History Main / KryptoniteRing

[[AC:Comic Books]]

[[AC:{{Fanworks}}]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:WebOriginal]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

[[AC:RealLife]]

* Some people have said that the second amendment of the American constitution, the right to bear arms, is there partly in case of the government being taken over by an oppressive tyrant of some kind. In this event the people would be able to overthrow the regime because they would all be equipped with guns. This can be seen as the founding fathers giving future generations of citizens a kryptonite ring. There is substantial disagreement over whether this was a true intention as well as just what the actual effectiveness of it is in the 21st Century given the now extremely broad gap between civilian and military weaponry. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement Which is as much as should be said about the matter]].

Compare BetrayalInsurance where the "stopping" character came up with it on their own; exactly how extensive this planning comes off can seriously affect the relationship depending on how betrayed the other feels.

* In the BackStory of ''ComicBook/ExMachina'', The Great Machine (now the mayor of New York City) gave his two {{Secret Keeper}}s devices to cancel-out his ability to talk to machines. [[GenreSavvy As was his habit, he explicitly referenced the Superman mythos as he did so.]] As we later learn [[spoiler:it's just junk made out of old garage door openers and doesn't affect his powers at all. He lied and gave them to his {{Secret Keeper}}s so that, if they ever betrayed him or were forced to turn against him, their plotting would depend on something that doesn't work. (Though a major plot hole is that it did work in the first story arc.)]].

* In the BackStory of ''ComicBook/ExMachina'', The Great Machine (now the mayor of New York City) gave his two {{Secret Keeper}}s devices to cancel-out his ability to talk to machines. [[GenreSavvy As was his habit]], he explicitly referenced the Superman mythos as he did so. As we later learn [[spoiler:it's just junk made out of old garage door openers and doesn't affect his powers at all. He lied and gave them to his {{Secret Keeper}}s so that, if they ever betrayed him or were forced to turn against him, their plotting would depend on something that doesn't work. (Though a major plot hole is that it did work in the first story arc.)]].

[[caption-width-right:300:Nothing says true friendship than to give your buddy the only thing that can kill you.]]

* Some people have said that the second amendment of the American constitution, the right to bear arms, is there partly in case of the government being taken over by an oppressive tyrant of some kind. In this event the people would be able to overthrow the regime because they would all be equipped with guns. This can be seen as the founding fathers giving future generations of citizens a kryptonite ring.

* Professor Xavier also had the "Xavier Protocols", a set of plans on how to stop the Comicbook/{{X-Men}}. Xavier himself is the subject of the first entry, which includes blueprints for a [[PowerNullifier telepathy-blocking battlesuit]]. However, these have rarely been mentioned since they were first introduced.
* In Frank Miller's dark, [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture near-future]] miniseries ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', Batman [[strike: actually uses his Kryptonite Ring (the cynical version)]] has ComicBook/GreenArrow shoot Superman with a [[TrickArrow Kryptonite arrow]] to beat the crap out of Superman. This inspired the writers to have the {{canon}} Superman give Batman a Kryptonite Ring (the idealistic version).

** Subverted in Pre-Crisis story ''World's Finest'' #176 in which Batman appears to have Kryptonite gloves, but in reality they are fake. Curiously, before he reveals that they are props, no one -not even Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}- questions why he has something that can kill his best buddy.

'''Batman''': Call it...insurance. ([[GrapplingHookPistol grapples away]])\\

** This is also inverted by the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' : Batman gives each member weapons that simulate each WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague member's weaknesses because aliens have invaded and copied their powers. They call him out on being so paranoid, until Superman steps forwards and [[ProperlyParanoid cites the time he was mind controlled in a previous episode]].

*** In ''The Supergirl From Krypton'' Batman uses a chunk of Green-K to knock [[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] out and bring her to the Batcave. Later, [[spoiler:Superman]] of all people uses a kryptonite ring to [[spoiler:knock a brainwashed Kara out]].
** In ''ComicBook/ElseworldsFinestSupergirlAndBatgirl'', ''Comicbook/LexLuthor'' has a Kryptonite ring that he plans to use against ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}''... until ''Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}'' steals it from him and takes it to a lead-lined vault, saying "I see it as insurance... which I hope I never need to use."

