76 Years Later, DC Gives A Beloved Hero Powers Strong Enough To Kill Superman

One of Superman's lifelong allies gains a unique superpower upgrade that automatically puts the Man of Steel's life in peril. Throughout the decades, many of Superman's greatest enemies have joined him in the sun when the right circumstances have allowed it. Lex Luthor has switched sides a few times, such as when he wore Superman's emblem during the Rebirth era. Metallo, Livewire, Silver Banshee, and even Mongul have each found themselves fighting alongside Superman under exceptional scenarios; and Bizarro has toed the line between villain, antihero, and reluctant ally depending on the era.

The reverse has also proven true, as some of Superman's closest allies have become enemies at some point. Superboy-Prime evolved from an earnest admirer of Superman into one of the DC Universe's most destructive villains after rejecting the modern heroic age before redeeming himself and joining the ever-growing Super-Family. Hank Henshaw transformed from a sympathetic victim into Cyborg Superman, after which he dedicated his existence to destroying the Man of Steel. The Eradicator has repeatedly alternated between loyal guardian of Kryptonian heritage and uncompromising antagonist with an unshakable devotion to Krypton's legacy.

The Super-Family has expanded dramatically in recent years, with the addition of heroes like Kenan Kong, Otho-Ra & Osul-Ra a.k.a. the Super Twins, Jon Kent aka Superboy and his recently-acquired Tomorrow Man mantle, and Clark Kent's lifelong friend Lana Lang, DC's Superwoman.

Lana Lang Officially Becomes Kryptonite Woman In DC Lore

Superman Unlimited #15; Written By Dan Slott; Art By Lucas Meyer & Giuliano Peratelli

Steelworks is in chaos as a child counterpart of Jon Kent loses control, revealing that kid Jon isn't a time-traveling version of Tomorrow Man, but an artificial being with non-Kryptonian powers and weaknesses. As if it weren't enough, a "Kryptonite crystaline infection" spreads across the Steelworks facilities, endangering Kryptonians and humans alike. Fortunately, Lana Lang's Superwoman form somehow absorbs the Kryptonite and alternates her metahuman abilities, transforming her into Kryptonite Woman. Wielding this power, Lana devises a plan to draw all Kryptonite away from Steelworks and Smallville.

After decades of retaining the status of Superman's childhood friend and former romantic interest, Lana Lang stepped into the role of superhero with her transformation into an energy-manipulating Superwoman. The blast of energy she absorbed granted her Kryptonian-like abilities like flight, super strength, and super durability, plus the special power to wield electromagnetic and radioactive energy. While this power helps her stand apart from Lois Lane's Superwoman form and other Kryptonian heroes, her Kryptonite Woman transformation makes her unique among all official and honorary members of the Super-Family.

Lana Lang's Kryptonite Woman Form Is A Groundbreaking Addition To Superman Mythos

Kryptonite Woman Is Extremely Dangerous To Her Fellow Heroes

Kryptonite Woman adds an entirely new dimension to Superman lore, as the delicate nature of her powers has never existed in the Super-Family. Instead of receiving another variation of Kryptonian abilities, Lana gains the power to control the one substance that could kill all Kryptonian heroes on Earth. Kryptonite Woman's ability to absorb and manipulate Kryptonite makes Lana Lang a valuable ally against villainous Kryptonians like General Zod, but it also endangers the lives of every member of the Super-Family. On the bright side, Lana may also have the ability to negate, or at least heal, the negative effects of Green Kryptonite exposure.

Lana Lang has always been a genuine ally to Superman and the Super-Family. As Kryptonite Woman, Lana has absolutely no desire to harm her fellow Kryptonian heroes, but her newfound abilities inevitably place them at risk. Every future confrontation involving Kryptonite Woman will have a permanent layer of tension absent from most Superman stories, since a single mistake or villain exploiting her powers could endanger the Kryptonians. However, Superman Unlimited #15 introduces the potential solution: Tomorrow Man's suit, which is especially designed to protect the wearer from Green Kryptonite. With a similar costume, Kryptonite Woman could keep the negative effects of her powers at bay.

How do you think Lana Lang's Kryptonite Woman form could fit Superman lore in the long run?

Superman Unlimited #15 is available July 15 from DC Comics.