Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton (2025-) #2

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #2

by Ryan North, Mike Norton (Artist)

Krypto, the last dog of Krypton, has landed on an alien world called “Earth” afterhis shuttle test went catastrophically wrong. Krypto wanders into a city, scaredand hurt…But this lost dog has found someone to take care of him. A young unkind, but ambitious. Krypto just wants to be loved, but that may notbe something this boy is capable of. Krypto may be the first to suffer at the hands…of Lex Luthor!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Superman, Superheroes

Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2025

About the author

Hi, I'm Ryan! I was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in 1980 and since then have written several books. You can read my Wikipedia page for more, or check out my author site at RyanNorth.ca!

I'm the author of the webcomic Dinosaur Comics (that's the comic where the pictures don't change but the words do, it's better than it sounds and I've also done crazy things like turn Shakespeare into a choose-your-own-path adventure, write a comic for Marvel about a girl with all the powers of a squirrel, or mess up walking my dog so badly it made the news.

I'm working on more stuff as we speak, hopefully it's good

Reviews

[Machiavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and beautiful. Check your trigger warnings- it deals with some heavy themes.

This issue hit me hard — quiet, emotional, and full of heart. Krypto’s loyalty and innocence are on full display, and it’s impossible not to get choked up by the end. The art is soft but powerful, and the storytelling sneaks up on you.

I already hated Lex… but this just cements it.

A standout in the Summer of Superman line. Highly recommended.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

that was a hard read. i have a dog and just based on page one, panel one i wanted to stop reading. in my mind that kid isn't Luthor though. it didnt feel like Luthor idk how else to explain it. but if the next issue is hard to read, i might quit this. i didnt expect this series to be so negatively heart wrenching.

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t bad, just extremely difficult to read.

[sam banach · Rating 3 out of 5]

of course lex luthor abuses dogs

[AJ Easterday · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this issue is quite as good as the first one, but I'm still intrigued enough to continue the series. I'm not totally sure I like the way young Lex Luthor was portrayed in this one. He's just too over the top evil for someone so young, and it seemed a little convenient that he would narrate all his evil plans to a dog.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

MAN, when I saw the first page had a content warning I knew I was in for a bad time but geez that was rough. Staying with Lex has got to be the worst few months of krypto’s life for real. At the least it provides a great example of what NOT to do. Even though Lex is aware of the concepts of positive reinforcement…he decides to ignore all of that, opting instead to become the “alpha” and beat Krypto when he acts bad. Speaking of terrible, it turns out that Lex is here after orchestrating some events that got him sent to his distant relatives in metropolis vs staying with his dad in Smallville. He has a plan for taking over metropolis but in order to do so he needs investment…and he plans to use his caretakers life insurance policy and the bomb he built which releases carbon monoxide (to make them sleep) then causes rapid burning in the house to fully kill them. Yep…this is Lex alright. But Lex is still a child, so the moral complexities of actually pulling this off still weigh down on him and he is unsure if he should even do it…or if he needs to make sure Krypto is killed too. Krypto is still being treated abusively and terribly, and one day after heading out to think on what he should do…Lex slammed the door a little too hard and the bomb fell off his desk and triggered! When Lex returned home he found the house in flames, immediately he ran in and was able to get Krypto out of his cage and to safety. But his caretakers are still inside, and even though Lex tried to stop Krypto…Krypto was able to keep barking to alert everyone else! Once other people arrived and saw what was going on, they immediately assumed Lex got out safe and was trying to save his caretakers. Others ran in instead and were able to get them out to safety. But even without any blame out on Lex…Krypto knows what he is and immediately started growling and got away from Lex! Krypto is once again out on his own, and after all this I swear I am going to tear buckets once he is finally happy again.

