Superman is well-known for being near invincible. It takes a lot to make the Man of Steel feel physical pain. Even then, usually only Kryptonite or magic can hurt him seriously under a yellow sun. However, as of Superman Unlimited #1, he and other Kryptonian heroes are going to have a harder time working on Earth.
Written by Dan Slott, with art by Rafael Albuquerque, Superman Unlimited #1 details several big changes. Chief among these is a reorganization at The Daily Planet, which makes it the face of a multimedia news network. This means a new job for Clark Kent, specifically covering news stories involving the Man of Steel. This gives him an convenient excuse for going missing whenever there is a big disaster.
He soon finds himself tested by such a disaster, when a gigantic rock with a core of solid Kryptonite threatens the Earth. His life flashes before his eyes as he tries to slow the massive meteor and steer it away from any populated areas. While Superman is ultimately successful, his victory comes at a terrible cost for himself and for his fellow Kryptonians.
Kryptonite is much more common after Superman Unlimited #1
Superman is put into a coma for three months. When he wakes up, he learns that he was able to prevent the Kryptonite meteor from harming anyone upon impact. However, the resulting breakup of the meteor as it entered Earth’s atmosphere resulted in Kryptonite raining down across the Earth. The one element that can hurt him is now much more common than it once was.
To make matters worse, most of the Kryptonite wound up on the small island of El Caldero. The rogue nation-state became one of the wealthiest countries of the world overnight. This is entirely due to the trade in Kryptonite, which is now being employed by every criminal organization from the League of Assassins to Intergang. This point was driven home by Superboy and Supergirl, who were sporting injuries that would once have been all but impossible for them to receive.
Superman Unlimited #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
