Review: Krypto- The Last Dog of Krypton #1
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer:Â Ryan North
Art:Â Mike Norton
Colors:Â Ian Herring
Letters:Â Lucas Gattoni
Reviewed by:Â Matthew B. Lloyd
Summary
Jor-El and Lara are developing a prototype rocket to save the inhabitants of Krypton and they must use Krypto the family dog as a test subject for the first flight.
Positives
Mike Norton does a good job communicating the emotions of a dog throughout Krypto #1. That might sound a little strange, but Krypto goes through a lot in Ryan North’s script. North also hits the expected points in Krypto’s origin story. It’s a story almost as well known as Kal-El’s so there’s only so much that can be added or subtracted.
Norton tells the story extremely well visually to the point that the words are completely unnecessary as this familiar tale unfolds.
Negatives
Jor-El and Lara’s speech patterns are very weird, but only because they sound so normal. It completely takes the reader out of the story. There’s no intensity or urgency in their delivery to add to the dramatization of the situation. It all comes off as “ho-hum.” The words indicate what they are doing, but the exact words don’t convey the emotions and intensity that should be present as Lara and Jor-El try to figure out a way to save whatever Kryptonians they can.
While the end of this issue provides some conflict for the tale it is completely unwelcome. It may be unexpected but, it’s the last thing anyone wants in Krypto’s story. Krypto should be found first by Superboy and not a teenaged Lex Luthor. It produces a groan and forms a dark cloud over the next issue of this mini-series. It should’ve dovetailed into the new Superboy stories in Action Comics.
Verdict
Norton’s storytelling is so good you don’t need any dialogue or caption boxes. As a matter of fact, the dialogue actually distracts from the story in Krypto #1. North’s script totally misses the emotions and urgency of Lara and Jor-El, their speech is too common and every day, and far too normal sounding to be believable as Superman’s parents. The choice to use Lex in Krypto’s tale is a bad omen for the direction of this series.
