Menu
Home Explore People Places Arts History Plants & Animals Science Life & Culture Technology
On this page
Kryptonite
Fictional element from Superman stories

Kryptonite is a fictional green crystalline material from Krypton, Superman's home world, featured in Superman stories by DC Comics. It emits poisonous radiation that weakens and can kill Kryptonians, with its effects blocked only by lead. Various forms like red and gold kryptonite have different harmful effects. Kryptonite is often used by Superman’s foes, including Lex Luthor, who incorporates it into weapons, Metallo, who is powered by it, and Titano, who projects its radiation. The term "kryptonite" has become synonymous with an exploitable weakness, similar to an Achilles' heel.

Related Image Collections Add Image
Profiles
1 Image
We don't have any YouTube videos related to Kryptonite yet.
We don't have any PDF documents related to Kryptonite yet.
We don't have any Books related to Kryptonite yet.
We don't have any archived web articles related to Kryptonite yet.

History

An unpublished 1940 story titled "The K-Metal from Krypton", written by Superman creator Jerry Siegel, featured a prototype of kryptonite. It is a mineral from the planet Krypton that drains Superman of his strength and gives superhuman powers to humans. This story was rejected because Superman reveals his identity to Lois Lane.2

The mineral kryptonite, not to be confused with the real element krypton, was officially introduced in the radio serial The Adventures of Superman, in the story "The Meteor from Krypton", broadcast in June 1943.3 An apocryphal story claims that kryptonite was introduced to give Superman's voice actor Bud Collyer time off. This tale was recounted by Julius Schwartz in his memoir.4 However, historian Michael J. Hayde disputes this: in "The Meteor From Krypton", Superman is never exposed to kryptonite. If kryptonite allowed Collyer to take vacations, that was a fringe benefit discovered later. More likely, kryptonite was introduced as a plot device for Superman to discover his origin.5 On the other hand, Hayde might have mistaken 1945's "The Meteor of Kryptonite" for 1943's "The Meteor from Krypton", as Superman was exposed in the former but not in the latter.6

In the radio serial, Krypton is located in the same solar system as Earth, in the same orbit, but on the opposite side of the Sun. This provided an easy explanation for how kryptonite found its way to Earth. In the comics' Silver Age, which places Krypton in a distant solar system, much of the kryptonite that came to Earth was transported by the same "space warp" that baby Kal-El's rocket traversed.

Kryptonite was incorporated into the comic mythos with Superman #61 (November 1949).7 Editor Dorothy Woolfolk stated in an interview with Florida Today in August 1993 that she felt Superman's invulnerability was "boring".8

Long said to be an element in the Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age comics, Kryptonite is depicted as a compound in post-Crisis continuity.9

Forms, effects, and other media

Various forms of the fictional material have been created over the years in Superman publications and programs.10 This table includes forms that have not persisted in canon.

