Weakness file · 05

Virus X.

The Kryptonian plague that nearly killed him.

Also called: Kryptonian leprosy
First seen: Superman #156, October 1962
Infected by: Lex Luthor, 1968
Cure: White kryptonite

In brief

The short answer.

Virus X is a deadly Kryptonian disease, nicknamed Kryptonian leprosy. It first appeared in Superman #156 (October 1962), “The Last Days of Superman!”, by Edmond Hamilton and Curt Swan. Lex Luthor infected Superman with it in Action Comics #363–366 (May–August 1968), and white kryptonite cured him.

Through the years

Era by era.

Silver Age (1956–1986)
Virus X appears in Superman #156 (October 1962). Luthor infects Superman in Action Comics #363–366 (1968), and white kryptonite cures him.
Today
Illness is still rare for Superman. Kryptonite exposure works more like radiation sickness than an infection.

The full file

The whole story.

Superman can shrug off bullets, bombs and almost every human illness. But in the Silver Age, DC gave him something to fear that no amount of sunlight could fix: Virus X, a disease from Krypton itself.

What is Virus X?

Virus X is a deadly Kryptonian disease, nicknamed “Kryptonian leprosy”. It’s one of the very few illnesses in the comics that can seriously harm him.

Virus X in the comics

Comic	What happens	Confidence
Superman #156 (October 1962), “The Last Days of Superman!”	Virus X first appears, in a story by Edmond Hamilton and Curt Swan	Confirmed
Action Comics #363–366 (May–August 1968)	Lex Luthor infects Superman with Virus X, and he’s eventually cured with white kryptonite	Confirmed

White kryptonite is an odd cure: it normally affects only plant life and has no effect on Kryptonians. You’ll find every colour of kryptonite on our kryptonite page.

Can Superman get ill?

Very rarely. His cells run on stored sunlight (see Superman’s solar battery), and ordinary human diseases don’t affect him. The real dangers are things from Krypton or beyond:

Kryptonian diseases such as Virus X.
Kryptonite, whose effect works like radiation sickness.
Magic, which ignores his invulnerability: see magic.

For the rest of his body’s quirks, from eating to shaving, read our Kryptonian biology FAQ, and for every danger he faces, the list of Superman’s weaknesses.

Questions

Asked and answered.

What is Virus X in Superman?

Virus X is a deadly disease from Krypton, sometimes called Kryptonian leprosy. It first appeared in Superman #156 (October 1962), “The Last Days of Superman!”, and it's one of the few illnesses that can harm him.

Can Superman get sick?

Rarely. His solar-powered body resists ordinary human illnesses, but Kryptonian diseases such as Virus X can harm him. Kryptonite exposure also makes him ill, more like radiation sickness than an infection.

How was Superman cured of Virus X?

In Action Comics #363–366 (May–August 1968), Lex Luthor infects Superman with Virus X. He's cured with white kryptonite, the variety that normally only affects plant life.