When it comes to Kryptonite, nobody knows more than Lex Luthor. The evil genius and archenemy of Superman has weaponized the lethal substance in many ways over the years. However, Luthor finds a new use for the Green Kryptonite variant in Superman #11 by Joshua Williamson and David Baldeón.
The current monthly Superman series has seen an unlikely alliance form between the Man of Steel and his archenemy. This coincided with the rise of two new villains, Doctor Pharm and Mister Graft, who have a grudge against Lex Luthor. Pharm and Graft empowered a number of Superman’s enemies as part of their campaign to destroy everything Lex had built.
This culminated in their “recruitment” of Superman himself to their Lex Luthor Revenge Squad. This was accomplished through a piece of Red Kryptonite, which typically has random effects on Kryptonians. However, Pharm had somehow calculated that this piece would specifically make Superman uncontrollably angry. Cornered but not cowering, the greatest criminal mind of all time had to improvise in order to save himself and, reluctantly, save Superman too.
Lex Luthor Proves Green Kryptonite Overrides Red
In real-world physics, certain forms of radiation can overpower other forms. Lex Luthor had theorized the same might be true of Kryptonite. Specifically, that the lethal Green variant might be more powerful than the mundane Red. He put that theory to the test, stabbing Superman with a Green Kryptonite shard taken from Mister Graft’s gauntlet.
The good news is that Lex Luthor’s theory proved valid. The toxic shock of the Green Kryptonite cleared Superman’s head of the Red Kryptonite influence. Unfortunately, this still left Superman weakened and Pharm and Graft free to enact the next phase of their elaborate revenge scheme.
Superman #11 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
