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Superman’s been through a lot lately, but this time it’s not just about saving the day; it’s about solving a mystery straight from the stars. A strange meteorite has landed on Earth, carrying four brand-new strains of kryptonite. Each one could change the Man of Steel in ways we have never seen before. With Lex Luthor circling like a vulture and Batman raising an eyebrow (or both), Superman decides to find out what they do the only way he knows how: by testing them on himself. First up, Purple Kryptonite, and things are about to get… weird.

The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 is a confident, playful, and surprisingly heartfelt debut that does not waste time dropping us right into the action. We open with Superman intercepting a meteorite, only to discover it’s laced with four never-before-seen kryptonite colors: Purple, Cobalt, Speckled, and Rainbow.

The Fortress of Solitude’s robots lend a hand in securing the find, but this isn’t a problem Supes can punch away. He calls in Batman not just because the Dark Knight’s the best detective in the world, but because even Superman has to admit these rocks are a mystery. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor, alongside his worn-down assistant Emil Hamilton, is already plotting to get his hands on them. The first experiment is with Purple Kryptonite, and its effect is a doozy: Superman’s perception of time goes out of whack. He’s living in the present, yet he’s hearing and seeing moments from the future and the past simultaneously. That makes a fight with Solomon Grundy less of a brawl and more of a mental puzzle.

DC Comics

Reading this issue feels like watching a magic trick where you know the sleight of hand is happening, but you are too caught up in the show to care. W. Maxwell Prince’s script keeps the tone balanced between classic Superman optimism and that slightly surreal, offbeat vibe fans of Ice Cream Man will recognize. There’s an almost Silver Age charm to the setup. Fortress robots, Krypto on guard dog duty, mirror-image scene transitions between Superman and Lex, yet it’s laced with emotional weight. You can feel the ache in Superman when someone suggests destroying the new kryptonite; it’s as much a part of his heritage as it is a threat.

The Purple K time-warp sequences are where things get truly inventive, with panels deliberately out of sequence before snapping into perfect order on one triumphant page. It’s part visual puzzle, part love letter to what comics can do that no other medium can match. And it’s gorgeous. Martín Morazzo’s art is crisp, angular, and detailed, giving even familiar settings a sharp, almost crystalline geometry. Chris O’Halloran’s colors shift from the warm glow of Superman’s skin to the sickly greens of danger, selling both the hope and the hazard.

DC Comics

If there’s a flaw here, it’s that the personal subplots like Lois wanting to start a family before it’s too late feel a bit undercooked compared to the central hook. But that’s nitpicking in an opener that’s this visually and conceptually strong. The dialogue crackles with personality, from Batman’s dry skepticism to Lex’s barely restrained contempt for everyone not named Lex Luthor. Even Jimmy Olsen gets a moment to shine. And the creative team isn’t afraid to get weird; they trust the reader to follow along without holding your hand, which makes the payoff feel earned.

The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 is the kind of first issue that sets a high bar for what follows. It’s equal parts mystery, sci-fi experiment, and character study, wrapped in sharp visuals and clever storytelling. The good? Bold concept, inventive page layouts, and a Superman who feels like Superman. The bad? A couple of personal beats that could use more setup. But overall, this is a debut that both honors the past and pushes into exciting new territory. Superman’s never been more himself and yet never faced a challenge quite like this. With one kryptonite down and three to go, the ride’s just getting started.

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• X
• Reddit
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Superman’s been through a lot lately, but this time it’s not just about saving the day; it’s about solving a mystery straight from the stars. A strange meteorite has landed on Earth, carrying four brand-new strains of kryptonite. Each one could change the Man of Steel in ways we have never seen before. With Lex Luthor circling like a vulture and Batman raising an eyebrow (or both), Superman decides to find out what they do the only way he knows how: by testing them on himself. First up, Purple Kryptonite, and things are about to get… weird.

The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 is a confident, playful, and surprisingly heartfelt debut that does not waste time dropping us right into the action. We open with Superman intercepting a meteorite, only to discover it’s laced with four never-before-seen kryptonite colors: Purple, Cobalt, Speckled, and Rainbow.

The Fortress of Solitude’s robots lend a hand in securing the find, but this isn’t a problem Supes can punch away. He calls in Batman not just because the Dark Knight’s the best detective in the world, but because even Superman has to admit these rocks are a mystery. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor, alongside his worn-down assistant Emil Hamilton, is already plotting to get his hands on them. The first experiment is with Purple Kryptonite, and its effect is a doozy: Superman’s perception of time goes out of whack. He’s living in the present, yet he’s hearing and seeing moments from the future and the past simultaneously. That makes a fight with Solomon Grundy less of a brawl and more of a mental puzzle.

DC Comics

Reading this issue feels like watching a magic trick where you know the sleight of hand is happening, but you are too caught up in the show to care. W. Maxwell Prince’s script keeps the tone balanced between classic Superman optimism and that slightly surreal, offbeat vibe fans of Ice Cream Man will recognize. There’s an almost Silver Age charm to the setup. Fortress robots, Krypto on guard dog duty, mirror-image scene transitions between Superman and Lex, yet it’s laced with emotional weight. You can feel the ache in Superman when someone suggests destroying the new kryptonite; it’s as much a part of his heritage as it is a threat.

The Purple K time-warp sequences are where things get truly inventive, with panels deliberately out of sequence before snapping into perfect order on one triumphant page. It’s part visual puzzle, part love letter to what comics can do that no other medium can match. And it’s gorgeous. Martín Morazzo’s art is crisp, angular, and detailed, giving even familiar settings a sharp, almost crystalline geometry. Chris O’Halloran’s colors shift from the warm glow of Superman’s skin to the sickly greens of danger, selling both the hope and the hazard.

DC Comics

If there’s a flaw here, it’s that the personal subplots like Lois wanting to start a family before it’s too late feel a bit undercooked compared to the central hook. But that’s nitpicking in an opener that’s this visually and conceptually strong. The dialogue crackles with personality, from Batman’s dry skepticism to Lex’s barely restrained contempt for everyone not named Lex Luthor. Even Jimmy Olsen gets a moment to shine. And the creative team isn’t afraid to get weird; they trust the reader to follow along without holding your hand, which makes the payoff feel earned.

The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 is the kind of first issue that sets a high bar for what follows. It’s equal parts mystery, sci-fi experiment, and character study, wrapped in sharp visuals and clever storytelling. The good? Bold concept, inventive page layouts, and a Superman who feels like Superman. The bad? A couple of personal beats that could use more setup. But overall, this is a debut that both honors the past and pushes into exciting new territory. Superman’s never been more himself and yet never faced a challenge quite like this. With one kryptonite down and three to go, the ride’s just getting started.