TypeFirst appearanceOriginEffects by genetic originIn other media
KryptonDaxamEarthBizarro WorldKrypton-3
FilmTelevisionVideo games
Live-actionAnimatedLive-actionAnimated
GreenThe Adventures of Superman radio serial, "The Meteor from Krypton" (June 1943)11Action Comics #161 (August 1951)Fragments from KryptonLoss of superpowers12Severe, intensifying painSevere muscular weaknessFeverGreen blood or skinEventual fatality13Non-accumulative14Mitigation by long-term15 or high short-term16 yellow sunlight absorptionBlocked by leadNeutralized by Kal-El's ship (Smallville17)With prolonged exposure: carcinogenesisPossible cancer treatment18Varied (Smallville)Bizarro: perfect healthBizarro World humans: temporary superpowers (Superman & Lois)
RedRedSuperman #61 (November 1949)Traversal through radiated spaceLoss of heroismUnpredictable effects23Same as green (prior to Adventure Comics #252, September 1958 only)Unpredictable effects (up to Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #80, October 1964 only)
  • Superboy
  • Lois & Clark
  • Smallville
  • Supergirl
  • Super Friends
  • Batman: The Brave and the Bold
  • Krypto
  • Justice League Action
  • DC Super Hero Girls
  • Superman (1987)
  • Scribblenauts Unmasked24
Red-greenAction Comics #275 (April 1961)Created by BrainiacUnpredictable effectsLoss of superpowers25
Red-blueSuperman #162 (July 1963)Invented by SupermanGreen charged with "quantum battery" (Justice League Action)Splitting into aggressive red being and logical blue beingSame as on Kryptonians (Justice League Action)Justice League Action26
Bizarro-redSuperman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #80 (October 1964)Same as red on KryptoniansScribblenauts Unmasked27
Red-goldSuperman #178 (July 1965)Temporary memory loss
Red-green-goldSuperman #192 (January 1967)Permanent superpower lossPermanent memory loss
Modified redAmber"Ultra Woman," Lois & Clark (November 1995)Dark Knight: Death Metal - The Last 52: War of the Multiverses #1 (February 2021)Red-powered laser (Lois & Clark)Dark multiverseLoss of superpowers to humanGain of superpowers from KryptonianLois & Clark
PositivePlatinum"All that Glitters," Adventures of Superman TV series (1958)Batman Secret Files #1 (December 2018)Impossible world (dream of Jimmy Olsen, Adventures of Superman TV series/impossible world inside Phantom Zone, comics)Source of superpowers (Adventures of Superman TV series)Permanent Kryptonian powersAdventures of Superman
NegativeGold"All that Glitters," Adventures of Superman TV series (1958)Adventure Comics #299 (August 1962)Dream of Jimmy Olsen (Adventures of Superman TV series)Green affected by "atomic radiation"Permanent loss of superpowersTemporary memory loss (Justice League Action)Ultraman: Scarring (Smallville)
  • Adventures of Superman
  • Smallville
  • Super Friends
  • Justice League Action
  • Scribblenauts Unmasked28
  • Injustice 2
Anti-Fool'sSlowHybridAction Comics #252 (May 1959)Created by Metallo (The Brave and the Bold #175, June 1981)Synthesized on Earth (Lois & Clark)NoneSame as green on KryptoniansUltraman: Perfect health29Lois & ClarkScribblenauts Unmasked30
X-OrangeAction Comics #261 (January 1960)Experiment by Supergirl to counteract greenFragments from Krypton (Superman & Lois/Super-Pets)NoneTemporary Kryptonian powers31Paranoia (DC Super Hero Girls)Varying powers (Super-Pets) Counteracted by exposure to green (Superman & Lois/Super-Pets)Bizarro: same as green on Kryptonians (Superman & Lois)Super-Pets32Superman & LoisScribblenauts Unmasked33
BlueSuperman #140 (October 1960)Green subjected to Professor Dalton's duplicator rayHarm to soul3435Neutralized superpowers (Smallville)Counteracts red (Super Friends)Medical stability (Smallville)Bizarro: harms imperfectionsBizarro: logical thought36Ultraman: perfect health37/same as green on Kryptonians (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths)Blocked by "imperfect" leadCrisis on Two Earths
  • Smallville
  • Supergirl
Super FriendsScribblenauts Unmasked38
WhiteWhiteAdventure Comics #279 (December 1960)Green affected by "space cloud"39Attacking microorganismsAttacking microorganismsScribblenauts Unmasked40
Bizarro-white"The Battle with Bizarro," Superboy TV series (November 18, 1989)Cellular healthCellular normality (Superboy TV series)Superboy
SilverSuperman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #70 (July 1963)Hoax by Jimmy OlsenBrainiac technology (Smallville, comics following Superman/Batman #46, April 2008)Paranoid delusions
  • Smallville
  • Supergirl
Scribblenauts Unmasked41
JewelPurpleJewelPurpleAction Comics #310 (March 1964)Kryptonian mountainsMind control powersPurple eyes (Smallville)Nightmares (Super-Pets)Super-PetsSmallvilleDC Super Hero Girls
Purple spotted“Streaky’s Supercat Tale,” Krypto (April 2005)Self-mind controlKrypto
Magno-Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #92 (April 1966)Created by Mr. NeroMagnetic attractionScribblenauts Unmasked42
Tar-basedBlackHarun-ElSuperman III film (1983)Supergirl (vol. 5) #2 (October 2005) (comics)Synthesized on Earth (Superman III)Superheated green (Smallville)Fragments of KryptonKryptonian religion (Supergirl TV series)Empowered evil self and weakened good selfSecond exposure: reversion (Smallville/Supergirl TV series)Same as on Kryptonians (Smallville/Supergirl TV series)Superman III
  • Smallville
  • Supergirl
Justice League ActionScribblenauts Unmasked43
KrimsonSuperman Volume 2 #49 (November 1990)Created by Mister Mxyzptlk to grant one wish for as long as origin is concealedVariable
Kryptisium-XThe Adventures of Superman #511 (April 1994)Green filtered by EradicatorExcessive superpowersScribblenauts Unmasked44
PinkSupergirl (vol. 4) #79 (April 2003)Inversion of gender-stereotyped traitsReversed sex (Justice League Action)Justice League Action
YellowSuperman Family Adventures Vol. 12 (August 2012)UnknownFear (Lego DC Super Hero Girls)Lego DC Super Hero GirlsScribblenauts Unmasked45
PeriwinkleSuperman Family Adventures #9 (March 2013)JoyPeriwinkle transmutationBizarro: anger (DC Super Hero Girls)DC Super Hero Girls

