Hail the Important Nonsense of Krypto the Superdog

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Is it reasonable to consider superheroes as being ridiculous? Some serious fans argue that characters like Batman should always be portrayed as melancholic and driving a drab vehicle. However, many elements of the genre lend themselves to silliness – such as flashy costumes, exaggerated physiques, and glamorous masks. The opening scene of the latest Superman film takes a stance on this matter. In this scene, Superman is injured in Antarctica and calls a dog with a whistle. His cape is red, he can fly, and his fur is as white as snow. While he may not be hypoallergenic, according to my wife.

Krypto, known as the chaotic canine, often finds himself causing trouble when Superman needs assistance. Despite his tendency to bite things he shouldn’t and wrecking the Fortress of Solitude, his bad habits can sometimes be channeled towards good causes. While it might not be ideal when Krypto chomps on Mr. Terrific’s mini flying machines, it’s beneficial when he does the same to Lex Luthor’s devices. The inclusion of Krypto in the upcoming Superman reboot symbolizes a shift in the franchise’s approach towards more light-hearted content. Dog with cape equals humor. However, Krypto’s antics represent much more than just fun and games; his absurdity is endearing – and subtly profound. Making his debut in a live-action feature for the first time ever, Krypto signifies more than just a relaxation of rules against silliness within this franchise.

As a child, I grew up reading comics from the ’90s, and superheroes with dogs like Krypto were not common. The general atmosphere was intense, dark, even violent, similar to the graphic violence seen in Mortal Kombat. Superman was no longer just saving people or playing fetch. Thankfully, my wife’s late uncle passed down a collection of classic comics, and I found Krypto on several covers and throughout various stories. On one cover from 1957’s Superboy No.56, the hero exclaims, “This is a job for Superboy!” as he rescues a blonde child from a burning house, with Krypto flying alongside him carrying a box of five puppies, thinking to himself, “And this is a job for Superdog!” The storyline follows Krypto embarking on his own solo mission. He wants to save dogs just as Superboy saves humans. He rescues a guide dog from a time bomb, a stunt dog from a runaway car, and even Sir Rajah, the pet of Smallville’s wealthiest man, from kidnappers.

Every solution involving Krypto seems to lead to a human predicament. For instance, when Krypto hurls the time bomb into the sky, it detonates, causing a plane to lose control. He manages to halt a car, but only by nudging a water main out of alignment. The kidnappers retaliate with gunfire, leading to a gas leak. Superboy pleads with his pet to cease independent actions. The main idea is clear: Krypto Must Obey. This scenario feels reminiscent of the Eisenhower era and the TV show Father Knows Best. (In 1957, no one referred to their pets as “dog dads.”) However, you might wonder, who’s planting time bombs in Smallville? Are there no safety measures on this movie set? The kidnappers possess guns? All these incidents unfold within a single small-town afternoon. Krypto embodies chaos, but so does everything else around him.

2025’s Superman film seems to be banking on today’s audience being resilient enough to embrace chaos. Interestingly, director James Gunn appears quite certain that he can turn even the quirkiest comic elements into something mainstream audiences will appreciate – remember, it was him who made a talking tree a toy line success at Disney!

In this new take on Superman, Mr. Terrific manages to disarm an entire army with circular flight patterns. The Fortress of Solitude now boasts a sunbathing area. Superman harbors a dream of capturing a rampaging kaiju for an intergalactic zoo. And let’s not forget about Krypto, who frequently rockets into the heart of action sequences after receiving a call from Superman’s Super-whistle.

James Gunn’s interpretation of Superman challenges traditional views by injecting humor and subversive drama into the superhero genre, which has been predominantly serious for the past decade. The binary distinction between silliness and seriousness is not productive in this context. Instead, Gunn skillfully camouflages profound storytelling beneath the glossy surface of superpowers.

In this new Superman movie, Krypto playfully chases a tipsy Supergirl, adding a lighthearted touch to the narrative. At the same time, it presents a version of Superman where Zlatko Burić, known for his role in Triangle of Sadness as a wealthy Russian, portrays a villainous dictator ruling a country that bears striking resemblance to Russia, albeit fictional. Moreover, the film’s interpretation of Lex Luthor is a billionaire leveraging social media to turn public opinion against Superman, which seems to be an allegory for the conservative backlash that led to Gunn’s own Twitter controversy in 2018.

As you chuckle at Krypto, remember there’s more to this CGI creature than meets the eye. It would never be justifiable for Superman to harm a human, especially not one as wicked as Lex Luthor from this movie, who is portrayed as the most malicious villain ever filmed due to his mistreatment of Krypto. However, in the climactic finale when Krypto lashes out at Lex and fractures his arm, it’s both amusing and morally correct. Good dog indeed.

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2025-07-16 16:54