Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #3
Scheduled to arrive in stores: August 20, 2025
Cover date: October 2025
“Chapter Three: Winter”
Writer: Ryan North
Artist: Mike Norton
Cover: Jae Lee
Variant Cover: Niko Henrichon
Reviewed by: JP Rocha
The story starts where issue #2 leaves off. Krypto is alone in the wilds outside of Metropolis. Looking for food or shelter Krypto finds a lost little girl. Although lost, the little girl shares what little food she has with Krypto.
Against the best judgment the girl finds a cave to spend the night. Krypto curls up with her to help keep her company and warm. As the morning comes it is as feared, the girl will not wake. After trying everything Krypto is finally able to get a response from the girl. Though alive, it is clear that the girl is extremely sick.
With her half unconscious, Krypto is able to get the girl on his back. Using all his skill he carries the girl to a small rural town. The story picks up later at a hospital. The girl’s parents arrive, but while the girl is still unconscious Krypto remains at her side. A nurse is recounting the miracle, and the loyalty that Krypto has shown towards the girl. The nurse is eager to learn more about the plight of the girl, as she informs the parents that she should be waking up at any moment.
Once the girl wakes and calls for her mom, Krypto takes his leave.
Story – 3: Chapter Three, “Winter”, is a great standalone story. After all the hardship that he has faced since arriving on Earth, Krypto is still a good loyal dog. Krypto plays the caregiver/saint archetype of iconic characters in story history, like Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name. However, while an incredibly good standalone story, this issue does nothing to advance the larger plot.
Speculation about Krypto being in a time displaced universe at least for the moment seems to be off base. The hospital room seems modern as well as the exterior of the town as revealed in one panel.
Art – 4: The art again has a crucial role to fill, and Mike Norton is up to that challenge. You can feel weight of every panel, with the emotion and desperation of the situation faced by Krypto and the girl.
There is a great splash page of the girl curled up with Krypto, with her back facing the outside of the cave. In the background a shooting star can be seen, or maybe it is something more as possibly revealed on the issues last page.Cover Art – 4: The third in the series of covers by Jae Lee. This cover again follows the “seasonal” theme of the book, this time winter. Krypto is backlit by a snow-filtered sun. Lee has us focused on a Krypto playing fetch with a whole tree that he just uprooted.
The variant cover by Niko Henrichon is a more sketchy style that really works. Superman is chasing a very happy Krypto over the snow-covered fields of Smallville.
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