REVIEW: ‘Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton’ Issue 1

Krypto The Last Dog of Krypton Issue 1 is published by DC Comics. Written by Ryan North, art by Mike Norton, colors by Ian Herring, and letters by Lucas Gattoni.

Krypto’s traumatic departure from Earth is revealed, sending him on a lonely adventure.

Krypto The Last Dog of Krypton Issue 1 has a familiar concept and structure to other stories that have begun on Krypton. There’s a slow beginning that shows the pooch’s blissful existence. He’s loved and well looked after. Sadly, Krypto is the first test subject for what will soon take the most famous Kryptonian away from his home. The departure comes as a surprise to the characters, and the execution is heartbreaking. It’s perhaps even more devastating because Krypto doesn’t understand, ripping him away from his family and throwing him into an alien world.

The pace is rapid, always propelling the pup forward. But Ryan North also takes time to slow down, allowing the sadness and isolation to settle in. The pace is intense again, throwing poor Krypto into one alarming situation after another. It’s distressing and gripping, not relenting for a second. When the comic concludes, the reveal is staggering and completely unexpected.

The fascinating challenge for North in Krypto The Last Dog of Krypton Issue 1 is the silence of the main character. Krypto doesn’t speak, and doesn’t woof, bark or howl either. Instead, the characters talk around him. This reveals so much: his lifestyle and the wider events unfolding as the end of Krypton begins to unfold. It’s respectable that North chose to keep the protagonist quiet instead of using narration or thought bubbles.

His intentions, ideas, and personality are all captured without words. The dialogue is filled with love and care and gets increasingly heartbreaking and difficult to read as the issue reaches its most intense moments. The isolation and the farewells are utterly devastating, and many of those who have lost pets may feel themselves. There is both cruelty and kindness, both of which generate strong emotions.

The art is phenomenal, telling most of the story and detailing Krypto’s experience. Much of what happens is physical, and often, the dialogue from others fades into the background, but it’s still easy to understand what’s going on. Norton presents a terrific study of canine body language, illustrating subtle movements that capture much of what Krypto is feeling and trying to convey. His peace, bliss, and doggy happiness are so warm and enjoyable.

But Krypto’s panic when loud noises happen in his pod and the heartbreak when he’s separated from his family are distressing. There’s attention to detail in every part of his face, always looking natural for how a dog would act. When he arrives on Earth, the terror and the fear are horrifying to see. He’s a Kryptonian dog, so he can’t necessarily be hurt, but just him being upset is haunting.

The colors of Krypto The Last Dog of Krypton Issue 1 are gorgeous. Krypto looks fantastic with his signature white coat. He always stands out on the pages due to how bright his fur is. Krypton appears to be a paradise, with a gorgeous color palette that makes it seem alien, yet not so much that it removes any sense of home.

The lettering has an intriguing concept. Most of the text is faded because it isn’t registering for Krypto. He doesn’t understand what his owners and the other Kryptonians are saying. But when the text turns bold, he’s listening. It’s a fantastic representation of communication. When Krypto does make noise, the weird balloon is striking and significant, which makes it very surprising.

Krypto The Last Dog of Krypton Issue 1 is devastating for dog lovers. The body language and the script are sensational, using silent movements to convey so much. But this issue was more gut-wrenching than any of the human storylines that have told this exact story before. It highlights how effective the art is that a cartoon dog can tug at the heartstrings so much. This is a flashback, and we know Krypto is okay and lives a good life. However, to read about what such an innocent creature experienced is a harrowing story. It’s beautifully told but utterly heartbreaking, too.

Krypto The Last Dog of Krypton Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.