Spinner Rack: Krypto, the Colossal Superdog! Part One

There were some stories I read in my youth that affected me deeply. These are the stories I still remember. They tugged at my youthful heartstrings, becoming part of the tapestry of memory from that long-gone era. One such story was "The Colossal Superdog!" [Adventure #262, July 1959] I know, you think I'm crazy. "A Krypto story? Really?" Yeah, a Krypto story. I loved Krypto. I grew up with pet dogs and I adored them, so I understood the bond Superboy had with his "best friend." It's impossible not to feel that kinship if a wagging tail met you every day as you arrived home from school.

So what was it about this particular story that made its indelible impression? It was a tearjerker for me. I wasn't alone. Ma Kent and Superboy also turn on the waterworks. There is a lot of loss foreshadowed in this story about a boy and his dog. One of the beautiful things about Silver Age DCs is their ability to connect with their young audience. These wonderful stories were written for children and they impacted the psyche on more than one level. They may seem simple and silly – and we all know I shine a spotlight on that silliness as often as I can – but to a child, they had the ability to touch the soul.

The other delightful aspect of Silver Age DCs is their ability to appeal to adults as well as kids. I love reading the books I never had as a kid because I get to see all the wonderful stories I missed. Although the ones I read in my youth hold the most special place, there are a lot of stories I've read since that I love and cherish.

If you haven't seen "The Colossal Superdog," I hope you'll enjoy this retelling. I read it in the 64 Page Giant Superboy, billed as a "Super-Collection of Super-Animals!" Couldn't pass that up for a quarter. In fact, I'm using my childhood copy of that book to write this article, so check the scans for the tear stains ::sob:: of little Joanna. ::choke::

The opening story is "The Colossal Superdog!" and I knew from the splash page that this wasn't going to be an ordinary Krypto story. Superboy calls him a "super-menace" and that just doesn't bode well. What boy ever calls his own dog a menace? Sure, he's smashing through the roof of the house, which is too small to hold him, but shucks, that doesn't make him… okay, it does make him a super-menace. Not good at all.

The story begins with a happy Krypto filled with thought balloons as he speeds through outer space. The opening panels show him stepping on a fused meteor, half of which is deadly kryptonite, the other has rainbow radiation. Krypto feels that neither could hurt him because he's going too fast for the green K to do anything and he's invulnerable to everything else. Right off the bat we know two things: 1) Those meteors are going to haunt that doggy and 2) Krypto thinks more grammatically than 98% of all the texting teenagers of today. Okay, that last one doesn't impact the plot, but dang, that dog is smart.

Krypto spots Superboy in his Clark Kent garb and flies to greet him, forgetting that he's not supposed to know Clark. Naturally, the lad is walking with Lana "I think Clark is Superboy" Lang. I can't recall another Krypto story where he made such a no-brainer mistake. It appears this scene foreshadows that Krypto isn't quite right in the head. What could be wrong? It can't be that darn fused meteor, could it? I need to read on.

Luckily, Krypto comes to his senses when Superboy creates a small emergency (paint falling toward Lana). Quickly, the dog grabs the paint can and leaves Clark alone, proving to Lana that Krypto just wanted to save her and not greet his disguised "master."

When Clark changes into Superboy, Krypto gives him a hearty, face-licking welcome. But Superboy doesn't cut his pet any slack. "Hi, Krypto!" he says. "Don't try to make up to me by licking my face! To remind you sharply to avoid Clark Kent hereafter, I must punish you, so you can't join me as I seek the Scarlet Gang! Go home! And do it the right way!" Harsh, Superboy! Missing a chance to catch the Scarlet Gang? Fiddle Dee Dee and frankly, my dog, I don't give a damn! Actually, Krypto accepts his punishment with dogged adherence to the rules, burrowing underground so no one will see him land at the Kents. By now, their yard must have more holes than a box full of Krispy Kreme donuts.

As Krypto emerges from the aforementioned hole, Ma Kent does one of those patented "I'm going to set up an aspect of the story with my next bit of shameless exposition" speeches. What she says is, "Go inside and I'll feed you! Not that it ever makes you grow! You're such a small pooch!" At this point, anyone who loves a bite of Silver Age DC goodness knows that Krypto will not remain a small pooch. The dog is out of the bag, so to speak, and all heck is gonna break loose (not to mention his cape and collar).

Sure enough, the very next panel (can't let the kiddies forget the exposition, so it's best to set it up and knock it down as fast as possible) has Krypto breaking out of his cape & collar, jumping on Pa Kent (Krypto's about the size of a St. Bernard, according to Pa Kent. I would've chosen German shepherd, but that's because there isn't a small whiskey barrel at his throat) and evoking a "Land sakes!" in response. I have to admit that I love the folksy Ma and Pa Kent exclamations. Land-a-goshin, it's true. I grew up with many of these idioms when I was knee-high to a grasshopper.

Unfortunately, Krypto is growing at an alarming rate. In the next panel he's bigger than a horse and wrecking the furniture with his "playful antics." Oh, man – he'd better stick to serious antics from now on. The playful ones are treacherous!

Unfortunately, things are about to get much more serious than an antic, as Krypto continues to grow. Come back next month to find out about the super menace in Krypto, the Colossal Superdog, part two!

Joanna Sandsmark — A former writer for DC Comics and TV's Weird Science, Joanna Sandsmark is also the author of The Wisdom of Yo Meow Ma, A Girl's Best Friend, 10 Spiritual Lessons You Can Learn from Your Cat, 10 Spiritual Lessons You Can Learn from Your Dog, and Explore Your Destiny with Runes. If you'd like to learn more, including a detailed bio and more information about Joanna's books, please visit her website.

This is a guest article. The thoughts and opinions in this piece are those of their author and are not necessarily the thoughts of the Certified Collectibles Group.