It seems there’s more than one green contaminant causing mayhem out in the world, but in the case of Superman, it’s thankfully fictional in this instance. The classic recurring weakness, a radioactive mineral from the iconic hero’s homeworld of Krypton has taken on a dangerous new form as it literally begins consuming much of the Earth’s landmarks per the previews of Action Comics #1101. In what should have been a triumphant return for Superman, the series instead has him returning to Earth amid a brand-new Kryptonite crisis sweeping the globe.
The preview showcases the premise of the overarching “Kingdom of Zod” crossover arc, set to release alongside Supergirl #16 following the aggressive military coup to take over the Kryptonite Kingdom of El Caldero, after signs of their lucrative Kryptonite trade being followed by mysterious illnesses cropping up. It’s perhaps the most sinister manifestation of Kryptonite yet, with this mysterious plague being shown across the world, and spiking Green K radiation infecting non-Kryptonians indiscriminately. It’s a darkly weaponized spin on a classic Superman element, and it’s out August 12.
Superman’s Latest Kryptonite Threat Is A Different Terror Threatening Earth
After the shocking reveal from Action Comics #1100 where Presidente Eduardo Castilho was betrayed by Bruno, revealed to be Zod, the vast Kryptonite-based economy of the Kingdom of El Caldero was suddenly seized by the Kryptonian. But between the previews for Supergirl #16 and Action Comics #1101, Zod’s hopes of restoring Krypton’s legacy elsewhere being dashed by invading forces, and his wife Queen Ursa dying while defending her kingdom, it’s clear Zod’s got a chip on his shoulder in this story, too. In the wake of harmful Kryptonite radiation showing up first in Smallville, Kansas, with likely more outbreaks shown from Canada to South Africa and China, the ball is in Zod’s court.
This discovery was met with horror by Castilho, only for Zod to step in and reveal himself, stating that disposing of this mysteriously contaminated Kryptonite would put El Caldero in jeopardy, setting up an interesting, globe-spanning power-play that potentially weakens Zod’s opponents. With Superman freshly returned from the end of time, and Supergirl bringing her friends closer and closer to El Caldero, thus putting their lives at risk alongside hers, the new glimpses of Kryptonian crystals sprouting on famous historical landmarks is all the more sinister.
The Kryptonite plague is shown stretching to the Great Sphinx and towards the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Moai statues of Easter Island, Paris, and even Metropolis, it seems even the teased map shown in Action Comics #1100 wasn’t telling the full story just yet. It’s not even the first instance of a harmful variant of Kryptonite threatening the people of Earth, as it turns out.
Kal El makes a painful expression while reacting to a batch of Green Kryptonite in front of an orange background
While Zod’s Kryptonite kingdom is a particularly dangerous, high-concept spin on illnesses based on the radioactive element, it’s not unheard-of in the Superman mythos. It’s appeared in even less recent instances, like Adventure Comics #308 with a Red Kryptonite virus, in World’s Finest #303 featuring an outbreak at Gotham Harbor tied to Green Kryptonite, and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen#103 with another Kryptonite plague of its own. The difference for this arc appears to be scope, and just how Zod intends to weaponize it in his favor, and the pre-existing in-universe tech seemingly tied to its spread.
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
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Are you the Man of Steel — or still stuck in a phone booth?
With Supergirl leading the charge into El Caldero alongside Superboy-Prime, Conner Kent, Tomorrow Man, Lois Lane, Steel, Lana Lang, Natasha Irons, Princess Shark, and more in tow, and with Superman returning to Earth with a young Clark Kent, the battle is already starting. The question is, for either Supergirl or Superman, whether they or their cohort will emerge from such a threat entirely unharmed.
Action Comics #1101 releases on August 12, courtesy of DC Comics.
