“Home. Take me home,” utters a wounded Superman to a white Dog after crashing in the middle of a vast snowy landscape.
This Dog is not just any Dog. It is Krypto, the Man of Steel’s canine companion.
Yes, Superman has a super best friend. In the scene, Superman hands his cape to Krypto as he lies weakened in the snow. Krypto bravely takes the cape and runs with Superman in tow in order to save him.
The teaser trailer for the new Superman movie makes you wonder what might have happened to omnipotent Superman to make him incapable of going home on his own. We will have to wait until the movie drops in July to find out what happens in the story. For now, let’s talk about Krypto.
THE CONTROVERSY WITH KRYPTO
Krypto, who is making his first live-action appearance in the new Superman movie, happens to be surrounded by controversy. In the movie, he looks like a Terrier mutt, much to the surprise of some fans who expected him to be a different breed: a Labrador Retriever.
Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their opinion:
In another tweet from a fan, James Gunn, the director of the new Superman movie, had something to say:
BREEDING MORE POINTS TO PONDER
Do you think Kal-El and his family would care about Krypto’s breed? As an advanced species who shows kindness and concern for others, breed would probably be the least of their concern.
A superspecies such as the Kryptonians would show great consideration for all living beings and see beyond breed. We see this in Superman’s protective nature for humans, a race different from his own.
James Gunn further explains the inspiration for his casting of Krypto.
While some fans do not like the fact that Krypto is portrayed in the new movie as a mutt, other fans think otherwise:
There are indeed many versions of Krypto in the comic books throughout the years. He is not bound to just one look. There are several DC comic book episodes with Krypto appearing in different renditions.
THE MAKINGS OF KRYPTO
Krypto was created by Otto Binder and Curt Swan and first appeared in Adventure Comics #210 in 1955. He has super strength, super speed, flight, heat vision, x-ray vision, freeze breath, acute sense of smell and hearing, and healing powers. In one storyline, however, he is portrayed powerless and was just an ordinary mutt from Earth who was rescued.
Over the years, Krypto has been rendered in comic books as a Labrador Retriever, a Bully breed, a mutt, a white German Shepherd, and simply, a generic white Dog.
Adventure Comics #262 – The Colossal Super-Dog Created by Otto Binder
Krypto the Earth Dog (New Earth) Created by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett
Action Comics Volume 2 – #13 By Grant Morrison
ALL DOGS ARE SUPERDOGS
How awesome would it be if there was a real-life Dog like Krypto as James Gunn had imagined of Ozu? It would be quite cool.
But come to think of it, our own Dogs are already super in their own ways. Whether it’s their keen sense of smell, superb hearing, excellent eyesight, internal homing ability, or incredible loyalty, our Dogs are nothing short of awesome. The unique bond we share with our Dogs runs deep and is just as strong as that between Krypto and Kal-El.
How about you, in what way does your own Dog “take you home”?
