From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kryptonite (story arc)
Kryptonite (story arc)
Kryptonite about vulnerability, and one of the ways that he had to learn
it, and ultimately the most personal way, was through his re-
lationship with Lois."[1] With Superman: Secret Origin, it has
been assumed this story arc is not in continuity anymore
as of 2010.
Plot
From the flashbacks; Kal-El’s rocket reaches the Earth,
and as it does, a chunk of green rock breaks off. It is taken
to a temple as a display, where five years later, its stolen
by mobsters and set in their courtyard. After the mob-
ster is killed by his own wife; she is then killed by their
son, Tony Gallo, whom appears to be under the influence
of the rock. As time passes; Gallo grows up into a vile,
contemptible person. The rock itself, narrating, makes a
point that it cannot exist without "him."
In present day Metropolis, Superman fights the Royal
Flush Gang on a tanker. He thinks about how the city sees
him as a symbol of hope just as much as he hopes he does
not screw up just as the gang causes the tanker to ex-
plode. Because Superman is not hurt, he wonders if he
will ever feel pain. Later, Superman and Lois Lane share
a meal on the Eiffel Tower, pointing out that he hates
Cover of Superman Confidential #1 (Nov. 2006). Art by Tim Sale.
not spending enough time with the perfect woman. The
next day, Perry White meets with Lois, Clark Kent, Jim-
Publication information my Olsen; and after starting dramatic, assigns to the team
Publisher DC Comics their next story: the new Metropolis casino from Tony
Gallo that might be an illegial front. After setting up their
Schedule monthly undercover location to set up a sting; Lois calls Gallo who
Publication January 2007 - March 2008 decides to talk to her after realizing who she is. Gallo sets
date up dinner with Lois, thinking the article is of a positive
nature, but because Lois has an engagement with Super-
Number of 6
issues man, asks to be set up for tomorrow. Clark, listening, is
happy and goes on patrol that night before seeing Lois
Main Superman, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry where he finds a village in danger from a volcano. He
character(s) White
goes to subdued the volcano by going below, but Super-
Creative team man almost drowns in the lava, and misses the date with
Lois as she is now being taken by Gallo. A scared Super-
Writer(s) Darwyn Cooke
man goes to see Ma and Pa Kent and after telling them
Artist(s) Tim Sale the story, Pa asks Clark to come to him if it happens again
as Ma can get easily scared. Gallo returns Lois home, hav-
Kryptonite is the name of a story arc written by Darwyn ing a great time, and just as Gallo leaves, Lois sees Super-
Cooke and Tim Sale that appeared in Superman Confiden- man.
tial; a monthly series that was published from January Lois and Superman talk at her apartment, where she
2007 and then later cancelled on April 2008 that told sto- reveals that she met a perfect man but because he is com-
ries set in the character’s early years of his career. This mitted to the world, does not think a relationship could
arc, the first story from that title, tells the story of Super- work and thus leaves him. The android member of the
man’s first encounter with kryptonite. As artist Tim Sale Royal Flush Gang meets with Lex Luthor to discuss the
explained, the story’s theme was of "...Superman learning fight; the point of the attack was to see what could harm
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kryptonite (story arc)
Superman, and Luthor gets an idea when he hears Su- is happy that he got a piece of the rock, just as Superman
perman caring for the people around him and tells the awakens to a relived Lois and Jimmy.
android and the Gang to leave Metropolis. After Super- Doing what the Kryptonite asked for; Superman
man talks to a polar bear close to the Fortress of Solitude sends the rock into the sun and recounts the story to his
over his problems he returns home giving a huge cake Ma and Pa. He then goes to see Lois, as Clark, and asks if
for "Fun Day" where Luthor is giving a presentation and she wants some company. She agrees and they spend the
Lois hands Superman a card from Gallo; he asks Super- night together.
man to pick up a check from the first six months of prof-
its to be sent for pediatric care. He reads that toward the
audience but heads out when an explosion occurs at the
Reaction
Casino. Just as Gallo stands naked toward the green glow Since its publication, readers have favored the story. The
from the rock; Superman begins to fall, losing his abili- general response was that the story contained great mo-
ty to fly, into the crater made from the explosion. Luthor ments between Lois and Superman, Superman with Ma
watches his men beat Superman up, but cannot believe and Pa Kent, and Tim Sale’s artwork was great,[2] but
what they are using is that effective. Once Gallo closes felt the story was mediocre, with Lex Luthor and Jimmy
the door from the rock, Superman becomes healthy again Olsen having no place in the story, and feeling the entity
and defeats the men, before passing out. Jimmy comes within the Kryptonite was random.[3] Supermanhome-
over and helps him out by taking him to Clark’s (to which page.com reviewed the issues of the story, and while they
Clark answers, as it is a robot Superman built). Lois goes praised the first five, the final issue had a low score be-
to see Jimmy at the hideout but he isn’t there and finds cause of inconsistency with the entity that was inside the
Luthor instead, who shows her images that prove Super- Kryptonite rock.[4]
man can be hurt. Mr. Ogilvy, from the Daily Planet, is a
double agent as he reveals to Gallo what the reporters
have been doing.
Continuity
Lois asks Gallo about himself, and Gallo wants to tell With Superman: Secret Origin by Geoff Johns and Gary
her a "fantastic" story. Lex finds out that Gallo has a rock Frank, it can be assumed that this storyline is not in
of alien origin inside his building just as Superman goes continuity anymore, but that notion can neither be con-
back to Smallville to meet with his parents. Talking to firmed nor denied as of 2010. The reasons ranged from
both of them in the barn; Clark tells them about what Superman encountering kryptonite for the first time in
happened and thinks he can be killed. Lois calls Jimmy to this story, whereas this turns out to have happened in Se-
come over to the Casino, as Luthor plots his invasion on cret Origin; the Fortress’ appearance; the appearances of
Gallo’s casino. As promised at "Fun Day"; Superman ar- Krypton; Jor-El and Lara; and the events of this story it-
rives at the Casino where Gallo meets with him with Lois self have all led to the speculation that this storyline has
and Jimmy behind him and reveals who he really is. Tony been removed from conntinuity entirely.
Gallo is NOT Tony Gallo at all; but a physical embodiment
of Kryptonite that came to Earth the same time Super- References
man did. Gallo wants to show Superman his origins by go-
ing inside the Kryptonite room, but its effects might kill [1] http://www.timsale1.com/superman/index.html
him: Superman agrees anyway. Inside, Superman falls in [2] http://blogcritics.org/books/article/graphic-
pain and the rock takes an anthropomorphic form, just novel-review-superman-kryptonite-by/
as Luthor arrives and insists on keeping the door opened. [3] http://whatmarkread.blogspot.com/2010/12/
Just as they scan Superman and Kryptonite, Gallo awak- superman-kryptonite-by-darwyn-cooke-and.html
ens and snaps, screaming to kill them all. Superman and [4] http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/
the Kryptonite are on Krypton at a time before it explod- 2008-post-crisis-reviews/c-
ed; he sees Jor-El and Lara and sees himself as a baby. Gal- review-2008.php?topic=supconfidential11
lo, driven mad, kills himself after thinking of Lois as his
mother. Lex prepares to kill Lois and Jimmy but Jimmy External links
threatens him instead. Just as Krypton explodes, Super-
man sees how he escaped and is in tears when he sees Jor- • Superman: Kryptonite Softcover
El and Lara die, completing his origin. Luthor leaves, but • Superman: Kryptonite Hardcover
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Kryptonite (story arc)
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