Kryptonite
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Real Identity: Not Applicable
Affiliation(s): Not Applicable
Appearances: Public Enemies and Apocalypse
Powers/Skills: Radioactivity and Photosynthetic Interference
Voiced By: Not Applicable
Kryptonite are meteorites that were once made up the planet Krypton. After the planet's unstable core could no longer handle a growing radiation, it exploded. Several shards of the planet were caught in the acceleration one lifeboat that escaped to Earth. It was studied and concluded to be a transuranic element with an atomic number of 126. Decades later, it is discovered this element can be used 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.
The rocks became a highly sought after commodity by enemies of Superman and came in many variations. Red Kryptonite, similar to the red light spectrum, temporarily removes any powers a Kryptonian received from absorbing yellow light. It also can cause temporary physical mutation or psychological change. Gold Kryptonite can permanently remove a Kryptonian's powers by altering specific cells in their body to no longer absorb solar energy. Blue Kryptonite is able to reverse the effects of Red Kryptonite and heal a Kryptonian. Advances in technology are also able to simulate the radiation of Green Kryptonite.
Three years after Lex Luthor became President, a spectrographic analysis confirmed a Kryptonite meteor was on its way to Earth. It was the size of a small country and the impact, in seven days, would kill millions, even billions. Luthor came up with a plan to use a series of warheads armed with warp drives to destroy it. In the meantime, he fabricated an elaborate story that as the meteor became closer to Earth, it began to make Superman more and more insane. To back his claims, Luthor goaded Superman into fighting Metallo, blamed Metallo's death on Superman, and releasing manipulated camera footage to the public. Luthor then declared Superman as public enemy number one and a collection of super villains and heroes attempted to capture him.
However, Luthor's plan failed. He failed to account for the meteor's radiation. The induced radioactivity detonated the warheads before they could hit the meteor itself. Secretly, Batman was also monitoring the meteor and came up with a plan of his own in coordination with one of his contacts, Toyman. However, Luthor arrived and tried to sabotage the launch. Batman initiated the manual launch and piloted the machine straight into the meteor. From coast to coast, cities experienced a rash of Kryptonite meteor showers. NASA monitored them until they moved beyond Earth's orbit. One final meteor fell into Gotham Harbor two weeks later. Batman investigated and found shards of Kryptonite and a space ship. It turned out the ship was that of Kara Zor-El, another survivor of Krypton. Batman later subdued her with Kryptonite.
Although the effects of Kryptonite can also be adverse to humans, Lex Luthor devised a way to use green Kryptonite to enhance himself. During his campaign for President, he created a steroidal cocktail that included the Kryptonite. Luthor felt boundless energy and clarity but like any other drug, he required steady injections to sustain himself. It also appears that the cocktail also expanded his already insane psyche.