Article #27
Kunning
Krypto Kauses Khaos!
(Cunning
Krypto Causes Chaos)
Or
Beware
Supercow!
Well,
it’s that time again, for a little trip down memory lane. Way back when, in Superman Family #165 to be precise,
there was an interesting little story in which Krypto the Superdog found
himself under the spell of fiendish Red Kryptonite while travelling through
time. As happens in most cases when
under the spell of Red K, strange things happen. For instance, Krypto finds himself
transformed into various creatures. The
first arc finds himself turned into a giant bird, or Roc of legend. It is at this point we’ll join the story…
Aw,
Krypto’s never looked better has he? A
cow! Then again, Lee and Kirby did the
same thing later on in Fantastic Four #2, forcing the invading Skrulls to
permanently take the forms of cows. So,
if it’s good enough for Marvel, it must be good enough for DC. You know, one other point here is that Krypto
is a male dog, yet he’s just been turned into a female cow, udder and all. I couldn’t picture them pulling that bit of
gender bending on a regular Superman story, do you? Then again, maybe they have, I haven’t read
every comic story out there.
But
let’s digress and carry on with our story a bit…
That’s
right dear reader! Krypto, hero to
millions (of pets I’d guess) started the great Chicago fire of 1871! Not only that, he is a freakin’ superhero,
yet he does absolutely nothing to stop the fire HE CAUSED!!! Man, you’d think that Superman would have
instilled better qualities into his followers than that!
So,
what was the great Chicago fire? On
Sunday evening, October 8th, 1871, Historians a fire started in the
barn of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick and Catherine O'Leary. From there it turned into an unstoppable
conflagration that, before finally dying out in the early morning of Tuesday,
October 10, had cut a swath through Chicago approximately three and one-third
square miles in size. Property valued at
$192,000,000 was destroyed, 100,000 people were left homeless, and 300 people
lost their lives. Strangely enough, the
blaze spared the O'Leary home. Modern
theory seems to contradict this story, however, citing several key points that
exonerate Mrs. O’Leary. I refer you to the
excellent website linked here for more information http://www.thechicagofire.com/ .
Regardless,
we aren’t dealing with Mrs. O’Leary here, we’re dealing with Krypto. Let’s see what the Superdog does after learning
of his truly terrible deed. Maybe, just
maybe the pooch will redeem himself…
He just
left? That’s it? He doesn’t even try to save anybody? 300 people died in the fire that you caused
you heartless, evil dog, and you turn your back on them? Does that make any sense to anyone out there?
You
know, if this story were created nowadays, that single event would be considered
a turning point in Krypto’s life, and they’d create multiple storylines based
on what dire psychological trauma Krypto must be undergoing because of it. Nightmares, angst, etc. – until that fateful
day when the dog’s mind cracks and he enters the realm of super-villain by
biting the super hand that feeds him.
Isn’t that what happened to Hal (Green Lantern) Jordan back around Zero
Hour, or Speedball from Civil War? Well,
okay, they didn’t physically bite anybody’s hand, but the super-villain part
seems accurate.
Could
you imagine Krypto as a super-villain?
Of course he wouldn’t be Krypto anymore – he’d have to change his name
and looks/costume. Could you imagine the
throngs of people in the streets looking up high in the sky, pointing and yelling…
BEWARE SUPERCOW and THE UDDERS OF DOOM!!!
(from Google Images)
Until
next time