And you thought your neighbor’s dog was bad. Because it’s NEVER your dog.
Superman Adventures #41
DC Comics (February, 2000)
“Old Wounds”
PLOT: Ty Templeton & Dan Slott
WRITER: Ty Templeton
PENCILER: Neil Vokes
INKER: Terry Austin
COLORIST: Marie Severin
SEPARATIONS: Zylonol
LETTERER: Phil Felix
EDITOR: Joey Cavalieri
Hoping doing a good deed for Superman will get Mxyzptlk off of parole with the Grand Council so he can torment Superman again, Mxyzptlk goes back in time to Krypton and takes Krypto (taking time to mess with baby Kal-El of course), bringing him back to modern day Metropolis. Unfortunately Krypto has trouble adjust to his new powers, especially his newly enhanced senses, and cause damage all over the city. Superman has to stop Krypto’s rampage while also keeping the SCU from trying to off the little guy. The spell wears off and Krypto is sent back to Krypton. Not only is Superman not happy about all this, and opening the old wound of the title, but he nearly smacks the little jerk into next Friday and forces him to send himself back. As punishment for disobeying the council he’s forced to spend the next 90 days as a fire hydrant in Metropolis.
What they got right: In theory I like the story. It’s a chance to see Krypto in the DCAU, and you can make the case that a dog with Kryptonian super-senses would find it hard to adjust.
What they got wrong: On the other hand, Krypto has had no problem adjusting in every other incarnation I’ve ever seen him in, so this comes off as a bit cynical in the “Man Of Steel/Woman Of Kleenex” mold.
Recommendation: If you don’t mind seeing Krypto the Superdog going crazy from his own powers, it’s not a bad story really. It might be worth looking into. I’d just rather see Krypto the way everyone else depicts him.
