Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!
We all know the story of Superman. And we all know about his infamous Achilles’ heel: Kryptonite—irradiated shards of his home planet, Krypton. It’s one of the only things that can weaken or kill Superman while he’s on Earth. But what happens when four new types of Kryptonite are discovered? The balls-to-the-wall DC Black Label series Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum explores just that. From the Ice Cream Man creative team of W. Maxwell Prince and Martín Morazzo, expect the unexpected as you enter a stylized and timeless world full of multi-dimensional super shenanigans in this five-issue limited series that’s now available in a hardcover collection. Did I mention it’s insane?
The Premise:
Kryptonite is the deadliest thing known to Superman. While Green is the most common form of it, there are other deadly colors that do more than just weaken and hurt Earth-bound Kryptonians. Red Kryptonite makes Kryptonians angry, Black splits Kryptonian minds in two and Gold robs Kryptonians of their powers. The fate of Superman himself is about to change when four new colors are discovered in deep space. And, regrettably, he isn't the only one to discover their existence.
Yup, Superman’s #1 hater Lex Luthor is in a race to get his hands on these new types of Kryptonite, discover what they each do and weaponize them. Good thing the World’s Greatest Detective is by Superman’s side as they test each brand-new variant: Purple Kryptonite, Cobalt Kryptonite, Speckled Kryptonite and Rainbow K. It’s a dangerous pursuit as the consequences of these experiments change the fate of Superman’s entire world.
Let’s Talk Talent:
As mentioned above, this is the same creative team that gave us the semi-anthological dark comedy horror series Ice Cream Man from Image: writer W. Maxwell Prince, illustrator Martín Morazzo, colorist Chris O’Halloran and letterer Good Old Neon. Yup, the full creative team is working on this book and their one-of-a-kind, mind-melting style creates a unique tone and world that I have never seen in a DC superhero comic before.
Prince sets up a semi-episodic five-issue arc that has a rotating “villain of the week” cast of characters. As Luthor obsessively tries to get his hands on these shards of Kryptonite and use them to take down Superman, he calls upon an arsenal of dangerous and eccentric villains to stop him, including a giant radioactive Kaiju! I also love the moments where the story breaks the fourth wall in a visual and thematic way that is entirely unique to how these pieces of Kryptonite impact Superman’s perception of reality.
Morazzo brings a vintage and modernized feel to these classic characters. His unique style and crisp line work add so much to the facial expressions and emotional gravity of these scenes. Pair that with his insane composition and layout and you have a genre-defying comic that utilizes and breaks our understanding of what a comic book panel can do. I have never seen panels utilized as a tool to signify a break in reality and time!
A Few Reasons to Read:
- A Unique Cast of Characters: From Kal-Elf (a 5th dimensional imp), to Kryptonite Man (you have never seen this Kryptonite Man before!), to Brian-Iac (you read that right!), there are so many out-there characters that add to Prince and Morazzo’s witty and unique world. And don't worry, you’ll also get to see some familiar faces including the Justice League, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Batman!
- Insane World Building: Combining witty dialogue that will transport you back to comics from the ’50s with modern-day humor and visuals, this comic has a timeless feel that creates a unique setting that’s still likely to feel familiar to fans. Details like Jimmy Olsen’s Superman watch and Batman’s Batplane keep it feeling like a DC story…at least until things start to go pear-shaped since this story isn't contained to just one dimension! As Superman enters the 5th dimension, so do we, the readers! But fair warning: this might melt your mind.
- Robots: If you’ve seen the 2025 Superman movie or read Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s All-Star Superman, you’re already familiar with the concept of Superman robots. Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum features Super-Bots, a different but equally lovable and funny take on the concept of Superman’s robotic assistants. And they aren't the only robots in this series! Bizzaro Bots enter stage left as a foil for the lovable Super-Bots. Their mission? Take down Superman. Their creator? Lex Luthor, of course. I won't say anything else, but seeing these two opposing robot factions interact on the battlefield is hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt!
Why It's Worth Your Time:
Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum is a perfect example of what I love about DC's Black Label imprint. This series takes known DC characters and uses them to tell a stylized story that could never exist within mainline continuity—yet still feels 100% authentic to Superman. If you love the Last Son of Krypton and want a fresh take on his story, this is the perfect comic for you! If you’re new to comics and want to jump right in with no prior context needed, this is also the comic for you! Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum is a fun adventure that is reminiscent of classic comics that weren't afraid to get weird!
Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum by W. Maxwell Prince, Martín Morazzo and Chris O’Halloran is available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers as a hardcover graphic novel. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.
Sami DeMonster writes about superheroes, horror and sci-fi for DC.com and reviews comics every week on social media. Follow her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
