In this review of Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #2, we get introduced to not one, but two, new forms of kryptonite and what should be a simple experiment gets MASSIVELY out of control.
SUPERMAN: THE KRYPTONITE SPECTRUM #2
Written by W. MAXWELL PRINCE
Art and Main Cover: MARTÍN MORAZZO
Variant Covers: JUAN FERREYRA, ALEX ECKMAN-LAWN
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 9/10/25
This review contains spoilers
After being introduced to the four new kryptonite variations in the first issue and discovering what happens with Purple Kryptonite, we move on to Cobalt Kryptonite in this issue. Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #2 opens with a splash page of a giant-sized Superman and Atom Smasher fighting and taking out a chunk of Metropolis as a result. We soon find out that Lex Luthor attacked Superman with Red Kryptonite, but that doesn’t explain the King Kong-sized Superman tearing up the city.
The story flashes back to Superman and Batman in the Fortress where Superman has been exposed to Cobalt Kryptonite radiation. Its effects on him are quickly obvious – it makes him grow much larger in a matter of minutes. He’s growing at such a rapid rate, the Fortress isn’t even big enough to contain him. Fortunately, Batman is able to determine a fix. It just so happens that one of the other new kryptonite versions – Speckled Kryptonite – has an inverted structure and, presumably, will have a shrinking effect.
Once Superman grows too large for the Fortress, he and Batman decide it’s best to get ahead of things, as international detection alarms will soon register Superman as a new, unknown threat. With Batman trying to put together a delivery system for an enormous dose of Speckled K, Superman flies off to Metropolis to let the people know what’s happening.
Of course, Lex Luthor sees this as an opportunity to make money and hurt Superman’s reputation at the same time. He releases Chemo, a gigantic radioactive monster, from his prison in New Mexico, sending him to meet Big Blue in Metropolis. Not satisfied with that idea alone, Lex climbs into his power armor, swoops in, and fires a Red Kryptonite rocket at Superman, getting him more than a bit angry.
Here’s where the story meshes back up with the first page, as Atom Smasher, along with Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, come along to rescue the good people of Metropolis. In the midst of the fight, Batman arrives with his Speckled K cannon. The timing is perfect because Wonder Woman gets flicked away like a bug, Atom Smasher is getting beat down, and the city itself is getting wiped out while Green Lantern is busy getting people evacuated.
Batman’s hypothesis is correct and Superman shrinks back down to normal size, which also wipes out the effects of the Red K. His return to normal isn’t the end, though, because Chemo arrives just in time to expose everyone to five times the radiation of Chernobyl. Superman is able to make quick work of him, chugging the liquid chemicals that make up Chemo’s body, rendering the radioactive threat neutralized. It turns out that mixing Speckled K and a large quantity of radioactive liquid is not ideal, as Superman is no longer a man. He’s now Superboy! As an added bonus leading us into issue 3, Captain Marvel shows up on the last page to save the day.
There’s plenty of action from start to finish, as the story moves at breakneck speed. Just like the first issue, there’s a quick resolution to the problem, which is fine, but I’m hoping that all of this is leading somewhere. It could be that writer W. Maxwell Prince is setting up these new kryptonites for future use in other stories down the road. Only time will tell.
While I liked the colors that Chris O’Halloran uses throughout the issue, the art style by Martin Morazzo may not be everyone’s cup of tea. It is simple and lacks the details that I prefer. It’s certainly not bad, though, and there are some pages that I thought were excellent. An example of that comes later in the book when a giant, angry Superman is stomping down the streets and the reader is at street level staring up at him.
Before wrapping up, I have to give a special shout out to Linda, Queen of Spreadsheets and Pivot Tables! Read Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #2 to find out more.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #2 is a fun Superman book that a new reader can pick up without having to know a lot about the character. Old fans of the character should find plenty to enjoy, as well. New kryptonite opens up new story potential and I’m excited to see what happens next!
