After four straight issues of pain for the titular pup of Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton, Ryan North, Mike Norton, Ian Herring, Lucas Gattoni have reunited for one last glimpse into the Superdog’s story. While Krypto suffered immensely in the past few issues — suffering exile, constant attacks, lost friends, and the general existence of Lex Luthor — the Krypto team finally brought some hope for Superman’s best friend.
There is nothing especially surprising about how this issue ends, nor does it feel like much of a spoiler to describe it as a happy ending. There were not very many other ways that the series could go, after all. Krypto would always find his way to Clark Kent, he would always find happiness for the first time since leaving Krypton, and he would always develop his superpowers eventually.
Are some elements in Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #5 contrived? Certainly, especially when Clark arbitrarily decides that Krypto should have the exact same name that his parents gave him. Does the timeline make much sense? Not in the slightest. Are Ma and Pa Kent absurdly easygoing? Impressively so, yes. Yet the question that really matters is whether that matters at all.
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After all, Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #5 feels like the sort of wrap-up that might appear in the Silver Age of Comics, even if the preceding four issues have been anything but. It is the exact sort of conclusion that classic writers might have put to page, and that works brilliantly in a story about a character as absurd as Krypto the Superdog.
At his core, Krypto is not meant to be an overly depressing and realistic character. He’s a dog with superpowers, and getting to see Superboy hugging his Superdog in the final pages is exactly what the series needed.
After spending so long on the dreary and painful story of Krypto suffering by his lonesome, it is truly refreshing to see him finally finding his family. By the end of Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #4, it is somewhat understandable to feel genuine frustration about seeing animal abuse for four consecutive issues. Yet when the story about the kicked dog finally ends with the dog finding love, it’s far more of a satisfying conclusion than an irritation (even if the dark elements ran an issue or two long).
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The message is also one that is genuinely needed in the world. Even as the general atmosphere outside of the comics gets darker and darker, Superman and his Superdog have always existed as symbols of hope. The idea of some “good mysteries” enduring is perfect for both this character and any readers who might be looking for some light in the dark.
Setting aside the positive turn that Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton‘s story took, the art remains as consistently impressive as ever. Norton and Herring collaborated to produce a series of pages that are filled with tension even when the subject of each panel is exactly the same: A dog running and flying through a field. There are 14 panels with that premise, and each one is both distinct and engaging. North’s dialogue certainly helps to set the tone, but it is impossible to overstate that feat.
The simple fact that Krypto is incredibly expressive is also deserving of acknowledgement. Norton and Herring spent all of Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton attempting to create readable expressions for a white dog. They exhibited anger, grief, misery, and now abject joy, and it never comes off as confusing or forced. Every emotion is visible in Krypto’s body language with no other indications of his emotion. That the team managed to exhibit those reactions with seeming ease is a genuine accomplishment, and they should earn all the accolades that they deserve for that.
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Is it a perfect series? No, and Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton is not a comic for everyone. Younger readers may look to avoid the animal abuse in their comic books, though it could still be appropriate for those properly prepared to see it. Beyond them, older readers may shrug at the idea of reading a comic book about Superman’s dog.
Yet those who do give Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton a chance will be pleasantly surprised by what they find. This is an entertaining miniseries with a strong message of hope, lovable characters, and tense stakes. In short, it’s everything that a Superman comic should be. Now that Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #5 has wrapped this story up, anyone who has been holding off on picking up issue #1 should definitely give this series a chance.
Besides, who doesn’t want to read a story about the best dog ever?
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