Music

Look up Appendix:DC Comics/Kryptonite in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. Horton, Andrew; McDougal, Stuart Y.; Braudy, Leo (1998). Play it Again, Sam: Retakes on Remakes. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 287. ISBN 0520205936. 0520205936 ↩

  2. Jones, Gerard (2004). Men Of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book. New York: Basic Books. pp. 181–183. ISBN 0465036562. 0465036562 ↩

  3. Hayde, Michael J. (2009). Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's Adventures of Superman. BearManor Media. ISBN 9781593933449."Only one arc in 1943 managed to transcend its era: "The Meteor from Krypton". Debuting on June 3, it marked the debut of kryptonite..." 9781593933449 ↩

  4. Schwartz, Julius (2000). Man of Two Worlds: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics. HarperEntertainment. ISBN 0-380-81051-4.pg 132-133 0-380-81051-4 ↩

  5. Hayde, Michael J. (2009). Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's Adventures of Superman. BearManor Media. ISBN 9781593933449."Since Superman's life isn't threatened — the meteorite never leaves the doctor’s custody — it's likely that Lowther's primary intent was to create a means for Superman to discover his own origin". 9781593933449 ↩

  6. "Superman Homepage". Retrieved 2023-10-24. https://www.supermanhomepage.com/ ↩

  7. Bill Finger (w), Al Pastino (p). "Superman's Return to Krypton!" Superman, vol. 1, no. 61 (November 1949). DC Comics. /wiki/Script_(comics) ↩

  8. Tippens, Norman (6 December 2000). "Dorothy Woolfolk, Superman Editor". Daily Press. WebCite. Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2017. https://www.dailypress.com/2000/12/06/dorothy-woolfolk-superman-editor/ ↩

  9. Action Comics #591 (August 1987) /wiki/Action_Comics ↩

  10. Fleisher, Michael L. (2007). The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes Volume Three: Superman. DC Comics. pp. 369–375. ISBN 978-1-4012-1389-3. 978-1-4012-1389-3 ↩

  11. Hayde, Michael J. (2009). Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's Adventures of Superman. BearManor Media. ISBN 9781593933449."Only one arc in 1943 managed to transcend its era: "The Meteor from Krypton". Debuting on June 3, it marked the debut of kryptonite..." 9781593933449 ↩

  12. Byrne, John (w), Byrne, John (p), Kesel, Karl (i). "Bloodsport!" Superman, vol. 2, no. 4, p. 22 (April 1987). DC Comics. /wiki/John_Byrne_(comics) ↩

  13. Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 174–177. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0. 978-0-345-50108-0 ↩

  14. "Superman II". Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe. 1 (22): 29. Dec 1986. ↩

  15. Mark Waid (w), Alex Ross (a). Kingdom Come, p. 129/4 (1997). New York: DC Comics, ISBN 1563893304. /wiki/Script_(comics) ↩

