Every Color of Kryptonite (And What It Does to Superman) Ranked

The strong association between Superman and Kryptonite in American pop culture has led to the term “Kryptonite” being used broadly, representing everything from the idea that the mighty possess vulnerabilities to the notion of something or someone being detrimental. However, Kryptonite isn’t merely the glowing green stone Superman steers clear of; it carries a profound meaning. Grasping its intricate complexity can be tricky, as it necessitates sifting through numerous comic book issues that delve into and allude to its multifaceted aspects. It isn’t until these fragmented details are assembled that the true essence of Kryptonite is revealed.

The depiction of Kryptonite throughout the years reveals it as a remarkably versatile radioactive mineral, posing a threat due to its radioactivity and detrimental impact on a being’s cellular structure and genetic makeup. The color of this mineral reflects the nature of its radioactivity, with significant repercussions that primarily affect Superman but can also be felt by humans, animals, and extraterrestrials under specific circumstances. In the DC Comics Universe, we present a catalog of various types of Kryptonite, detailing their effects on Superman and others. Importantly, this list solely encompasses Kryptonite that is part of the Superman comic book lore and exhibits some influence over Superman. Thus, types such as White, Slow, and X-Kryptonite are not featured in our compilation.

14) Periwinkle Kryptonite

In the expanses of the DC Comics Universe, a novel kind of Kryptonite called Periwinkle Kryptonite has emerged, debuting in issue 9 of the youthful comic series Superman Family Adventures, penned by Art Baltazar and Franco. Despite its origins not being clearly specified as natural or man-made, we do possess knowledge that Brainiac successfully acquires this Kryptonite. Later, he bombards Superman with a dose of it following the landing of their brain-shaped stronghold right in the heart of the city, alongside Luthor.

Without causing immediate harm, the beam transforms Superman’s complexion and outfit into a stunning purple hue. What’s more intriguing, it appears to bring out his inner “Ricky Martin,” making him dance Lois Lane toward him with surprising self-assurance. However, the hair-styling effect of Kryptonite is temporary. Superman reverts back to his traditional reserved demeanor just as Lois is getting used to this new side of him.

13) Pink Kryptonite

As a devoted DC Comics fan, I can’t help but ponder about the elusive Pink Kryptonite. Though it hasn’t been explicitly shown in the universe, its existence was hinted at in Supergirl (1996) #79. In this issue, Lois Lane questions if Superman’s peculiar behavior is due to pink kryptonite, and Supergirl cryptically warns her, “Lois, you so don’t want to know.”

Superman’s unusual behavior in this storyline includes a decreased interest in Lois Lane and an increased fascination with Linda Danvers’ Supergirl. However, it’s interesting to note that during the same scene, Superman also excessively complements Jimmy Olsen on his looks, leading some fans to speculate that pink kryptonite makes Superman appear gay or effeminate.

However, it’s essential to clarify that we still don’t fully understand the true influence of pink kryptonite on Superman – the mystery remains unsolved for now.

12) Blue Kryptonite

In the DC Comics universe, introduced in the 1939 comic “Superman” #140, Blue Kryptonite, often referred to as Bizarro Kryptonite, has a distinct impact on Superman’s long-time foe, Bizarro. This unique form of Kryptonite was crafted by Superman using one of Lex Luthor’s ray guns and altering a piece of Green Kryptonite. For Bizarro, it’s as lethal as Green Kryptonite is to Superman. However, it doesn’t leave Superman unscathed. On the contrary, mirroring the opposite nature of Bizarro, Superman’s counterpart, Blue Kryptonite acts in a way that’s the exact opposite of Green Kryptonite – instead of causing harm to Superman, it neutralizes the effects of Red Kryptonite, healing him instead.

