Meteor infection is the mutational process of acquiring metahuman powers due to green kryptonite exposure.

Meteor-infected individuals who acquired their powers from a meteor shower, especially if they use their abilities to threaten, hurt or kill other people, are often referred to as "meteor freaks." Chloe Sullivan and Lana Lang, however, have started using the terms "meteor-challenged" or "meteor-infected" instead. (Cure) After Jimmy Olsen learned about Chloe's meteor power, he also stopped using the phrase "meteor freaks." (Gemini)

Powers and Abilities

Two factors greatly increase the odds of meteor infection:

• The specific type of exposure: ingestion, inhalation, envenomation, sting, viral/bacterial/fungal infection, injection, genetic manipulation, etc.
• The amount of exposure, especially with chronic irradiation.
• A catalyst such as electricity, magnetism, intense heat, or even death itself.

Vulnerabilities

The extraterrestrial green kryptonite is highly radioactive and can cause mutations of human DNAs, leading to strange physiological changes and sometimes unnatural superhuman abilities. It also in many cases causes psychosis, causing the victims to lose moral control, for which there is no known cure other than removing the factors which cause the meteor power; Dr. Curtis Knox developed such a cure.^[1] It can also cause the "jitters," resulting in uncontrollable tremors, which are generally associated with a terminal level of meteor exposure.

Type of Exposure

Meteor infection most often are caused by radiation exposure (experienced by most residents of Smallville), although it is most likely to occur quickly if the kryptonite directly enters the body. This can include several means:

Irradiation

• Jeremy Creek was exposed to a radioactive impact blast from the 1989 meteor shower when tied up as the Scarecrow, and gained the power to manipulate electricity. (Pilot)
• Lex Luthor went permanently bald but unknowingly gained a moderate healing factor and heightened immune system after being caught in the radioactive impact from the 1989 meteor shower alongside Jeremy Creek. (Pilot)
• Sean Kelvin was exposed to kryptonite rocks at the bottom of Crater Lake after accidentally falling through the ice and drowning, and gained the ability to absorb heat. (Cool)
• Harry Volk was able to rejuvenate himself after being exposed to kryptonite rocks in the pond of the Smallville Retirement Center. (Hourglass)
• Bob Rickman and Kyle Tippet both gained the power of persuasion after being irradiated by the 1989 meteor shower. (Hug)
• The rare and extinct Nicodemus flower was resurrected by Dr. Steven Hamilton using kryptonite exposure, and became particularly potent at disinhibiting people. (Nicodemus)
• Justin Gaines gained the power of telekinesis after being comatosed and later crippled by a hit-and-run accident (Crush). It was never explicitly established whether or how his powers were the result of kryptonite exposure, although the timing and circumstances of the accident create the possibility that kryptonite was responsible, and Chloe and Lana also later acknowledge him as a meteor freak in Extinction.
• Lana Lang temporarily acquired a highly amplified form of De Kretser Syndrome, giving her telepathic vision-sharing with Deputy Gary Watts after being caught in a gas pipe explosion with kryptonite-laced dirt. (Obscura)
• Desirée Atkins gained the ability to control people's mind via pheromone after being caught by the 1989 meteor shower when having intercourse with her then-boyfriend inside a truck parked next to Crater Lake. (Heat)
• Dr. Steven Hamilton started having constant twitching after working on meteor rocks for Lex Luthor, and eventually died of a severe seizure after liquid kryptonite dripped on his forehead. (Duplicity)
• Ian Randall gained the power of duplication via unknown means, but it was likely due to meteor rock exposure. (Dichotic)
• Cyrus Krupp (born William Burnet) gained the ability of healing after his family was killed in the 1989 meteor shower and witnessing the landing of Kal-El's spaceship. (Visitor)
• Jake Pollen had the ability to breath under water, presumably after chronic exposure to kryptonite in Smallville. (Extinction)
• Nathan Dean had the ability to shriek sound waves, presumably after chronic exposure to kryptonite in Smallville. (Whisper)
• Jordan Cross gained precognition after his mother suffered a direct hit from the 1989 meteor shower and died shortly after giving birth to him. (Hereafter)
• Alicia Baker acquired the ability to teleport from kryptonite exposure during the 1989 meteor shower when she was a child. (Obsession)
• Tim Westcott gained the ability to morph into sand after exposure to the 1989 meteor shower. (Pariah)
• Dawn Stiles gained the ability to possess people by contact after crashing her car into the meteor-laden Carlton Gorge. (Spirit)
• Kevin Grady gained the power to erase memories after being treated at the Summerholt Institute by his father, who experimented on him with kryptonite-powered energy beam. (Blank)
• Karen Gallagher gained the ability to absorb electricity, presumably after chronic exposure to kryptonite in Smallville. She later died giving birth to a baby with accelerated aging who happen to have inherited her abilities. (Ageless)
• Brendan Nash gained the ability to turn people into wax statues, presumably after chronic exposure to kryptonite in Smallville. (Forever)
• Gretchen Winters gained the ability possess people after being murdered by Michael Westmore, who put a kryptonite-bejeweled bracelet on her wrist and sealed her corpse in the bathroom wall of the Talon Apartment. (Tomb)
• Tyler McKnight gained the ability to manipulate glass from kryptonite exposure during the 1989 meteor shower. His abilities were later inherited by his estranged daughter Maddie. (Fragile)
• Graham Garrett gained the power of invisibility after being caught by the 2005 meteor shower when driving through Smallville. (Fade)
• Bronson gained the ability to phase between different frequency planes of existence after being caught by the 2005 meteor shower. (Static)
• Jed McNally gained the ability to displace minerals and burrow underground after being caught by the 2005 meteor shower. (Subterranean)
• Linda Lake gained the power of hydrokinesis after her news van crashed into Crater Lake during the 2005 meteor shower. (Hydro)
• Daniel Kim gained the power of telekinesis, presumably after chronic exposure to kryptonite in Smallville. (Freak)
• Moira Sullivan gained the power to control other meteor freaks, after being caught in the 1989 meteor shower when she was driving with her daughter past Smallville. (Progeny)
• Chloe Sullivan was later revealed to have the latent ability of empathic healing, after being caught in the 1989 meteor shower when her mother were driving with her past Smallville. (Phantom)
• The Weather Girls (Carly Meadows, Tempest Drake and Tyler Crenshaw) gained the ability to control the elements after being caught by the 2005 meteor shower. (Fierce)

