DC Explains Rules For Brand New Kryptonite Introduced To Superman Lore
An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com.
His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023.
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Since the start of the Kingdom of Zod storyline, Superman's band of friends and allies have found themselves literally plagued with a new variant of Kryptonite threatening Earth. Following the ostentatious kingdom of El Caldero suddenly seeing its steady rule disrupted by the emergence of General Zod, the Kryptonian unleashed a dangerous variant of the planet's radioactive residue now capable of bonding with and infecting human tissue. While the plot has developed significantly past the initial Kryptonite plague, the fact still stands that its infection is an increasingly dangerous threat to the world and non-Kryptonian superheroes just as it is for those with the planet's physiology.
Supergirl #17 laid out the latest details, though, with Steel exploring the specifics of how radioactive debris from an alien planet could seemingly evolve past its crystalline state to become a new type of disease. It's a fascinating explanation, but it also bears chilling implications for the infected population if the infection is left alone long enough to ravage its hosts. Now, going into Kingdom of Zod Part 7 with next week's release of Superman Unlimited #17, the story, and its central epidemic, will both continue approaching their apexes, expanding Superman lore along with it.
Superman's Kingdom Of Zod Event Explains How The Kryptonite Plague Works
As explained by Steel, the Kryptonite plague shown so far in the event is, for all intents and purposes, regular Green K Kryptonite, but with a slight molecular variation. The change allows this radioactive mineral to bond with human cells and organic matter, mimicking a prion disease. To put into layman terms: this form of Kryptonite can fuse with humans' proteins, cause them to lose control of their bodies, and induce what appears to be brain damage as they grow aggressive. As explained even further in Action Comics #1102, this infection makes them similar to zombies, but without the usual tropes like craving brains, and their strength instead remains only average.
Unlike other "zombie-like" threats that've emerged in other corners of DC like Absolute Batman's encounter with Poison Ivy, those infected with the Kryptonite plague are instead completely out of control, helplessly throwing themselves in harm's way. With the infection spanning the globe, and seemingly nobody around with immunity, it seems like this could be a reasonable cautionary tale in the DC Universe going forward, and another addition to the sprawling list of Kryptonite variants. But bizarrely, with such a globe-spanning threat and the minds of John Henry Irons and his daughter, Natasha, alongside Tomorrow Man trying to stop the infection, and Lana Lang even trying to absorb it, things appear to only get worse before they can get better.
Warning: Read Ahead Only If You've Read Supergirl #17!
Chaos & Despair Loom In Late-Stage Kingdom Of Zod
Lana's attempt to absorb Clark Kent's infection is quickly interrupted by the El Caldero Krypto-Knights, throwing them behind bars alongside Mary Marvel, Martian Manhunter, and more. Supergirl and Superboy attempt to retrieve Ursa on the past's Krypton, only for the fleeing bride of Zod to make a desperate plea to Zor-El and change the fate of the planet. It's all for nothing, though, as things quickly grow worse, with Ursa "stomping on butterflies" in the past, as Supergirl puts it. Now with a critically-injured Zor-El, Supergirl and Superboy try to extract Ursa, only for them to be tracked down and captured by Zod of the past.
Metropolis · Daily Planet Edition
Superman
Trivia Challenge
🌏OriginsLast son
☠VillainsKneel!
⚡PowersInvincible
🎥FilmsBelieve
💫LegacyHope
01
Before he was Clark Kent, Superman was born Kal-El on a distant planet doomed to destruction. His parents Jor-El and Lara placed him in a rocket ship as an infant, sending him across the cosmos to Earth. What is the name of Superman’s home planet?
✓ Correct! Krypton was a scientifically advanced planet that exploded due to its unstable core. Jor-El, Superman’s father, was the only scientist who foresaw the catastrophe and managed to save his son by launching him toward Earth in a small spacecraft.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Krypton. Thanagar is Hawkman’s homeworld, Apokolips is Darkseid’s domain, and Oa is the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. Krypton’s destruction is the defining event of Superman’s origin story.
02
Superman’s greatest love is a fearless, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who works alongside Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. She’s known for her relentless pursuit of the truth and for being one of the few people who sees both the hero and the man. Who is she?
✓ Correct! Lois Lane has been Superman’s primary love interest since her debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. A brilliant investigative reporter, she’s as iconic as Superman himself — tough, smart, and unafraid to chase the biggest stories in Metropolis.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lois Lane. Diana Prince is Wonder Woman, Lana Lang is Clark’s high school sweetheart from Smallville, and Cat Grant is a gossip columnist at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane is Superman’s iconic partner.
03
Despite being nearly invulnerable under Earth’s yellow sun, Superman has one famous weakness — a radioactive mineral from the remnants of his destroyed homeworld. Exposure to it drains his powers and can even kill him. What is this substance called?
✓ Correct! Kryptonite is the irradiated remnants of planet Krypton. Green Kryptonite is the most common and deadly variety, but there are many other types — Red Kryptonite causes unpredictable behavior, Gold Kryptonite can permanently strip his powers, and Blue Kryptonite affects Bizarro.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Kryptonite. Vibranium is from Marvel’s Black Panther universe, Nth Metal is tied to Hawkman, and Red Sun Ore isn’t a real DC substance. Kryptonite is the iconic green-glowing mineral that is Superman’s ultimate weakness.
