I Cannot Get Over How The DCU Initially Introduces Kryptonite To Its World

The DC Universe has already launched Kryptonite into its story earlier than Superman itself, and each the tactic used to take action and the impression it’s set to have on the 2025 DCU film have taken me without warning. Whereas Creature Commandos began off the DCU timeline, Superman would be the film to kick issues off correctly in only a few days.

Superman‘s story is thus doubly thrilling and nerve-wracking for DC followers, given it is the primary film within the new cinematic world, and the primary movie foray of the most recent live-action Superman. As such, it is fascinating to notice {that a} key factor of Superman‘s story has already been arrange, since Kryptonite has been launched by way of a earlier launch.

Kryptonite Is A Big Half Of Superman’s Story

As one of many few issues the assorted iterations of Superman are weak to – and one of many even fewer issues Kal-El is constantly weak to all through his historical past – Kryptonite naturally holds a key place in Superman’s mythos. As a substance that may weaken Superman or be used to justify him shedding fights he in any other case would not, it is easy to see why.

Through the years, as Superman’s outstanding place in popular culture has been additional and additional cemented, the thought of Kryptonite has change into a shorthand for describing a weak point, and is straight away recognizable to even many who aren’t superhero followers. Whereas the comics naturally delve extra into this, Superman’s motion pictures and reveals additionally put a serious highlight on Kryptonite too.

Virtually each sequence that includes Superman in a central capability incorporates Kryptonite into its story at some stage, because it gives a uniquely helpful story angle. Certainly, Kryptonite first appeared within the 1943 DC radio play The Adventures Of Superman, earlier than showing not lengthy after within the comics, after which changing into an more and more essential a part of Superman’s lore from there.

Between then and now, Superman has confronted Kryptonite in a variety of releases, together with situations like him nearly dying when Lex Luthor makes use of it towards him in Superman: The Film, and Batman utilizing it to struggle him in Batman V Superman: Daybreak Of Justice. As such, how the DCU brings Kryptonite into its story is a matter of main significance.

The DCU Introduces Kryptonite In The Superman Prequel

Whereas the particular method during which the DC Universe’s story launched Kryptonite into its narrative is shocking by itself, the timing of this introduction can also be decidedly notable. Fairly than having the primary look of Kryptonite are available in Superman itself, the 2025 film’s prequel, Superman: Welcome To Metropolis, brings the substance into the universe in a serious method.

In Superman: Welcome To Metropolis, Lex Luthor introduces Kryptonite by revealing that LuthorCorp has discovered a substance he believes he can use to reinforce Metallo, and thus make sure the cyborg is ready to defeat Superman. Whereas not named, the rock is repeatedly proven as glowing inexperienced and later proven to weaken Superman, making the matter of its identification fairly easy.

The choice to debut Kryptonite right here is an fascinating one, for the reason that story does not strictly want it to make sense – as there have been different methods Metallo may have conceivably been “upgraded” with out utilizing the substance particularly. Equally, the very fact the novel ends with Luthor realizing Superman is weak to Kryptonite appears to be a doubtlessly main setup for Superman itself.

Although Superman nonetheless seems to be the primary time we see Kryptonite actively on-screen within the DC Universe, this backdrop paints an enchanting image for the franchise. This must also assist the DCU really feel extra like a world with in-universe historical past that we’re getting acquainted with, because it suggests Lex and Superman have already discovered about Kryptonite earlier than Superman.

The Superman Prequel Makes It Look Even Extra Like Kryptonite Will Be A Core Half Of The 2025 Film’s Story

Superman‘s trailers have already teased that the film will make use of Kryptonite in some capability. Nevertheless, the setup Superman: Welcome To Metropolis places in place would imply it’d make all of the extra sense for the rock to be a focal factor of the 2025 movie’s narrative, particularly when checked out alongside these trailer teases and what they could imply.

With the Superman trailers displaying Metamorpho seemingly making Kryptonite – and Kryptonite then being held above a grimacing Man of Metal – it very a lot appears Superman’s weak point might be employed towards him. Welcome To Metropolis has usefully already underlined simply how weak the DCU Superman is to Kryptonite, because it appears Metallo may have defeated him with out Hawkgirl stepping in.

This makes it all of the extra essential that the Superman prequel reveals that not solely has the hero come throughout Kryptonite earlier than, but additionally that he and Lex have each famous the Kryptonian’s weak point to it – even when “the rock” stays unnamed for now. With this setup in thoughts, ideas reminiscent of Luthor particularly in search of out Metamorpho within the hopes of utilizing Kryptonite moreover make much more sense.

Whereas particulars like how Metamorpho will get concerned and the way Superman is ready to cope with Kryptonite and nonetheless save the day are unclear, what is evident is that the DCU is delving into the hero’s weaknesses as a lot as his strengths. As such, Superman‘s use of Kryptonite is already trying to be a really fascinating a part of its story.