After discovering that the villain Metallo was powered by a heart made of Kryptonite, Lex Luthor used a sample to fashion a Kryptonite ring for himself. He wore the ring at all times in an effort to keep Superman
The Kryptonite Ring was used by Lex Luthor to fend off Superman.
History
After discovering that the villain Metallo was powered by a heart made of Kryptonite, Lex Luthor used a sample to fashion a Kryptonite ring for himself. He wore the ring at all times in an effort to keep Superman away from him.[1] Unfortunately for Luthor, continued exposure to the low level Kryptonite radiation proved harmful however and he developed cancer.[2] To keep the cancer from spreading, his right hand was amputated and replaced with a cybernetic prosthetic (hidden under a black leather glove).[3] At the time however the cancer had already metastasized and by then it was already too late. When Lex Luthor cloned himself a new body and returned to public life as Lex Luthor II, the cybernetic appendage was no longer necessary.
The ring was retrieved by Amanda McCoy, a former researcher for Luthor who had been fired because of her "flawed" belief that Superman was Clark Kent. She used it to confront Clark to prove her theory, but fled after the ring caused him to pass out and was subsequently killed in a mugging. Batman found the mugger in Gotham after he died of radiation poisoning, prompting him to re-trace the steps that led to McCoy acquiring the ring. With the case resolved, Superman chose to leave the ring in Batman's custody, as a contingency if the Kryptonian hero ever loses control of his powers, or if he falls under the control of an evil influence such as Eclipso.[4]
After several years, Luthor would have to face a trial for his past crimes, a key piece of evidence is the Kryptonite ring, so his legal team asks for Superman to bring it. A very conflicted Superman agrees, as he believes even Luthor deserves a fair trial. After being examined, the legal team returns it to Superman, much to Luthor's dismay. However as he goes back in his car, he starts laughing and opening champagne bottles, as he replaced it with a replica.[5]
Luthor would once again hold the ring for several years, but during his presidency, Superman and Batman would stage a fight in the White House to steal the ring, replacing it with a fake.[6]
On several occasions, Batman has been required to use the ring to keep Superman at bay.
Notes
- Superman has been known to carry a Kryptonite Ring in his belt buckle for when he fights other Kryptonians, an example of this is when he used the ring on Supergirl while she was under Darkseid's control.[7]