters" all feature kryptonite.
"Superboy" featured green kryptonite the episodes "Kryptonite Kills" and "Metallo", "Bride of
Bizarro", "Kryptonite Kid" and "Obituary for a Super-Hero"; red in "Super Menace" and the
white variant in "The Battle With Bizarro".
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman featured green kryptonite in several episodes,
including "The Green, Green Glow of Home", "Barbarians at the Planet", "The House of
Luthor" "Metallo", "Top Copy" and "Battleground Earth", with the red variety appearing in
"Individual Responsibility" and "Ultrawoman" and "Lethal Weapon".
Smallville featured kryptonite on a regular basis: a large quantity of the green variety
descends to Earth in meteror shower, arriving in the town of Smallville, Kansas with the
spaceship containing the infant Kal-El.
The mineral is colloquially referred to by Smallville residents as "meteor rock", but
is eventually called "kryptonite" by Clark Kent once he discovers his origins.
Aside from being harmful to Clark Kent, the mineral produces bizarre changes in flora
and fauna, including occasionally bestowing metahuman abilities on humans.
These people are commonly known by the inhabitants of Smallville as "Meteor Freaks."
The green variety of the mineral appears in several episodes every season, although other
varieties appear, including red, black, formed when superheating green kryptonite, silver,
blue, gem and gold.
Animated series Super Friends featured Kryptonite in the episodes
"Rest in Peace"; "Darkseid's Golden Trap"; "Terror From the Phantom Zone" and "Uncle
Mxyzptlk", with the effects differing to those displayed in the printed DC Comics publications.
Superman features a Kryptonite ring.
Superman: The Animated Series attempts a non-canonical explanation of the effect of the material
on Superman.
This series and The New Batman Adventures showcase a three-part crossover story arc
called World's Finest that demonstrates the effect of krytonite poisoning on humans.
Justice League also uses this plot point.
In Batman Beyond the two-part episode "The Call" reveals kryptonite has been kept safe
in the distant future as an anti-Superman deterrent.
Krypto the Superdog features green, red and even a purple-spotted variation.
Legion of Super Heroes features green, while the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode
"The Battle of the Superheroes" features both red and green.
The Young Justice episode "Auld Acquaintance" features use of the green variety.
Video Games Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes kryptonite
is used to power Lex Luthor's weapon the in the "Deconstructor"; Injustice: Gods Among
Us features a kryptonite laser designed as a failsafe against Superman; and Scribblenauts
Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure showcases the material in different forms.
Music Songs:
"Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down.
"Kryptonite" by rap group Purple Ribbon All-Stars.
References
External links The Superman Homepage's section on kryptonite
Howstuffworks.com: "How Kryptonite Works"