Joker’s Anti-Superman Weapon Makes 1 Genius Change to How Everyone Else Tries to Beat Him

At one time or another, many different DC characters have tried to use Kryptonite to take Superman down in a fight, but surprisingly, it was Gotham’s most chaotic villain, the Joker, who came up with what is perhaps the DC Universe’s most innovative use of the extraterrestrial substance ever: Kryptonite paint.

Justice League of America #24 – by Dwayne McDuffie and Ed Benes – featured a truly unique way to use Kryptonite against Superman. Instead of stabbing him with a Kryptonite-tipped weapon, or simply exposing him to it, Joker devised the genius plan of making Kryptonite paint, which adhered to Superman’s skin.

Since the paint covered Superman’s body, he had no choice but to try and wash it off. Crucially, while this wasn’t a lethal amount of Kryptonite, that was only because Lex Luthor wanted Superman alive.

Joker’s “Kryptonite Paint” Completely Reinvented Anti-Superman Tactics

Justice League of America #14 – By Dwayne McDuffie, Ed Benes, Sandra Hope, Alex Sinclair, & Rob Leigh

Sometimes, it seems as though DC writers rarely decide to get creative with how Kryptonite is used. Often, Kryptonite represents a shortcut to creating tension for Superman, who is often difficult to write believable dramatic storylines for. Even Batman’s biggest contingency plans for fighting Superman, should the need arise, boils down to using Kryptonite-laced weaponry. While the substance has been transmuted into gas, and focused into lasers, the Joker’s Kryptonite paint represented a truly next level evolution of anti-Superman tech, thanks to the villain’s deranged brand of creativity.

It’s important to note that this Kryptonite paint was only used in small quantities, as Joker wasn’t attempting to kill Superman, but simply infuriate him, which he achieved with great effect. If the Joker ever wanted to try and actually harm Superman, this would be a great way to do it. When exposed to Kryptonite Superman often tries to immediately avoid it by leaving the area. Kryptonite paint makes this impossible by sticking to his skin. It was a surprisingly elegant way to trap Superman with Kryptonite, and it’s even more surprising that this plan has never been used again.

Kryptonite Paint Proved Superman’s Enemies Need To Be Unconventional

Necessity Is The Mother Of Invention

Superman is exposed to Kryptonite a lot, and he has come up with tons of different ways to deal with it. Using his heat vision, Superman has been able to destroy Kryptonite before it can affect him. He’s managed to use containment suits to avoid radiation as well. However, Kryptonite paint would negate both of these defenses. Despite it initially seeming like a gag variation on Kryptonite, the Joker’s idea to turn the substance into an adherent, and cover Superman in it, is actually shockingly dangerous.

One of the best things about comic books is creativity. One of the greatest examples of this is Superman using his heat vision to light up an entire town, letting him use it essentially as a spotlight. This is a fantastic use of Superman’s iconic power in a new and unique way, and Joker’s treatment of Kryptonite is exactly the same. There are tons of things that can be done with Kryptonite, and hopefully, DC will further explore just how dangerous Kryptonite can be, just like Joker did.