Who Is Superman’s Dog, Krypto? The DC Comics History of the Kryptonian Canine

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As a long-time comic book enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of Superman’s loyal canine companion Krypto, I must say that it’s truly heartwarming to see this iconic character finally receiving the recognition he deserves. From his humble beginnings in the Silver Age comics to his latest appearance in the new DC Universe, Krypto has been a beacon of hope and friendship for Superman fans around the world.

In comic book lore, Krypto the Superdog was often seen as an unlikely character to appear in live-action films based on Superman. Yet, as many had anticipated, this beloved pet of Kal-El will play a significant part in James Gunn’s Superman. The director and co-head of DC Studios, James Gunn himself, confirmed Krypto’s role via a post on social media.

In the summer, Krypto makes his appearance on our screens, a character drawn from our real-life dog, Ozu, whom we welcomed into our family after I began writing Superman. Ozu, who spent his life in a cramped backyard with over sixty other dogs and had no experience with humans, was certainly challenging to handle. He…

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 15, 2024

Initially appearing as Superboy’s Kryptonian canine companion during the Silver Age of comics, Krypto has come to represent a specific epoch of Superman comic books. Throughout various storylines over time, Superman’s faithful pet has occasionally slipped in and out of continuity, yet consistently returns to his cherished master.

Krypto First Appears in DC Comics’ Silver Age as Superboy’s Dog

Krypto, the white Labrador-like canine, debuted in Adventure Comics issue 210 back in 1955. This character was brought to life by writer Otto Binder and famed Superman artist Curt Swan. Originally intended for a single story, Krypto was actually Superman’s pet from his toddler years on the planet Krypton. In the Silver Age DC universe, Krypton was a future-oriented America of the mid-century era, featuring flying cars and advanced technology. However, the typical family consisted of mom, dad, children, and pets that resembled Earth animals. When Superman’s father Jor-El needed to test his son’s rocket to Earth, he used Krypto as a test subject. In essence, Krypto beat Laika, the Soviet dog who became the first animal in space by two years.

In this version of events, Krypto’s spacecraft veers off its intended path, causing his arrival on Earth to occur when Superman (Kal-El) is already a teenager in Smallville. Upon meeting, they quickly develop a strong connection reminiscent of their past association. Much like Kal-El, Krypto possesses the same superpowers due to Earth’s yellow sun, although his enhanced hearing and smell surpass those of a regular dog. Thankfully, under the influence of Earth’s yellow sun, he also gains extraordinary intelligence, preventing him from using his powers recklessly.

Krypto’s Popularity and Eventual Decline in Superman Comics

Initially, DC’s editors planned Krypto as a single-appearance character, but the young comic book fans clamored for his return. Amazingly, just four issues after his debut, he was back. Throughout the Silver Age, Krypto became an integral part of Superboy tales, sparking the creation of other “Super pets” within the Superman family. In the footsteps of Krypto came Streaky, Supergirl’s feline companion, Beppo the Super Monkey, and even Comet the Superhorse. Eventually, a Legion of Super-Pets emerged. To sum it up, the Silver Age at DC was quite whimsical, with its adorable superpowered animals being a big hit among readers.

During the 1970s, largely due to Marvel’s comics revolution in the preceding decade, comic book audiences began transitioning from young children to teenagers. Recognizing that a super-powered dog in a cape was too juvenile for their new audience, DC Comics wrote Krypto out of their series. They claimed he had traveled into space following his adventures with Superboy, after Clark Kent had transformed into Superman. Occasionally, Krypto made appearances during the Bronze Age but did not regularly star in a series. However, in 1985, DC underwent a company-wide reboot titled “Crisis on Infinite Earths“. This reboot changed Krypton from an idealistic utopia to a cold and emotionless planet with no place for adorable pets like Krypto. Along with all other surviving Kryptonians not named Kal-El, DC erased Krypto from continuity. For nearly two decades afterward, Krypto remained absent from the series.

The Reemergence of Krypto in Modern-Era DC Comics Continuity

Over the course of two decades, DC Comics subtly suggested the return of Krypto through various hints. In the ’90s, a small white dog from Earth was named Krypto in his honor. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s, during the “Return to Krypton” storyline by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness, that we truly saw Krypto again. In this narrative, Superman is drawn into a seemingly perfect depiction of Krypton, reminiscent of the one from the Silver Age. Here, we encounter a version of Krypto, described as Superman’s childhood pet. This ideal Krypton was actually a trap set by the villainous Brainiac 13. But upon escaping this fictitious world, Krypto chose to stay with Superman and Lois Lane, becoming their super-powered pet.

In a modern twist, Krypto reappeared in DC comics lore, unlike his earlier self who possessed human intelligence. Now, he was a powerful canine needing guidance, providing plenty of amusing scenarios. The updated version of Krypto, accepted warmly by fans, became the faithful hound of Superboy Conner Kent. In 2009, through Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s “Superman: Secret Origin,” his original backstory was reinstated into the primary continuity once more. This time, Krypto was Kal-El’s pet from Krypton, arriving on Earth years after Superman did. Such is the cyclical nature of comics storytelling. However, the New 52 reboot in 2011 excluded him from the main narrative again (except for Krypton-related flashbacks). But with DC Rebirth in 2016, we returned to the traditional, pre-New 52 continuity, where once more Krypto resides as a cherished part of the DC Universe.

Krypto in Animated and Live-Action Media, Including the new DCU

Initially, Krypto was introduced in an animated format through the 1966 “Adventures of Superboy” cartoons. Since then, he’s made appearances in numerous animated shows and straight-to-video films, often as a guest role. Series featuring these cameos include “Superman: The Animated Series”, “Justice League Action”, and “Legion of Super-Heroes”. In 2005, Krypto starred in his own series on Cartoon Network titled “Krypto the Superdog“, which ran for two seasons. His latest animated role was in the movie “League of Super-Pets“, with Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson lending his voice. A significant addition to Krypto’s backstory from this film is that he now goes by the name “Bark Kent”.

In live-action adaptations, we’ve paid tribute to Krypto numerous times, but never showcased the genuine article. Characters like Krypto appeared in shows such as Smallville and Titans, where they were Earth dogs granted Kryptonian abilities through sinister experiments. On Titans, this Krypto became a companion to that series’ version of Conner Kent’s Superboy. In the new DC Universe, as confirmed by James Gunn, Krypto in Superman will indeed be an extraterrestrial dog, marking his first live-action debut in comic books. He is also expected to feature prominently in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow due to his significant role in the comics. After nearly 70 years, it’s high time that this beloved character steps into the limelight in mainstream media.

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2024-10-17 02:02