Superman Faces His New Kryptonite (and Reveals His Truest Self)

by

In comic books, kryptonite is the one thing that can always defeat Superman – it’s become a common expression for any major weakness. While the original green kryptonite is the most well-known way to bring him down, many different versions of the radioactive rock have appeared over the years. But even though kryptonite weakens Superman, facing new and even more powerful forms of it actually highlights just how incredibly strong he truly is.

The comic series *Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum* began with Superman discovering four new kinds of Kryptonite. Determined to understand their effects, he decided to experiment on himself. The first issue thoughtfully explored Superman’s attempt to stay present while affected by Purple Kryptonite, which altered his perception of time. Now, the series focuses on Cobalt Kryptonite, which was intended to destroy Superman, but instead reveals the relatable, human side of the hero.

New Kryptonite Creates Big Problems

A powerful substance called Cobalt Kryptonite escaped its container, causing Superman to grow to an enormous size. He quickly became so large that he broke through the roof of the Fortress of Solitude, eventually becoming bigger than Godzilla. Batman warned Clark they had only minutes to reverse the effect, or the world’s nations would see him as a threat and try to neutralize him. But upon learning that people would be frightened, Superman proposed a solution that was perfectly in line with his heroic nature.

Superman realized the world would soon discover him – his sheer size would trigger alarms and appear on radar. He decided to reveal himself in Metropolis, hoping to prove he wasn’t a threat. Even though he and Lois Lane had just broken up, he trusted her to report the truth, even if it was painful for him. So, Superman flew to Metropolis and publicly announced his peaceful intentions, demonstrating his size by casually resting his arms on skyscrapers, believing an explanation would ease people’s fears.

Superman’s Greatest Strength in His Weakest Moments

Superman had grown incredibly powerful – so much so that even a small mistake could destroy a city. Yet, he still chose to trust in people’s goodness. His greatest strength has always been his hopeful heart and belief in others, and this moment perfectly illustrates that. While Batman pointed out how risky Superman’s plan was – how easily people could be frightened by his immense size – Superman remained optimistic, despite all logical concerns. He’s always felt like an outsider, aware of his potential to cause destruction, and the Cobalt Kryptonite only amplified that feeling. Already emotionally vulnerable after his breakup with Lois, Superman was now a source of fear for everyone, but he responded with calm reassurance. He showed them that fear wouldn’t solve anything, and that moving forward with hope was the only way.

I absolutely love how this story really gets Superman. People sometimes call him naive, but I see it as him actively *choosing* to believe the best in everyone, and trusting they’ll do the right thing. That’s why he’s the ultimate hero – he inspires hope in all of us! It was amazing to see how well that approach was working, until Lex Luthor messed everything up with Red Kryptonite. Thankfully, Speckled Kryptonite fixed him, but now he’s a teenager again! Honestly, this sets up such a compelling and emotional story with Billy Batson, Captain Marvel. I’m so excited to see what happens next! What are your thoughts? Let’s discuss it in the ComicBook Forum!

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/superman-clark-kent-disguise-dc-comics-list/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-15 15:11