04
In 1978, a then-unknown actor donned the cape and made the world believe a man could fly. His portrayal of Superman became the gold standard for superhero films and he starred in four Superman movies. Who is this legendary actor?
✓ Correct! Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in Superman: The Movie (1978) is widely regarded as the definitive live-action Superman. His performance perfectly balanced the heroic confidence of Superman with the endearing clumsiness of Clark Kent, setting the template every Superman actor has followed since.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Christopher Reeve. Henry Cavill played Superman in the DCEU starting with Man of Steel (2013), Brandon Routh starred in Superman Returns (2006), and Tom Welling played young Clark in TV’s Smallville. Reeve was the original big-screen Superman.
05
Superman’s greatest enemy isn’t a superpowered alien — he’s a brilliant, ruthless human billionaire who believes Superman is a threat to humanity’s potential. This bald-headed genius has been Superman’s archenemy for over 80 years. Who is he?
✓ Correct! Lex Luthor is the ultimate foil to Superman — where Superman represents hope and selflessness, Luthor represents ambition and ego. Despite having no superpowers, his genius-level intellect and vast resources make him Superman’s most persistent and dangerous adversary.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lex Luthor. Brainiac is an alien android who collects cities, Darkseid is the god-like ruler of Apokolips, and Doomsday is the monster who famously killed Superman. But Lex Luthor is the definitive archenemy — Superman’s dark mirror.
06
After crash-landing on Earth as a baby, Kal-El was found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, a kind farming couple. They raised him with strong moral values in a small rural town. Where did Clark Kent grow up?
✓ Correct! Smallville, Kansas is the quintessential American small town where Jonathan and Martha Kent raised Clark with heartland values of honesty, compassion, and humility. It’s the foundation of who Superman is — not the powers from Krypton, but the character instilled by his Kansas parents.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Smallville, Kansas. Gotham is Batman’s city, Metropolis is where Clark moves as an adult to work at the Daily Planet, and Coast City is Green Lantern’s home. Smallville is where the Kents raised Clark on their farm.
07
As Clark Kent, Superman disguises himself as a mild-mannered reporter working at Metropolis’s most famous newspaper, alongside Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen. Their editor-in-chief Perry White runs the newsroom. What is the name of this newspaper?
✓ Correct! The Daily Planet, with its iconic globe on the rooftop, is one of the most recognizable fictional newspapers in pop culture. Working there gives Clark Kent both a cover identity and a way to stay informed about threats to the city and the world.
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is the Daily Planet. The Daily Bugle is Spider-Man’s Marvel universe newspaper, the Metropolis Star and Gotham Gazette are lesser DC publications. The Daily Planet — with its spinning globe — is Superman’s journalistic home.
08
This Kryptonian military commander was banished to the Phantom Zone for treason before Krypton’s destruction. He escaped and came to Earth seeking vengeance, famously demanding that others “Kneel before” him. His iconic portrayal by Terence Stamp cemented him in pop culture. Who is this villain?
✓ Correct! General Zod is one of Superman’s most terrifying foes because he has all of Superman’s powers but none of his morality. Terence Stamp’s portrayal in Superman II (1980) made “Kneel before Zod” one of the most quoted villain lines in film history. Michael Shannon later reimagined the role in Man of Steel (2013).
✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is General Zod. Bizarro is a flawed clone of Superman, Parasite drains powers through touch, and Metallo is a cyborg with a Kryptonite heart. General Zod is the Kryptonian military leader whose cry of “Kneel before Zod!” echoes through decades of Superman stories.
Mission Complete Your Kryptonian Record
/ 8
Are you the Man of Steel — or still stuck in a phone booth?
The next issue for fans to look out for even released its new preview with Superman Unlimited #17, coming next week on September 16, with a full page recapping the events so far. But as a younger Zod attempts to take control of the situation, he starts by taking Ursa with him to get valuable information about the future and use Supergirl and Superboy as high-value hostages. For a story that began with a vengeful, furious older widower Zod, making a hostile takeover on a Kryptonite-based kingdom, Kingdom of Zod pushes dangerous consequences felt in the past as well as the present. But its greatest fallout may jsut be this dangerous form of Kryptonite from which not just Superman, but anybody, is truly safe.
Catch the next installment of Kingdom of Zod Part 7 releasing in Superman Unlimited #17, releasing digitally and at comic retailers on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
- Movie(s)
- Superman, Superman II, Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, Superman Returns, Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Superman, Man of Tomorrow
- TV Show(s)
- Adventures of Superman, Superman, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Smallville, Superman: The Animated Series, My Adventures With Superman
- Comic
- Superman (2023)
- First Film
- Superman
- Genres
- Superhero, Action
- Cast
- Christopher Reeve, David Corenswet, Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill, Tom Welling, Tyler Hoechlin, Margot Kidder, Rachel Brosnahan, Kate Bosworth, Amy Adams, Gene Hackman, Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Spacey, Jesse Eisenberg
KioskNews shows a cleaned-up reading view extracted from the publisher’s page — the original always lives on their site, not ours.