Even a Man of Steel likeSupermanneeds a best friend, so it’s lucky that he hasKrypto. The Superman Family is one of the most endearing aspects of DC Comics. For Superman, his love for his familycould be a weakness, his Achilles heel sometimes, but more than anything, they give him strength when he needs it most. And like so many other iconic American families, the Superman Family of course has a pet dog.
No Superman household is complete without Krypto the Superdog. Thanks to his appearance inthe newSupermanmovie teaser trailer, fan interest in the character has started to pique, especially for audiences unaware thatSuperman has always had a pet superhero dog in the comics.
Before audiences swarm to the theater, it’s worth taking the time to understand what Krypto is capable of as far as his power level, the dog’s origins in the comics, and how he swooped into Superman’s life.
Superman’s Pet Dog, Krypto, Has Played a Key Role in Kal-El’s Life for Decades
First Appearance:Adventure Comics#210 by Otto Binder, Curt Swan, Seymour Barry, and Mort Weisinger
Krypto comes into Clark Kent’s life not as a Superman but duringhis earliest adventures as a Superboy. The then-mysterious white dog runs rampant across Metropolis. He charges a hole through a dogcatcher’s armored truck, bullets bounce off him when gangsters shoot him, and when Superboy chases after the dog, he flies away. The dog can’t speak but uses his super-intelligence to bring Superboy to his space rocket. The rocket features a letter written in the language of Krypton. The letter mentions thatanimals were used as test subjects before Kryptonian scientists sent people awayin their rocket ships.
Even Horror Fans Will Tell Superman’s Pet Krypto “Bad Dog” When They See This Terrifying Art
A viciously violent variant cover for DC’s upcoming horror anthology sees Superman’s beloved pet dog, Krypto, take an evil turn for the worst.
Kal-El learns that this dog, named Krypto in the letter, wasa pet who lived within the House of El. As a baby, Clark was too young to remember Krypto. While still a puppy, Jor-El sent Krypto into space before Krypton’s destruction, where he drifted, growing into a Superdog before crash-landing on Earth. Elated that he’s been reunited with another reminder of the home planet he lost, the Boy of Steel cherishes Krypto and, as an adult, still cares for him lovingly, especially as Krypto continues to appear in DC’s comics to this day.
Where Is Krypto Now in the World of DC Comics?
Not as Active in Superman’s Life, But Still Alive
In the comics, Krypto has not played as active of a role in Superman’s life as he used to when he was Superboy, but he’s still alive on the Kent Farm. AsKrypto the Superdog, this dog has proven to be just as capable (and powerful) of a superhero as Superman is, seeing as he shares all the same superpowers as his master. Krypto has often aided Superman in his adventures, and oftentimes, gone as far as to save his life. Such savior work is on display in theSupermanteaser trailer, so expectKryptoto continue to haveSuperman’sback onscreen and on-panel.
