Twice-Told-Tales: Attack of the Kryptonite Men

Historically, the first man on any Earth to discover Kryptonite was the conman Dan "Swami Riva" Rivers". At that point in the Man of Steel's career, Superman had already established his heroic reputation in the Metropolis of Earth-Two for over five years, and the discovery of these radioactive meteorites caused him considerable trouble.

His younger counterpart, as Superboy, first discovered Kryptonite while working on a geology project. His step-father Jonathan Kent brought the glowing green meteor home, whick caused young Clark Kent to grow sick while in its prescence. He eventually discovered, thanks to one of his robots, of the meteor's deadly effect on him.

By the time Superboy was old to become Superman in the Metropolis of Earth-One, it was common knowledge to both friend and foe that these space rocks could weaken and ultimately kill him. Lex Luthor hatched various schemes using these stellar stones, and eventually concoted a Kryptonite serum which when ingested caused one to emit its radiation. Lex most likely theorized this was possible, as another humanoid known as Kryptonite Kid had himself absorbed and emitted this alien element from his body.

Instead of internalizing Kryptonite as had the Kid, his counterpart Swami Riva found the same fatal fragment which he used years earlier against Superman, yet Rivers still failed in eliminating his fabled foe. However, when he was placed in a jail cell with Alexei Luthor, he unleashed a far deadly threat upon his enemy.

And here is where our Twice-Told-Tale begins, after the aforementioned lengthy setup. Lex and Alexei developed their special space serums, transforming them into glowing green geniuses. When new Superman statues were donated to each world’s Metropolis Park, these lured their inspirations into a clash at that location with their arch-enemies. Initially immobilized by the radiation from the Kryptonite Men, the Supermen evaded capture and cloaked themselves in a lead-lined suit or a lead-lined tarp to shield them from the death-dealing dose dealt to them by the Luthors.

Ultimately, the Supermen gained the upper hand on the Kryptonite Men by outsmarting them. Superman-One with his pal Jimmy Olsen’s help used the Daily Planet’s helicopter to hold him upright with invisible cords while in Lex’s presence. Surmising the space serums effect was weakening, Lex took the antidote to escape capture but ended up being caught. Superman-Two with his wife Lois Lane Kent’s help used a two-by-four piece of wood to reveal the green Luthor statue in the park as being Alexei himself. A quick burst of heat vision from Superman caused Luthor to be disabled and captured by the authorities.

Although the Luthors would employ a variety of sinister schemes to styme their Super-foe, none had the potential for dire consequences as this Twice-Told-Tale: The Attack of the Kryptonite Men!