Warning! Preview pages for Superman #26 ahead!The recent stressors Superman has faced are tapping into some serious rage, and they're bringing out a new side of DC’s iconic hero. The Man of Steel has been through a lot in the last few months and his most recent trials are this close to permanently changing Clark Kent’s powers, and not for the better.

In addition to facing Amanda Waller during Absolute Power and the recent mass of kryptonite to arrive on Earth, Clark has been through a lot have all pushed Superman to his limit, bringing out a rage he doesn’t like the world to see. But thanks to a brush with red kryptonite, any time Superman gets angry, his body runs the risk of being permanently transformed. And Lex Luthor has just done something to truly incense the generally happy-go-lucky Big Blue Boy Scout.

Superman's Anger is Close to Unlocking a Powerful (and Terrifying) Permanent Change

Red Kryptonite Poisoning is About to Change Clark for the Worse

In a preview for Superman #26 by Joshua Williamson, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Sean Izaakse, Alejandro Sánchez, and Ariana Maher, a recap of Clark’s recent trials is shown. Mercy Graves narrates the recap, starting all the way back to when Superman was briefly taken hostage by the Lex Luthor Revenge Squad and the insidious Mister Graft infected Superman with a piece of synthetic red kryptonite. While Supercorp was able to stabilize the Man of Steel, the red K is still in Superman's system.

Additional flashbacks from the “House of Brainiac” event and Absolute Power are seen, both of which saw Superman briefly lose control of his anger. Graves notes that the red kryptonite in Superman’s system is fueled by negative emotions and the more he gives into anger, the more power Clark is giving the red kryptonite. Graves reveals that his invulnerability was originally keeping this in check. But when Amanda Waller stole Superman’s powers, the red kryptonite was allowed to flourish in Superman’s body during the stressful event.

...the red kryptonite has advanced too much in Clark’s body and that they have to be extremely cautious.

While Superman’s powers have returned since Absolute Power, Mercy notes that the red kryptonite has advanced too much in Clark’s body and that they have to be extremely cautious. Graves implores Superman to do his best not to lose control, but that advice falls on deaf ears when Superman confronts Lex Luthor in prison, fresh after fighting X-El and Superwoman being depowered. Superman’s eyes are glowing red, and he’s got glowing red spikes emerging from his torso and shoulders while his face has cracked and has red patterns adorning it.

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Superman is Putting Himself and Others in Serious Danger

Red Kryptonite is About to Change Superman into Something Terrifying

Superman has been trying his best, but he’s been faced with stressor after stressor. Now that Lex’s clone X-El has seemingly de-powered Superwoman, Clark is literally seeing red. But that’s exacerbating the red K poisoning in him. As any Superman fan knows, red kryptonite is the strangest of all the variants, and its effects are wildly unpredictable. If he really gives into his rage (and it looks like he is), Superman runs the risk of turning into something that he’s not going to be able to come back from.

Red kryptonite could do anything to Clark...

It’s not just that Superman is losing control (though, that itself is a terrifying prospect for Clark). Red kryptonite could do anything to Clark, from turning him into a monster to making his powers more dangerous than they already are. With the red kryptonite embedded in his system, Clark giving into his rage is the worst possible thing that could happen. If Superman isn’t careful, his red kryptonite infection is going to unlock a powerful, but potentially world-threatening, form.

Superman #26 is available on May 28th from DC Comics.