** The ComicBook/{{New 52}} version is idealistic and ''reciprocal'', as, similarly to the Professor X example above, Batman includes himself in the countermeasures list, trusting Superman to stop him if necessary.

** Pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}}, Superman's heat vision could melt kryptonite, rendering it useless [[FridgeLogic somehow]]. This usually worked only on small pieces, though; in one instance a large meteor of the stuff fell next to him and incapacitated him before he could melt it.

** InfiniteCrisis subverts this when Batman tries to use his Kryptonite ring on Superman of Earth-Two, which has no effect, as explained in explication.
-->'''Kal-L''': "But the Kryptonite here isn't from my Krypton. It doesn't hurt me... physically, at least. But that ring [...] represents the paranoia and mistrust that will destroy your world if you let it."

* In ''{{Wolverine}}: Origins'' Wolverine gives Cyclops his magical sword, which is capable of slicing through his adamantium skeleton and negating his healing abilities, in case he gets captured and brainwashed.
** Given his backstory (and more than one other story arc), that might be less "in case he gets brainwashed" and more "when he gets brainwashed. Again."
*** Of course his son now has it. Though at least Wolverine was able to use it to kill Sabertooth first (not that ''that'' stuck even a whole year).

* In ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', IronMan and Bruce Banner discuss on how they developed "Veronica", the Hulkbuster armor, as a "[[GodzillaThreshold last resort]]" to stop the Hulk. So when it needs to be employed, it serves this function perfectly.

* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Oliver Queen kills ComicBook/LexLuthor and takes his kryptonite ring, confirming his role as Smallville's Batman. (Well, except for the ThouShaltNotKill thing.)

* In ''[[Series/TheFlash2014 The Flash]]'' (2014), [[TheSmartGuy Cisco]] creates the [[FreezeRay Cold Gun]] in case Barry turns out to be dangerous, like the other [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual metahumans]]. Unfortunately, it gets stolen and later gets into the hands of the future Captain Cold. Both Wells and Barry tear Cisco a new one for making the gun.

[[AC:{{Video Games}}]]

* Each of the WesternAnimation/SilverHawks has an emergency off-switch to be used if any of them went berserk for unforseen reasons.

* WhateleyUniverse: As of "Ayla and the Mad Scientist" we now know Phase has at least several plans to take down every one of his teammates. And a bunch to take down himself. And his teammates know his 'official' weakness in the school records is a fake. He wrote up a list of real ways to stop himself and gave it to Lancer.

[[AC:ComicBooks]]

** The ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman'' comic ''combines'' the idealistic and cynical versions: after a long-term mission to destroy all the kryptonite on Earth, Superman saves one piece, which he gives to Batman for emergencies. Batman takes it to a lead-lined room in the deepest area of the Batcave... which is ''already'' filled with multiple kinds of kryptonite!

** In ''Comicbook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'' Batman uses a chunk of Green-K to knock [[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] out and bring her to the Batcave. Later, [[spoiler:Superman]] of all people uses a kryptonite ring to [[spoiler:knock a brainwashed Kara out]].

** This specific dynamic, Batman holding Kryptonite, appears again and again, especially in the {{DCAU}}. During the height of the Cadmus story in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', Batman asks Superman what could stop the latter from taking over the world, if he so desired. Supes quips, "There's always that Kryptonite you carry around." Which makes Batman ''snap at him'' for being so flippant about so serious a topic.

