Kryptonite has been the weakest point of Superman in the comics for generations. The bright debris of his shattered homeworld became so recognizable that even those who haven’t read a comic book know it.
However, DC may have just turned the game upside down with a new mysterious power that seems even more dangerous.
DC May Have Introduced The Deadliest Weapon Superman Has Ever Faced
Writer Mark Waid introduces the “Kryptonian Force” in Action Comics #1098, and it immediately raises a ton of questions about Superman’s future. This new threat appears to be specially designed to kill Kryptonians almost instantly, unlike red sun radiation or magical attacks.
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The most interesting aspect of Waid’s current Action Comics run is that it takes us back to Superboy. Yet, it also doesn’t stray from the DC continuity of the present day. The two combine to make for a nostalgic feel and for the story to subtly change the Superman mythology.
The story follows the adventures of heroes such as Mary Marvel, Booster Gold, and Martian Manhunter as they venture into the past to find out what happened to the heroic Superman following the DC K.O. When baby Kal-El is brought to Earth by a time-traveling rocket stolen by the evil Epoch, things go downhill.
That’s when things get really interesting. Epoch has broken apart the Kryptonian spacecraft and is able to get a lethal weapon that can kill Superboy. Martian Manhunter then assumes the identity of Clark to see how well the attack works. It’s clear Epoch is expecting it to kill Clark.
Instead, the blast has minimal impact on J’onn, and right away is extremely harmful to Kryptonians. It’s the old “comic-book” reveal, but there’s some real intrigue there. Even when DC has yet to reveal what the force is, really.
This New Weakness Could Become A Huge DC Problem
The concept of Superman having another weakness is nothing new, but the “Kryptonian Force” is mysterious and powerful enough to be another potential weakness. Kryptonite has limitations. Magic needs to be performed by certain users. Red sun radiation is greatly dependent on circumstances.
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However, this new force has a biological or elemental quality, like it’s somehow connected to the very essence of Kryptonian life. This means some very big story ideas in the future.
It also establishes a new conflict for Superman, which is a challenge for writers all the time. Clark Kent is one of DC’s strongest heroes, and it’s always tricky to bring in believable threats that don’t make him too weak.
Yet, one of the things that makes Superman interesting isn’t his power, but what he does when he’s weak. Right now, DC appears to be ready to venture into a new hole in the wall that fans have never seen.
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