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Beppo (comics)

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Beppo
Beppo on the cover of Superboy #76.
Art by Curt Swan.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSuperboy #76 (October 1959)
Created byOtto Binder
George Papp
In-story information
SpeciesKryptonian monkey
Place of originKrypton
Team affiliationsLegion of Super-Pets
Notable aliasesSuper-monkey
AbilitiesSimilar to Superman:
Strength, flight, invulnerability, x-ray vision, heat vision

Beppo is a fictional monkey appearing in books published by DC Comics, primarily those featuring Superman. Created by Otto Binder and George Papp, he first appeared in Superboy #76 (October 1959).[1] He made sixteen appearances in Superman comics during the Silver Age of Comic Books.[2]

Fictional character biography

Despite his resemblance to an Earth monkey, due to convergent evolution producing analogous species to fill similar ecological niches, Beppo is from the planet Krypton.[3] He was originally one of Jor-El's test animals. Luckily for him, Beppo decided to stow away aboard baby Kal-El's rocket to Earth and was thus saved from its destruction. Upon landing, Beppo hopped out unseen and went off on his own for some months. Beppo lived in a jungle and handled himself quite well, since as a Kryptonian monkey he had the usual array of super-powers.[4]

One day Beppo, using his telescopic vision, spotted Kal-El, now a toddler living in Smallville with the Kents. Beppo quickly flew to Smallville and, being a monkey, secretly caused all sorts of havoc. Ma and Pa Kent initially blamed baby Clark for Beppo's super-powered monkeyshines, but they soon discovered the truth. The Kents fretted that Clark's secret might be exposed by the super-antics of the Simian of Steel but, as it turned out, their worry was needless. It wasn't long before Beppo accidentally set off some 4th of July fireworks stored in the Kent garage. The explosions spooked Beppo, who took off into space. The panicked Beppo kept on going when he saw a passing comet, which he thought was more fireworks chasing him. When Beppo failed to return, the Kents presumed he'd gotten lost out there somewhere. Beppo's origin is related in "The Super-Monkey from Krypton!", the cover story in Superboy #76 (October 1959). At the end of the story, which is told in flashback by teenaged Clark, the reader is informed that Beppo made his way back to Earth before too long.

Many years later, Beppo encountered Supergirl, who introduced him to Krypto the Superdog and Streaky the Supercat. Beppo went on to join the Legion of Super-Pets.[5]

Beppo was retconned out of existence following the Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series. He was briefly returned to existence by the Psycho-Pirate during the 2005-06 storyline "Infinite Crisis", and then in 2009 appeared in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5.

Powers, abilities, and equipment

Beppo possessed the same powers and abilities as a Kryptonian adult, although his physical abilities were proportionate to his smaller size and species.

Other versions

  • Beppo is one of the animals in Superman's artificial reality farm in Kingdom Come #1 (May 1996).
  • He also appears in the out-of-continuity Tiny Titans, alongside Streaky the Super-Cat, as Supergirl's pet.

In other media

  • Beppo is referenced in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "Monkey Fun." Beppo is the name of Lois Lane's childhood toy, a stuffed monkey that played "Pop Goes the Weasel". The toy was also the favorite of Titano, a test chimp used by the space program. When Titano returns to Earth and grows to gargantuan proportions, he can only be calmed down by the sound of Beppo's song ("Pop Goes the Weasel").
  • A Beppo toy appeared in the Batman Beyond episode "Rats".

References

  1. ^ Fleisher, Michael L. (2007). The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman. DC Comics. p. 15. ISBN 1-4012-1389-8.
  2. ^ Schelly, William (2013). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 215. ISBN 9781605490540.
  3. ^ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
  4. ^ Eury, Michael (2006). The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 36. ISBN 9781893905610.
  5. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1991). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals. Prentice Hall Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-13-275561-0. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
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