[AviChaim Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay issue, but nothing really stood out. The plot feels pretty basic and a bit paint-by-numbers as we follow Krypto’s journey to Earth. In the last episode, he crossed paths with a young Lex Luthor. Lex is predictably abusive and a terrible dog owner, yet he has no one else to connect with, so he has actually grown attached to Krypto despite everything. The story could have leaned into this dynamic much more. Deepening that dependency would have made the issue truly heartbreaking, but the writers just brushed past it instead of hitting the mark. It is not a bad read, but I am honestly not sure who the target audience is. Just a heads-up: if you cannot stomach fictional animal abuse, you should definitely skip this one.Grade: C

[Cody Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second issue shows us Krypto having to deal with his first owner on Earth, an awful Lex Luthor. Lex treats a dog about exactly how you'd expect him to. This also gives us a look in Lex's past and show us exactly what he is willing to do to become the Lex we all know. But, after the fire, our Good Boy gets away and is onto better things. Now, we will have to endure a little more heartbreak most likely before we see our Good Boy living his best life, but hopefully not much more. This series has been one of my favorites so far of the summer just cause it makes me happy to want to pick it up and also, I think that may have something to do with I miss my own dogs much more each day.

[Rory C · Rating 4 out of 5]

From other GoodReads ratings and reviews, I can see this was a tough read for some, but I found it a brave piece of writing by Ryan North.

The introduction of Lex Luther to Kypto's origin (and I hope this is canon) certainly adds another dimension to the story. Certainly it's an interesting character study of Lex, as he wrestles with diabolical decisions and following methods which his nature can't see as being wrong.

Again this is thoughtful and emotional writing I would not have expected from this book on face value. That said I absolutely love this cover from Jae Lee, so I absolutely should start judging comic books by their covers.

[Kevin Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this little series. Not sure what will happen next, but this is a good look at a vulnerable Krypto and an unsurprisingly dangerous young Lex Luthor. It has more going on, thanks to spending less time just showing us Krypto on some travels, and there's a decent little extra Gotham-set tale taking up a few pages at the end.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has volunteered at shelters and adopted many rescue dogs, this is such a sad reality. Krypto is the true embodiment of a dog, unconditional love and loyalty until he's finally had enough. This series is hitting so hard and I understand it is a difficult read but it's a very compelling read.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, screw Lex Luthor.

I saw the content warning went “oh no” and then bam! the second page and so on. That sucked to read and it looks like we’re going to see Krypto out in the cold in the next one. This isn’t fun :(

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Krypto

I feel so bad for Krypto, he just want love and care like all creatures but only receives pain. This reminds me of ABA training for Autism, barbaric and devoid of care. I love my animals I could never hurt one

[Callum Thirlby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Lex might be nice in his younger age but this proved otherwise. The torment he caused to Krypto whilst pretending to be a good owner is despicable. Lex shows he’s always been a twisted individual.

[Lau · Rating 3 out of 5]

LUTHOR WHEN I CATCH YOUUUU
I still adore that there's a comic for this good sweet dog and I loooove the art style but ufff was this really hard to read

[Andy Waldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

krypto noooooo 😭 my poor little heart…

[Books & Vodka Sodas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad

I cried the whole issue. Lex did nothing but abuse the poor dog, I'm just glad he finally ran. I hope he finds someone else, someone good to care for him.

[Alex Fyffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Gabriel Dickens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Krypto :(

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could hug Krypto

I know Krypto will have a happy ending but some of these moments are brutal to watch. Poor Krypto. He is a strong boy though. Hang in there Krypto!

[Kait Mendez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an easy read but it was moving. Read this in preparation for seeing the movie this evening and I can’t wait to see little Krypto do big things on the big screen and in the next issue.

[grimbamreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5


crazy how the most evil thing lex luthor did in his entire history is animal abuse and calling krypto a bad dog

[James B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one hits the feels. Somehow turning Lex into an animal abuser makes him so much worse. Can be a difficult read.

[luz · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lex Luthor Animal Absue issue. Tough read.

[fin riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

was crying so hard i could barely finish it. 5/5 because it made me cry but 0/5 because what the fuck

[Mark Cubillos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This issue made me hate Lex Luthor.

[Miles Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little fuzzy on Lex Luther being good or bad, but he’s mean to the dog. Plus points for CW for being mean to a good boy.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

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