Superman ushered in a new era for the DC Universe, but it also introduced a fresh star: , the rambunctious dog with a single perked ear that Kal-El agreed to watch for his cousin. Over the course of the film, Krypto saved his caretaker’s life several times (though he also created a fair amount of trouble) before his true owner, Kara Zor-El—otherwise known as Supergirl, portrayed by Milly Alcock—returned after a stint on a planet with a red sun.
Now, it’s Supergirl’s turn to headline the next DC release, and our latest preview of suggests the story is looking back at events from Krypto’s younger days. Watch the full teaser below:
The Super Bowl teaser for Supergirl shows Kara walking alongside a group of Kryptonians, all dressed in the classic white attire of the planet as seen in Superman. As she walks, a muddy baby Krypto runs up to her; she picks him up and asks, “Who are you?” The teaser then cuts to a montage of clips from the film, including glimpses of Krypton’s final days and striking fight scenes, though fan reaction has largely focused on Baby Krypto.
Krypto’s Original DC Origin Story
Krypto the Superdog’s comic book origin story differs slightly. The superpowered canine first appeared in Adventure Comics #210 in 1955 as a companion to Superboy. In the comic, Superboy encounters Krypto as a stray with powers matching his own. It isn’t until he dubs the pup “Superdog” that he uncovers the puppy’s true origin: on Krypton, much like on Earth, early rocket prototypes were tested with animals. A note Superboy finds with a Kryptonian rocket reveals that, as the planet neared its end, a scientist realized he didn’t have time to find a test animal, so he used his infant son’s pet puppy, Krypto.
The rocket was hit by a meteor and landed not only on Earth but specifically in Smallville. Adding to the coincidence, Superboy realizes the note is signed by his father, Jor-El, meaning Krypto isn’t just any pet—he’s Superboy’s own long-lost pet, one he never knew he had.
It seems this part of the canon will be updated in Supergirl. However, don’t expect this flashback to be just a prologue: Baby Krypto has already been given his own , so we’re likely to see plenty of his puppyhood. (In a clever display of brand synergy, Krypto also lent his name to the “Krypto Superhero Play” during the Puppy Bowl.)
Krypto may have caused chaos in Superman, but that was apparently in his more mature years. When paired with Supergirl, though, he forms a perfectly balanced chaotic good duo—something we can expect to see plenty of in the coming months.