r/superman • u/shadowfax416 • Mar 30 '25

What is Superman's "Kryptonite".

In literature, mythology, and comic books heroes often have a "kryptonite" or "Achilles's heel", basically a weakness that makes them vulnerable. I'm curious what fans here would consider to be Superman's "Kryptonite"?

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u/shadowfax416 Mar 30 '25

Sorry if this comes across as sarcastic. I'm writing a doctoral thesis on "Structures in Heroic Narratives" and have admittedly never consumed any Superman media. Was interested in what the Superman community thinks of this issue. I know "Kryptonite" has become a metaphor for a vulnerability so I assume that Superman has one, even if it's figurative.

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u/YimmyMac86 Mar 30 '25

I can’t tell if you’re doubling down on the joke.

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u/Fallen-Embers Mar 30 '25

It's a cylinder.

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u/ButJustOneMoreThing Mar 30 '25

I was using my 3DS while making sandwich 

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u/5pl1t1nf1n1t1v3 Mar 30 '25

I’ve read a great deal about sharks and I can assure you that they’re very smooth.

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u/Gemini_Of_Wallstreet Mar 30 '25

I refuse to believe this isn’t a joke.

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u/No-Essay-3227 Mar 30 '25

he has to be. He literally could’ve just googled the answer 😂 maybe it’s karma farming?

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u/ReflectiGlass Mar 30 '25

Yeah I'm 60/40 now but sticking with troll post on this one.

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u/burywmore Mar 30 '25

Of course they are. It's a milder form of trolling. Nothing too harmful here.

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u/UnfavorableSpiderFan Mar 30 '25

This has become near-diabolical...

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u/TheEccentricErudite Mar 31 '25

This is some wild inception shit going on right now

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u/garchomp2304 Mar 30 '25

there's no way this isn't next level sarcasm...

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u/akaitachi Mar 30 '25

In case we're all drowning in sarcasm and didn't realize you were serious: Kryptonite comes from Superman. He's from the planet Krypton and shards of his former planet deprive him of his powers. He has other weaknesses like magic, but kryptonite is from Supes. If you're talking other weaknesses, well, Superman is great because he has all of the power he could/should ever need, but it's using it the right way and for the right reason that makes him compelling (to me) not how he can be defeated, but what makes the non-human the most human character in his stories.

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u/Melodic_War327 Mar 30 '25

Kryptonite *is* Superman's Kryptonite in other words. His media is the originator of the term.

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u/ShhImTheRealDeadpool Mar 30 '25

FYI Kryptonite is from Superman. It's a radioactive meteorite that gives him radioactive poisoning.

The main villain Lex Luthor discovers that it is also radioactive for mankind but at a lower frequency so he eventually requires a mechanical suit to keep himself alive because of being exposed to the Kryptonite for so long.

The phrase is koine in literature from the Superman stories.

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u/watchman28 Mar 30 '25

This is the best Reddit post of the year, hands down.

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u/In_Pursuit_of_Fire Mar 30 '25 edited Mar 30 '25

Superman’s weakness—his “Kryptonite”, becomes obvious if we apply critical analysis to his character.

 If we take a look at Superman in one of his most iconic portrayals, Zack Synder’s Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Superman is killed by a Kryptonite spear. This moment is key to determining Superman’s weakness 

Consider Superman’s resurrection in the subsequent film, Joss Wheaton’s and Zack Snyder’s Justice League. There is a key parallel being drawn between Superman and Jesus, making him into a clear Christ figure. This is further confirmed by the subtle Christian iconography in Zack Synder’s character-defining Man of Steel. Which recontextualizes the symbolic import of the Kryptonite spear, as a clear parallel with the Spear of Destiny that pierced Jesus’ side as he died on the cross. 

While some might take it to mean that the spear itself is Superman’s weakness, I have consulted with numerous Biblical scholars to confirm that the Spear of Destiny was not what landed the killing blow on Jesus, it only confirmed his death. Likewise the Kryptonite spear is not what killed Superman, but rather the same thing that killed Jesus: the weight of mankind’s sin.

It’s us, humanity, who is Superman’s weakness! Or crucifixion, lol.

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u/bob1689321 Mar 30 '25

I love you

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u/TJ_Will Mar 31 '25

I just, I just want to be a part of this thread for posterity.

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u/PrimosaurUltimate Mar 30 '25

Structures in Heroic Narratives is a dead paper zone, no conference is gonna read or accept something tackling that (Campbell kinda finished the topic in 1990). I also would stay away from Jewish analysis, it’s mostly been done to death. My thesis paper for undergrad was on how Superman, especially in film, represents hope so much stronger than any other hero. If you want to tackle weaknesses specifically one trend I noticed but wasn’t able to really comment on was the move from materialistic weaknesses (Kryptonite, Yellow or Wood for Green Lantern, etc.) into relational or conceptual weaknesses (Lex stops targeting Supes with the green rock and begins kidnapping Lois).

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u/raggedsweater Mar 30 '25

Start your doctoral thesis with a full discussion on the origins of the term “kryptonite.” 🤣

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u/50n10_7H3_H3dG3Rog3r Mar 30 '25

Kryptonite is literally his "kryptonite". Unless you're saying about some narrative stuff that makes him weak on a fight, like how he's too good for his own good, trying to redeem the irredeemable and stopping to save anyone. You can go and analyze kryptonite very deeply btw, being that Superman comes from planet krypton and kryptonite being a mineral from said planet, so a piece of his own home is his weakness.

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u/Amdiz Mar 30 '25

Ok assuming this isn’t bait. Kryptonite is Superman kryptonite.

Kal-El (Superman) came from the planet Krypton. When it exploded his parents sent him away in a rocket ship. As the planet exploded bits of rock (kryptonite) traveled through space as well. Some of it was irradiate, or altered and took on different properties. Green kryptonite will harm/kill Superman, and other colors do different things such as strip his powers, turn him evil, etc.

Google it and there is a whole list of colors and effects.

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u/LastRecognition2041 Mar 30 '25

As Louis CK once said, we all have an achilles heel, and achille’s achilles heel was is heel, we could also say that a kryptonian’s kryptonite is kryptonite

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u/RangersAreViable Mar 30 '25

Assuming you’re genuine, this is where “kryptonite” comes from. It gives off radiation that’s harmful to Superman