11) Kryptonite-X (Bright Green)

In contrast to regular Kryptonite that formed naturally following Krypton’s destruction, Kryptisium, or Kryptonite-X, undergoes changes due to external manipulation of its radioactive properties. As depicted in “The Adventures of Superman” (1987) #511, this transformation took place earlier in “Superman” (1987) #82. During this event, when Cyborg Superman aimed a direct blast of Green Kryptonite at the newly resurrected Superman, the Eradicator stepped in, taking the full impact. This selfless act not only spared Superman’s life but also led to an unusual interaction between the Green Kryptonite’s radiation and the Eradicator’s technology.

From my perspective as a die-hard superhero fan, the residual force that struck Superman didn’t cause him any harm; instead, it functioned like a “rejuvenating beam.” This strange radiation swiftly revitalized Superman, enabling him to absorb and process more solar energy at an increased pace. His healing process transformed into something so swift and potent that he ultimately needed to discover a means to dissipate the excess vitality, as being overly healthy had its own perils.

10) Red-Gold Kryptonite

In the world of Superman, though kryptonite looks tough and fragile, it surprisingly has a malleable nature. As depicted in Superman (1939) #178, when a piece of red kryptonite collides with gold kryptonite, they don’t break apart into fragments of each kind; instead, they merge to create a new compound: Red-Gold Kryptonite.

In a different part of the ocean, Superman unearths a fragment of Red-Gold Kryptonite hidden beneath the waves while saving some divers. This mysterious stone triggers amnesia in him, causing him to forget both his identities as Superman and Clark Kent. Eager to regain his memories, he heads to the Daily Planet to see if there’s a list of missing persons that could help him rediscover his true self. There, people recognize him, but he remains unaware of his past as Superman. His memory returns following a car accident that sends him crashing into high-voltage power lines. The shock from the impact and the electric current — lethal to an ordinary human — serves as a potent reminder, breaking the hold of the Red-Gold Kryptonite and restoring his lost memories.

9) Red Kryptonite

Initially presented in Adventure Comics issue 255 (1938), Red Kryptonite represents the third and most toxic variant among the original Kryptonite species. Originally Green Kryptonite, its composition was altered upon passing through a celestial mist during its interstellar voyage following Krypton’s destruction. This transformation makes it impactful on Superman but usually not lethal. Instead, it triggers strange and erratic symptoms, such as enabling him to manipulate objects psychokinetically in one scenario or transforming him into a beast in another. Luckily for Superman, the influence of Red Kryptonite is transient, typically resolving within hours rather than days.

8) Silver Kryptonite

In a somewhat circuitous manner, Silver Kryptonite found its way into the DC Comics universe. It first surfaced as a joke in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #70, then made an appearance on Smallville, before being integrated into the comics via Superman/Batman #46. In the comic book, Superman and Batman follow two mysterious energy signals to silver artifacts, each containing a core of Kryptonite. When exposed to Silver Kryptonite, Superman becomes chatty, overly friendly, impulsive, and experiences distorted reality perceptions, as well as intense hunger cravings – much like being drunk or under the influence. Interestingly, Silver Kryptonite affects Batman in a similar manner, leading him to suspect supernatural connections. However, these effects only occur when each hero holds a single piece; combining the two pieces neutralizes their influence.

7) Black Kryptonite

Black Kryptonite is a variant of this mineral that made its debut in the DC Comics universe via an alternate medium, specifically the TV series “Smallville” where it caused Clark Kent and Kal-El to become separate entities. It was then introduced into comics through “Supergirl” (2005) #2–3, as Lex Luthor used a fragment of Black Kryptonite given to him by Darkseid to split Supergirl into two distinct personas: one altruistic and the other narcissistic. In the comic “Dark Nights: The Batman Who Laughs” (2018), written by James Tynion IV, Riley Rossmo, Black Kryptonite triggers a transformation in Superman similar to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but rather than creating a separate physical entity, it brings out a darker, malevolent side of his personality – self-centered, aggressive, and indifferent to the pain he inflicts.