  16. Grant Morrison (w), Frank Quietly (p). All-Star Superman, no. 1 (January 2006). DC Comics. /wiki/Script_(comics) ↩

  17. "Visage". Smallville. Season 2. Episode 11. 2003-01-14. The WB. /wiki/Smallville_(TV_series) ↩

  18. John Byrne (w), Dick Giordano (p). "Games People Play" Action Comics, vol. 1, no. 600, p. 8 (May 1988). DC Comics. /wiki/Script_(comics) ↩

  19. Staskiewicz, Keith (2 July 2015). "'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice': 6 EW exclusive photos". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2017. http://www.ew.com/gallery/batman-v-superman-dawn-justice-first-look-photos/2232978_batman-and-superman-square-first-time ↩

  20. Milligan, Mercedes (May 3, 2022). "'DC League of Super-Pets' Domesticate Their Powers in New Trailer". Animation Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2022/05/dc-league-of-super-pets-domesticate-their-powers-in-new-trailer/ ↩

  21. Scharping, Nathaniel (April 4, 2018). "Space Metal Has Captivated Humanity for Ages" Archived 2019-11-19 at the Wayback Machine. Discover. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2018/04/04/meteorites-ancient-cultures ↩

  22. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  23. Fleisher, Michael L. (2007). The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman. DC Comics. pp. 369–375. ISBN 978-1-4012-1389-3. 978-1-4012-1389-3 ↩

  24. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  25. Superboy, no. 121 (June 1965). DC Comics. ↩

  26. "Superman Red vs. Superman Blue". Justice League Action. Season 1. Episode 36. 2017-09-16. ↩

  27. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  28. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  29. Grant Morrison (w), Frank Quietly (p). JLA: Earth 2, p. 73/1 (September 2000). DC Comics. /wiki/Script_(comics) ↩

  30. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  31. Jaffe, Alex (2025-05-29). "Crushed by Color: A Kryptonite Catalogue". DC.com. DC Comics. Retrieved 2025-06-04. https://www.dc.com/blog/2025/05/29/crushed-by-color-a-kryptonite-catalogue ↩

  32. Milligan, Mercedes (May 3, 2022). "'DC League of Super-Pets' Domesticate Their Powers in New Trailer". Animation Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.animationmagazine.net/2022/05/dc-league-of-super-pets-domesticate-their-powers-in-new-trailer/ ↩

  33. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  34. Grant Morrison (w), Rags Morales (a), Alex Sinclair (col), John Workman (let). Action Comics, vol. 2, no. 16 (May 2013). DC Comics. /wiki/Script_(comics) ↩

  35. Jaffe, Alex (2025-05-29). "Crushed by Color: A Kryptonite Catalogue". DC.com. DC Comics. Retrieved 2025-06-04. https://www.dc.com/blog/2025/05/29/crushed-by-color-a-kryptonite-catalogue ↩

  36. Jaffe, Alex (2025-05-29). "Crushed by Color: A Kryptonite Catalogue". DC.com. DC Comics. Retrieved 2025-06-04. https://www.dc.com/blog/2025/05/29/crushed-by-color-a-kryptonite-catalogue ↩

  37. Grant Morrison (w), Frank Quietly (p). JLA: Earth 2, p. 73/1 (September 2000). DC Comics. /wiki/Script_(comics) ↩

  38. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  39. Superman, vol. 1, no. 296 (September 1976). DC Comics. ↩

  40. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  41. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  42. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  43. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  44. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  45. Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved October 25, 2024. https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects ↩

  46. Storm, Ian (11 September 2005). "3 Doors Down – The Better Life (album review 4)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2 October 2017. https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/3537/3-Doors-Down-The-Better-Life/ ↩

  47. "Big Boi Presents...Got Purp?, Vol. 2 – Big Boi, Purple Ribbon All-Stars". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2017. http://www.allmusic.com/album/big-boi-presentsgot-purp-vol-2-mw0000174128 ↩

  48. "Pocket Full of Kryptonite – Spin Doctors". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2017. http://www.allmusic.com/album/pocket-full-of-kryptonite-mw0000674620 ↩