Ingestion

• Jodi Melville drank kryptonite-infected vegetable shakes and developed enhance metabolism, which causes intense hunger to the point she has to suck fats out of other humans or animals. (Craving)
• Lana Lang drank the blood of Buffy Sanders, receiving Vampiric powers. She also gained additional powers after biting Clark Kent. (Thirst)
• Pete Ross temporarily gained elasticity after chewing on kryptonite-laced gum. (Hero)
• Zach temporarily gained super-speed after chewing on kryptonite-laced gun. (Visions)

Injection

• Shelby was injected with green kryptonite needles giving him super powers.
• Hercules was injected with green kryptonite needs giving him super powers.
• Tommy Lee was injected with a refined kryptonite needle advancing his electricity manipulation powers.
• Twins were injected with a refined kryptonite needle advacing their force field generation powers.

Inhalation

• Walt Arnold inhaled kryptonite-infused steam in his sauna and developed pyrokinesis. (Hothead)
• Earl Jenkins was exposed to a green mist when there was an explosion in the fertilizer plant, and started to shake uncontrollably. (Jitters)
• Eric Marsh used an inhaler to breathe in refined kryptonite, acquiring temporary Superhuman Strength. (Witness)
• Eric's friends used inhalers to breathe in refined kryponite, causing enhanced infection giving their super strength. (Witness)
• Chloe Sullivan was exposed to a kryptonite-infused mist that contained a genetically engineered virus, acquiring an ability to compel almost anyone (except Clark Kent) to tell the truth. (Truth)

Secondary Exposure Through Exposed Amimals

• Greg Arkin was bitten by kryptonite-exposed insects, giving him the insect-like enhanced strength and speed, as well as the ability to spit silk. (Metamorphosis)
• Sasha Woodman was stung by bees that were exposed to kryptonite, and was subsequently able to control bees. (Drone)
• Buffy Sanders received her vampiric powers from the bites of rabid, kryptonite-infected vampire bat. (Thirst)

Wound & Skin Puncture

• When Earl Jenkins was exposed to a green mist when an explosion in the fertilizer plant occurred, the kryptonite also penetrated his skin. (Jitters)
• Tyler Randall had a piece of kryptonite directly embedded in his wrist and then died but was saved with life saving drugs and medical procedures. (Reaper)
• Seth Nelson was hit in the head with a snow globe containing meteor rock, putting flecks of the kryptonite directly into his head and later exposed to an MRI. (Magnetic)

