REVIEW: Krypto The Last Dog Of Krypton #3
Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #3, “Winter” finds Krypto wandering alone in the wilderness. That is until his “good boy” nature finds a lost girl and his powers start to kick in.
The standard cover is by Jae Lee and June Chung. A snowy backdrop has Krypto pulling up a gnarled tree to possibly play with. There’s a haunting desolation that is only found in the stillness of Winter with this piece. Krypto rising to meet the Sun’s glow through the starkness seems to break the calm in a reassuring way.
Niko Henrichon’s variant feels rather playful as Clark plays a game of Chase with his beloved dog. The pure joy on Krypto’s face as they zoom through the air is absolutely adorable. It’s a great reminder of how happy Krypto’s journey ends as the story so far has been fairly bleak.
Writer Ryan North and Letterer Lucas Gattoni slip back into directorial roles as dialogue takes a backseat this issue. Gattoni even returns to the clever faded speech bubbles he used in issue #1 when Krypto wasn’t directly addressed. This approach really gives us the story through Krypto’s perspective and adds a unique quality to the series as a whole. It’s nice to see a reverent take on Krypto and not just have him used as a plot point for other characters or as comic relief.
Artist Mike Norton and Colorist Ian Herring do a remarkable job conveying the story and the eerie quietness of a Winter wilderness. They also do a great job with the emotional tension of seeing someone lost in harsh conditions. There’s a subtlety to Krypto’s powers starting to kick in as he seems less phased by the Winter cold than the loneliness of being on his own. When he stumbles across a lost little girl, he’s initially just happy to be around someone kind, but as they continue to roam the countryside, Krypto realizes he needs to help bring her to safety. The emotional concern for this girl’s well-being is very intensely portrayed and creates a depth to Krypto’s involvement in a moving way. As soon as Krypto understands he’s done all he can, he sadly begins to walk away, back out into the harsh, cold wilderness as a very dangerous threat is teased.
(10/10) Krypto Last Dog of Krypton #3 had me genuinely worried for a fictional little girl’s safety. This is twice in one month I’ve had physical responses to the emotional aspects of a Superman related story. There’s a moment I shouted for joy as Krypto takes flight for the first time and that was only one page. This isn’t just another superhero comic, it’s also a lens to the resilience of domesticated animals and their importance in our lives.