** To a lesser extent, the ''{{Shazam}}!'' Captain Marvel is employed occasionally as the one superhero tough enough to take on a controlled Superman if necessary. Or rather, he's tough enough to stall Supes in a fistfight long enough to call his magical lightning enough times to knock out his Kryptonian foe[[note]]Most forms of magic are able to bypass Superman's NighInvulnerability and damage him just like a de-powered kryptonian. As for how the Kryptonite Ring trope comes into play: Superman isn't going to tell just anyone this fun little fact, but he can usually trust the goody-two-shoes Captain marvel[[/note]].
*** Altough, at least in [[ComicBook/KingdomCome one occasion]], it was ''Captain Marvel'' the brainwashed one, not Superman.
** From the ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}} example above: General Zod's son, Drax, stole Brainiac 5's kryptonite and tries to use it on Supes, but Superman kicked him through a conveniently placed PhantomZone portal, ''before he could even open the lead container''.

* In ''TheSarahConnorChronicles'', Cameron installs a bomb in her head and gives John the detonator, in case she ever becomes a threat to him. She has good reason to worry about this, because it's happened to her before and nobody (not even the Teminators themselves) knows what causes a reprogrammed Terminator to suddenly revert to its default programming.

-> '''Franchise/{{Superman}}''': I have many enemies who have tried to control me. And I live in fear that someday, they might succeed. If that should ever happen--if I should ever lose control--there would only be one sure way to stop me.\\
'''Franchise/{{Batman}}''': Do you realize what you're asking?\\
'''Superman''': I do. I want the means to stop me in the hands of a man I can trust with my life.

** ''TheNew52'' version is idealistic and ''reciprocal'', as, similarly to the Professor X example above, Batman includes himself in the countermeasures list, trusting Superman to stop him if necessary.

* In the BackStory of ''ExMachina'', The Great Machine (now the mayor of New York City) gave his two {{Secret Keeper}}s devices to cancel-out his ability to talk to machines. [[GenreSavvy As was his habit]], he explicitly referenced the Superman mythos as he did so. As we later learn [[spoiler:it's just junk made out of old garage door openers and doesn't affect his powers at all. He lied and gave them to his {{Secret Keeper}}s so that, if they ever betrayed him or were forced to turn against him, their plotting would depend on something that doesn't work. (Though a major plot hole is that it did work in the first story arc.)]].

* In Frank Miller's dark, [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture near-future]] miniseries ''TheDarkKnightReturns'', Batman [[strike: actually uses his Kryptonite Ring (the cynical version)]] has ComicBook/GreenArrow shoot Superman with a [[TrickArrow Kryptonite arrow]] to beat the crap out of Superman. This inspired the writers to have the {{canon}} Superman give Batman a Kryptonite Ring (the idealistic version).

* In Frank Miller's dark, [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture near-future]] miniseries ''TheDarkKnightReturns'', Batman [[strike: actually uses his Kryptonite Ring (the cynical version)]] has GreenArrow shoot Superman with a [[TrickArrow Kryptonite arrow]] to beat the crap out of Superman. This inspired the writers to have the {{canon}} Superman give Batman a Kryptonite Ring (the idealistic version).

** PreCrisis, Superman's heat vision could melt kryptonite, rendering it useless [[FridgeLogic somehow]]. This usually worked only on small pieces, though; in one instance a large meteor of the stuff fell next to him and incapacitated him before he could melt it.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Batman gives Lucius Fox sole control over [[spoiler:the cell phone sonar system and the ability to destroy it so that Fox will trust him to use it only against the Joker. Though Fox didn't actually find out about the second part (cryptic instructions on how to "turn it off") until the Joker was caught.]]

* In ''{{Smallville}}'', Oliver Queen kills LexLuthor and takes his kryptonite ring, confirming his role as Smallville's Batman. (Well, except for the ThouShaltNotKill thing.)

* In ''TheSarahConnorChronicles'', Cameron installs a bomb in her head and gives John the detonator, in case she ever becomes a threat to him.

** This is also inverted by the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'' : Batman gives each member weapons that simulate each JusticeLeague member's weaknesses because aliens have invaded and copied their powers. They call him out on being so paranoid, until Superman steps forwards and [[ProperlyParanoid cites the time he was mind controlled in a previous episode]].