This Superman Lore Change Is One of DC’s Smartest Retcons of All Time

Warning: Contains Potential Spoilers for Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1Ahead of Krypto‘s big-screen debut in James Gunn’s Superman, DC Comics delivers a shocking reveal through the eyes of the Superdog — one of the few survivors of Krypton’s destruction.

In Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1, written by Ryan North with art by Mike Norton and Ian Herring, Krypto lives his normal life with Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van, blissfully unaware that his owners are discussing their last-resort plans to save as many Kryptonians as they can before Krypton suffers a cataclysmic event. Soon before the planet meets its tragic end, Krypto shares a cozy nap with Kal-El.

As Jor-El mentions to Lara, the Kryptonian Science Council aren’t collaborating with his efforts to prevent a global tragedy. But beyond what’s already common knowledge about Krypton’s destruction, Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton reveals a heartbreaking detail about the planet’s fatalities.

Superman Wasn’t Going To Be The Last Son Of Krypton

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1, Written by Ryan North; Art by Mike Norton and Ian Herring; Letters by Lucas Gattoni

The first thing Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van talk about in Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 is the imminent natural catastrophe Krypton is heading towards. Since the Kryptonian Science Council seems unlikely to cooperate, Jor-El finds himself forced to launch his final plan. Jor-El has only been able to prepare enough prototype spaceships to save hundreds of Kryptonians, and there isn’t enough time to create more. Jor-El considers the possibility of only saving a few hundred people “grim” and “bleak,” but also the only option.

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Of course, Jor-El’s last-minute attempt to save as many Kryptonians as possible seems even more tragic in retrospect, as his plan didn’t work out either. Only a handful of Kryptonians survived; half of them were Jor-El and Lara’s family, and half of them were dangerous criminals. Krypton’s destruction in this version of Superman’s origin story must be especially bittersweet for Jor-El and Lara when they see their only son and their dog escaping Krypton as the planet’s last survivors.

How Lara & Jor-El’s Prototype Rockets Would Have Changed The DC Universe

Superman Would Probably Have More Powerful Enemies And Allies Had More Kryptonians Survived

Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van’s failed plan to build enough rockets to save hundreds of Kryptonians left Krypton’s legacy on Superman’s shoulders, but it may have been a positive development for Earth. Not only did Kal-El grow up to be a selfless hero who honored Krypton by protecting Earth, but he also fended off several Kryptonian villains like Dru-Zod, Non, Ursa, Faora Hu-Ul, and Doomsday, among other threats with ties to his home planet, like Brainiac. Had Jor-El’s plan worked, Earth might have faced hundreds of Kryptonian visitors who aren’t as pure-hearted as Kal-El.

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Traditionally, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van are unaware of Kara Zor-El’s survival. It’s also a stroke of luck for Earth that Kara is as kindhearted as her cousin and chooses to become Supergirl instead of a villain. While Krypton’s destruction is an undeniable tragedy for Superman’s home planet, it directly led to Superman, Supergirl, and Krypto saving Earth from a long list of villains who would have had a bigger chance of doing significant damage to humankind had Kal-El and Kara Zor-El perished.

Krypto: The Last Dog Of Krypton #1 will be available June 18, 2025 from DC Comics.

Alias

Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent

Created By

Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel

First Appearance

Action Comics

Alliance

Justice League, Superman Family

Race

Kryptonian

Franchise

D.C.