Medical Treatment and Injections

• Tina Greer was treated for soft bone disease with a kryptonite brachytherapy, which gave her enhanced strength and the power to shapeshift.
• Shelby and Hercules were dogs injected with kryptonite to give them super strength. (Krypto)
• Andrea Rojas got a heart transplant from a deceased metahuman, giving her enhanced strength and speed. (Vengeance)
• Duncan Allenmeyer received a kryptonite-enhanced treatment to bring him out of his coma, and gained telekinesis. (Reunion)
• Curtis Knox attempted to give his wife Sophia immortality by transplanting kryptonite-rich organs harvested from murder victims into her body. (Cure)

Cosmetic and Skin Treatment

• Jeff Palmer could become invisible after applying a meteor rock cream to his skin. (Shimmer)
• Derek Fox, Wade Mahaney, Scott Bowman and Whitney Fordman were able to acquire temporary powers to walk through walls using kryptonite-laced tattoos applied to the skin. (Kinetic)
• Abigail Fine was injected with kryptonite as part of her mother's beauty treatments, and gained the ability to induce hallucinations by kissing. (Facade)

Inheritance

• Kyla Willowbrook was a naturally born shapeshifter who had her powers passed down to her through her Kawatche tribe. (Skinwalker)
• Evan Gallagher was a second-generation metahuman who inherited the ability to absorb electrical energy, which caused him to age rapidly and later explode. (Ageless)
• Maddie Van Horn was a second-generation metahuman who inherited her powers to manipulate glass from her ex-convict father. (Fragile)

Genetic Manipulation

• Wes Keenan had the genes of metahumans inserted into his body. (Prototype)

Blinding

• Cassandra Carver was blinded in the first meteor shower, and became able to see the future. (Hourglass)
• Tobias Rice was blinded in the second meteor shower, and was able to "see" other meteor-infected people. (Freak)

Catalyst

Certain catalysts greatly increase the chance of a successful meteor infection:

Electricity

• Harry Volk fell into a meteor-filled pond and his motorized wheelchair shorted out. (Hourglass)
• Eric Summers was struck by lightning while holding kryptonite. (Leech)
• Lana Lang was also struck by lightning while near kryptonite. (Wrath)

Heat

• Walt Arnold put kryptonite rocks in his sauna. (Hothead)

Magnetism

• Seth Nelson received his magnetic control of matter and mind during an MRI. (Magnetic)

Death

• Tyler Randall died while a piece of meteor rock was lodged in the bones of his wrist. (Reaper)
• Sean Kelvin drowned while exposed to meteor rock. (Cool)
• Dawn Stiles  died in a car accident, landing in a ravine filled with Kryptonite (Spirit)
• Gretchen Winters died while wearing a kryptonite bracelet. (Tomb)

Water

• Harry Volk was underwater when exposed to electricity and kryptonite. (Hourglass)
• Linda Lake was in a car that crashed into Crater Lake. (Hydro)
• Sean Kelvin drowned while exposed to meteor rock in Crater Lake. (Cool)

Notes

• The Isis Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the meteor-infected. It was founded by Lana and was later run by Chloe until late 2009. Its current status is unknown.

In the Comics

In Adventure Comics #273 (June, 1960), a Smallville High student named Ted Grahame is granted greater power than Superboy (Clark Kent), after he is exposed to radiation from a meteor. In Ted's case, however, the meteor was not Kryptonite.

In Superboy (Volume 2) #42 (June, 1983), a Smallville High student named Johnny Webber gets exposed to a meteor shower, which includes Red Kryptonite. From the combination of the Red Kryptonite radiation, and other elements present in the meteor shower, Johnny develops metahuman powers and becomes the supervillain Dyna-Mind.

In Action Comics #600 (May, 1988), Lex Luthor learns that prolonged wearing of a Green Kryptonite ring has given him cancer from the radiation (previously believed to be harmless to humans).

References

Kryptonite in Smallville Types Natural: Green • Red • Blue • Gold Kryptonite • Processed: Black • Silver • Gemstone • Refined Effects Meteor infection • Psychosis • Meteor freaks Objects Bullet • Cage • Handcuffs • Heart • Key • Ring • Kryptonite necklace (Necklace) • Victory ring Other Krypton • Meteor showers (1989, 2005, Earth-2), • Lead (box) • Appearances of Green K (usages)