Aside from cryptonite...?

Question

What else can make Superman weak? My bf wants to know...

Answer 1

There are a few discrepencies in the comics. Sunlight from a red sun also depletes his power. Magic is also a rare vulnerability. Also be careful when just blindly saying kyptonite is a weakness. Green kryptonite weakens his, but different writers have created different kinds with different effects.

Answer 2

It's kryptonite. And yes, there were several different colors, with different effects on Superman. Mainly, we are familiar with the green version; which has debilitating and weakening effects on Supes.

But there are several other weaknesses he has that already has been listed:

Magic - Captain Marvel is a prime example, as is Dr. Fate. These two superheroes can easily give the boy scout a run for his money, because Supes doesn't deal well with magic-users or their powers.

Red sun - Krypton, his home planet, has a red sun, hence all the Krypton people seemingly like human - the red solar energy essentially robs them, and Superman, of their powers.

Solar depletion - it is true that, if Superman doesn't have any contact with any solar energy for extended periods of time, he weakens slowly. He's a long-life Energizer solar battery!

His sense of right and wrong, morality, and all-around do-gooder side: it's a quality we all admire, but sometimes, the bad guys (how easy it is for the writers, ya know?) know that they can get away if they provide a fitting diversion for Superman - hmmm, save Lois from certain death or capture Lex? You KNOW which one Supes would do....

Answer 3

Nobody has mentioned the latest weakness yet. Since the reboot in the late 1980's by John Byrne, Superman's powers come from the way his body stores solar energy. So if he is cut off from the sun for extended periods, he will weaken and eventually (after several days) lost all his powers.

Did you know that Kryptonite was not created in the Superman comics? It comes form the Superman radio program, which was a live daily serial in the 40's and 50's. Bud Collier, who did the voice of Superman, had laryngitis, and was unable to perform for several days, so they invented Kryptonite and had Superman trapped by it, with another actor just doing moans and groans in the background.

Answer 4

Kryptonite with a 'K'

Human life make Superman weak... also Superman isn't all that smart so that causes him trouble. The red sun removes his powers or a long term lack of yellow sun radiation.

Lois naked would do it for most people too, but for Superman it would be a distraction, but he still would be strong.

Answer 5

First off it's KRYPTONITE with a "K". There used to be a whole bunch of these (green, red, blue, gold)

Second, there's actually a lot of things that can weaken him.

- Higher gravity, like those from his home planet would bring his strength down to a normal human being;
- Red Sun energy;
- Magic;
- Mind powers

Answer 6

The slight arrogance that comes from being nearly invulnerable. I know its wrong...but when the guy made Kryptonite bullets on Smallville I cheered. DC universe villians aren't as stupid and vanilla as I thought.

Answer 7

I am confused, I thought Cryptonite was his livelyhood?

Answer 8

cypton is his planet but cyptonite is his weakness the red rock is a evil rock thingy

Answer 9

the ever elusive naked romp with lois lane...hell he gives up his power completely in super man 2 just so he can get in those accident prone pants

Answer 10

I think a red sun