Everyone knows that Kryptonite isSuperman’s greatest weakness in DC lore, but what most aren’t aware of is that he has an even darker weakness. An unlikely enemy has harnessed the power of Planet Krypton’s black lightning, and this mysterious weather phenomenon has the capacity to transform Superman into an unstoppable killing machine.
In the “Weather War Over Metropolis!” story fromAction Comics#441 - written by Cary Bates with art by Curt Swan and Bob Oksner - Superman and the Flash track down Weather Wizard, one ofFlash’s villains, as they investigate unusual weather occurrences. When they confront him, Weather Wizard reveals that he’s been studying Kryptonian weather, and he informs Superman that Krypton’s black lightning can force him to commit murder.
Black lightning’s ability to turn Superman into a killer with one strike makes it undoubtedly his most terrifying weakness in DC lore, and it deserves to be properly utilized in some capacity to explore its narrative potential.
Superman’s Darkest Weakness Turns Him Into a Cold-Blooded Killer
Krypton’s Black Lightning Has a Horrifying Effect on Superman
Superman finally has abetter weakness than Kryptonitein the form of black lightning. As Weather Wizard explains,“black lightning sent a Kryptonian into a murderous rage that could be relieved only by killing the closest person”. Essentially, when struck with a bolt of black lightning, Superman loses control of his powers and will murder the person beside him without any choice in the matter - even if that person is an ally, like the Flash. This elemental discharge typically only occurs on thenow-destroyed Krypton, but Weather Wizard’s wand allows him to channel it and strike Superman.
Weather Wizard is currently stronger than ever and making moves in the Flash’s ongoing series. To see what he’s up to in DC’s All In era, check outThe Flash#14 by Simon Spurrier and Vasco Georgiev, available now from DC Comics!
In this particular story, Superman and the Flash swap costumes to trick Weather Wizard into attacking the wrong hero and thus prevent Superman from killing anyone. Still, although it hasn’t been utilized on the page, black lightning remains an intriguing idea thanks to its unusual side effects. Black lightning, unlike Krypyonite, isn’t a weakness thatlimits Superman’s powerby draining or physically transforming him. Instead, it aims that power against a nearby target against his will. This distinction sets black lightning apart from other natural phenomena that Kryptonians are vulnerable to.
Superman’s Kryptonian Biology Makes Him Susceptible to Natural Phenomena
Black Lighting Isn’t the Only Elemental Force Superman Is Vulnerable To
While Kryptonians boast extraordinary superpowers that elevate them to godlike status in DC lore, they also possess a number of environmental weaknesses. Black lightning is one of many external factors that affects Superman’s Kryptonian biology. One of the most notable natural phenomena is sunlight, asdifferent forms of sunlight have different effects on a Kryptonian’s power. Ayellow sun amplifies Superman’s strength, while a red sun drains him of it. Other suns,such as a violet sun, impact the nature of his power by granting him newfound abilities like reality manipulation.
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In addition to varying forms of sunlight, Superman’s Kryptonian nature is also affected by Kryptonite. Green Kryptonite is a well-known threat to Superman that weakens him physically, but it’s not the only form of Kryptonite that he should steer clear of.Red Kryptonite is even scarier, as it can mutilate Superman’s body in nightmarish fashion and result in a slow yet agonizing death. Furthermore,Gold Kryptonite can render Superman entirely powerless. Of all these natural weaknesses, though,black lightning is the most mysterious due to the lack of stories centering on it - and the most compelling.
Superman’s “Killer” Weakness Needs to Make a Comeback
Evil Superman May Be Overdone, But His New Weakness Can Make It Fresh Again
A common complaint about modern Superman stories is that there’s been an oversaturation of “evil Superman”. This persistent trend can be traced across universes and mediums, from theInjusticecontinuity to the CW’sSuperman and Lois. Evidently,there’s an appeal to seeing a hero as benevolent as Superman succumb to darkness against his famously better nature, but the means through which this darkness comes to the surface tends to dissuade readers.Injustice’s Superman becoming a dictator simply from losing Lois and his unborn child, for instance, is deemed too big of a leap from the hero’s core principles.
Superman’s black lightning weakness is rife with storytelling potential, even more than Kryptonite, and that potential deserves to be explored.
Black lightning, on the other hand, can draw out this narrative depth without betraying everything Superman stands for.Rather than willingly turning his back on his morals, Superman can be corrupted by black lightning and thus commit murder beyond his control. It would be fascinating to see Superman blindly kill someone and have to grapple with his actions once he returns to his senses. If Weather Wizard could uncover this weakness, then surely amore powerful DC villaincould attempt to do the same successfully.Superman’s black lightning weakness is rife with storytelling potential, even more than Kryptonite, and that potential deserves to be explored.
Action Comics#441is available now from DC Comics.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
