2025 is undoubtedly the year of Krypto, as Superman’s canine best friend not only makes his live-action debut in James Gunn’s Man of Steel movie but also snags his very own solo series. With all the Krypto buzz, fans have been asking pressing questions about the Superdog, including just how smart this canine hero really is.

Superman’s best friend will soon kick off his very own comic series on June 18, 2025, with Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton, written by Ryan North, illustrated by Mike Norton, and colored by Ian Herring. While the debut issue is still over a month away, North has been building excitement and anticipation by recently participating in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit, where he answered fan questions about Krypto and the series.

Among the many questions directed at the creators, one stood out: How smart is Krypto? While a simple and straightforward question, it’s an incredibly valuable one, offering fans insight into what they can expect from North’s take on the Superdog.

How Smart Is Krypto? Ryan North Has the Answer

Cover B Dustin Nguyen Variant for Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 (2025)

Krypto the Superdog first appeared in Adventure Comics #210 (1955), created by Otto Binder and Curt Swan, meaning that Superman’s best friend has a 70-year history. With such a long legacy, there have been numerous portrayals of the canine, resulting in different takes on his powers, personality, and other traits. One trait that has varied over time is Krypto’s intelligence. Some interpretations depict him as having intelligence on par with an average human, or even beyond, while others keep his intelligence within the realm of a typical dog. So, it was a very valid question for a fan to ask how smart North’s version of Krypto will be.

North answered that Superman’s best friend will have "dog intelligence," which aligns with many past portrayals of the Superdog. However, he elaborated further, explaining that when he says Krypto has dog intelligence, it means he “can be spookily smart in some areas and hilariously bad in others. He can understand emotions in humans (and Kryptonians) but can't understand why he only gets one breakfast.” This range of intelligence will open up plenty of opportunities for interesting plot beats surrounding Krypto and his cognitive abilities, especially since he’ll be facing off against none other than Lex Luthor himself.

Krypto vs. Young Lex Luthor: Is This a Fight of Wits or Emotion?

Main Cover by Jae Lee & June Chung for Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #2 (2025)

Thanks to the DC-provided synopsis for Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #2, set to be released on July 16, 2025, fans now know that Lex Luthor will play a major role in the narrative. However, this version of Lex is not the scheming egomaniac fans are used to. Instead, he appears as a young boy. Luthor is introduced when Krypto arrives on Earth, scared, hurt, and wandering a foreign city. It’s there that he eventually meets Lex. The synopsis reads: “...this lost dog has found someone to take care of him. A young man: troubled, unkind, but ambitious. Krypto just wants to be loved, but that may not be something this boy is capable of. Krypto may be the first to suffer at the hands... of Lex Luthor!”

Though Luthor is much younger in this narrative than in his typical comic appearances, it’s clear that he will still be exceptionally smart, likely already one of the most intelligent people on Earth. With Krypto only having typical dog intelligence, it’s evident that the Superdog will be at a disadvantage if Lex decides to enact any nefarious plans. As a result, Krypto’s greatest strength in this storyline will likely not be his powers or intellect, but his ability to bring out the care and love buried deep within the "troubled" and "unkind" Luthor. This premise promises to deliver an emotionally gripping tale filled with both highs and lows.

One Super-Dog, Two Creators: Can Ryan North and James Gunn Agree on Krypto?

Cover C Dan Mora Superman Movie Variant for Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 (2025)

With Krypto’s solo series and his live-action debut releasing within a month of each other, it will be interesting to see the differences and similarities between North and Gunn’s interpretations of the Superdog. So far, fans have only caught brief glimpses of Gunn’s Krypto through sneak peeks and trailers for the Superman movie. Despite the brevity of these scenes, it seems that both Gunn and North are taking a similar approach to Krypto, portraying him as intelligent but still within the limits of what would be believable for a dog. As of now, it appears that DC may have a shared vision for how Superman’s dog should be portrayed in their ongoing narratives.

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 is available June 18, 2025, from DC Comics!

Source: Ryan North