Beppo (comics)

Beppo is a monkey superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, primarily those featuring Superman.

Beppo
Beppo on the cover of Superboy #76, art by Curt Swan.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Superboy #76 (October 1959)
Created by	Otto Binder (writer) George Papp (artist)
In-story information
Species	Kryptonian monkey
Place of origin	Krypton
Team affiliations	Legion of Super-Pets
Notable aliases	Super-monkey
Abilities	See list Superhuman strength, speed, durability, stamina, agility, reflexes, senses, and longevity Solar energy absorption Self-sustenance Accelerated healing Super vision Heat vision Electromagnetic spectrum vision Microscopic vision Telescopic vision X-ray vision thermal vision Invulnerability Flight

Publication history

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

Beppo is a Kryptonian alien who resembles an Earth monkey due to convergent evolution.^[3] He was originally one of Jor-El's test animals and escaped Krypton's destruction by stowing away aboard baby Kal-El's rocket. Upon landing, Beppo hopped out unseen and went off on his own for some months. One day Beppo, using his telescopic vision, spots Kal-El, now a toddler, living in Smallville with Jonathan and Martha Kent. Beppo quickly flies to Smallville and secretly causes havoc. Beppo accidentally sets off fireworks stored in the Kent garage, which startle him and cause him to flee into space. At the end of the story, which is told in flashback by teenaged Clark, the reader is informed that Beppo eventually returned to Earth.^[4]

Many years later, Beppo encounters Supergirl, who introduces him to Krypto the Superdog and Streaky the Supercat. Beppo goes on to join the Legion of Super-Pets.^[5][6]

Beppo is erased from existence following the Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity reboot and does not appear for many years. He is later reintroduced to current continuity and appears in Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, and the 2024 one-shot Ape-Ril Special.^[7]

Other versions

• An alternate universe variant of Beppo appears in Kingdom Come #1.
• An alternate universe variant of Beppo appears in Tiny Titans.

Television

• Beppo toys appear in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) series Superman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond.
• A character inspired by Beppo^[8] named Christopher Beppo appears in the transmedia game Smallville Legends: Justice and Doom,^[9] gender-swapped as Chrissy Beppo in Superman & Lois. This version is a human reporter.

Video games

Beppo appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[10]

See also

• List of fictional primates
• List of fictional primates in comics