6) Red-Green Kryptonite

In the Action Comics issue 275, Brainiac introduced a unique form of Kryptonite, a blend of Red and Green Kryptonite, which is particularly harmful to Superman. The narrative does not provide clear insights into how Brainiac combines these two types of Kryptonite into a ray gun. However, upon shooting Superman with the Red-Green Kryptonite beam, its impact becomes swiftly evident: Superman starts experiencing odd sensations and becoming weaker. The most peculiar outcome is the emergence of an additional eye on the back of his head. To hide this unusual feature that might expose his secret identity, Superman starts wearing hats. Interestingly, this hybrid Kryptonite also boosts Superman’s heat vision in an unforeseen manner.

5) Krimson Kryptonite

First mentioned casually in “The Adventures of Superman” (1987) #463 and formally presented in “Superman” (1987) #49, Krimson Kryptonite is one of the more unusual types of this strange mineral. As explained in these issues, Krimson Kryptonite has a mystical component connected to Mr. Mxyzptlk, who bestows a piece of it to Lex Luthor under the provision that Luthor never discloses the true origin of the Kryptonite to Superman. As Luthor maintains this secret, the Kryptonite can diminish Superman’s powers to those of an ordinary human. This is believed to be achieved by draining Superman’s abilities and transferring the excess to Luthor, making them equally powerful physically. However, the spell is broken when Luthor – unaware that Superman’s secret identity is Clark Kent – inadvertently reveals his newfound powers to reporter Clark.

4) Red-Green-Gold Kryptonite

In the comic book Superman (1939) #192, an unusually strong and strange type of Kryptonite was introduced, largely due to a fortuitous event. The story goes that after Krypton’s explosion, fragments of Kryptonite were scattered throughout the universe, some of which collided and combined, leading to the creation of a completely new category. In this particular issue, pieces of red, green, and gold Kryptonite clashed, forming a larger red-green-gold fragment that had profound effects on Superman. This unique piece of Kryptonite has a dual impact on the Man of Steel: firstly, it permanently strips him of his superpowers; secondly, it induces such severe long-term memory loss that Clark Kent forgets entirely that he was ever Superman.

3) Amber Kryptonite

In the latest manifestation of Kryptonite, a potent adversary for Superman, originated from the “Dark Nights: Death Metal: The Last 52 – War of the Multiverses” (2021) #1. This malevolent Lois Lane from another reality employed it to slay and decapitate Superman following an unintended clash with Maxima during which he inadvertently killed her son. However, she could only achieve this feat by harnessing Amber Kryptonite, a variant that not only strips Superman of his powers but also transfers them to non-Kryptonians who possess the Amber Kryptonite instead. As portrayed in the comic, while it doesn’t directly kill Superman, if yielded by his adversaries, it could potentially result in his demise as they use his very own powers against him.

2) Gold Kryptonite

In the second installment of the initial “harmful trio” of Kryptonites, Gold Kryptonite was first introduced in Adventure Comics #299 (1938), appearing in a story that delved into an alternate universe where someone other than the Kents discovered Superman. As anticipated, this rendition of the Man of Steel evolved into a significantly distinct individual. On a space journey, he came across a yellow meteorite and touched it, eventually crashing back to Earth, powerless. Unbeknownst to him, the meteorite was actually a piece of Gold Kryptonite that permanently took away Superman’s abilities. To make matters worse, this substance also blocked him from passing his superpowers down to his offspring.

1) Green Kryptonite

Green Kryptonite, similar to other radioactive minerals, initially didn’t exist within the realm of Superman comics. Instead, it was introduced as a storyline element during the 1940s Superman radio broadcast. It wasn’t until Superman (1939) #61 that it made its comic book debut, over a decade after Superman first appeared. Green Kryptonite poses the greatest threat to Superman; even minimal contact can lead to disastrous consequences, such as severe weakness and loss of consciousness. As Superman himself admitted in Action Comics (1938) #167, “As soon as I touch it, I become weak.” Long-term exposure or extensive contact leads to the loss of his superpowers and, eventually, a slow and agonizing death.

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2025-07-07 18:14