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Beppo (comics)
Encyclopedia
Beppo is a fictional monkey
in the DC Universe
. Created by Otto Binder
and George Papp
, he first appeared in Superboy
v1 076 (October 1959).
. 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. Upon landing, Beppo hopped out unseen and went off on his own for a period of some months. Beppo lived in a jungle for a while and handled himself quite well, since as a Kryptonian monkey he had the usual array of super-powers
.
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 v1 076 (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
.
Beppo was retconned out of existence following the original Crisis on Infinite Earths
. The Monk of Might made his first canonical appearance in more than twenty years in the fifth and final issue of the Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds series in September 2009. Before that, Beppo had been returned to existence briefly by the Psycho-Pirate
during the earlier Infinite Crisis
.
001 (May 1996). He also appears in the out-of-continuity Tiny Titans
, alongside Streaky the Super-Cat, as Supergirl's pet.
Beppo is referenced in "Monkey Fun", an episode of Superman: The Animated Series
. 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").
On the Colbert Report, Stephen names God's chimp Beppo, of whom all chimps are made in His likeness.
In the animated online adventure Smallville Legends: Justice & Doom (a spinoff from the Smallville
television series), the Ezra Small House (on the official Smallville website), and other online media related to the show, a character named "Christopher James Beppo" is the researcher and caretaker of the Ezra Small Prophecies, a set of cryptic writings made by the founder of the town of Smallville which foretell various events within the show and the eventual destiny of Superman.
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
in the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. Created by Otto Binder
Otto Binder
Otto Oscar Binder was an American author of science fiction and non-fiction books and stories, and comic books...
and George Papp
George Papp
George Edward Papp was a U.S. comic book artist. Best known as one of the principal artists on the long-running Superboy feature for DC Comics, Papp also co-created the Green Arrow character with Mort Weisinger and co-created Congorilla along with writer Whitney Ellsworth.Papp began his comic...
, he first appeared in Superboy
Superboy
Superboy is the name of several fictional characters that have been published by DC Comics, most of them youthful incarnations of Superman. These characters have also been the main characters of four ongoing Superboy comic book series published by DC....
v1 076 (October 1959).
Fictional character biography
Beppo, despite his resemblance to an Earth monkey, is from the planet KryptonKrypton (comics)
Krypton is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact details of...
. He was originally one of Jor-El
Jor-El
Jor-El is a fictional character, an extraterrestrial in the . He was created by the writer Jerry Siegel and the artist Joe Shuster, and he first appeared in a newspaper comic strip in 1939 as Superman's biological father....
's test animals. Luckily for him, Beppo decided to stow away aboard baby Kal-El
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
's rocket to Earth. Upon landing, Beppo hopped out unseen and went off on his own for a period of some months. Beppo lived in a jungle for a while and handled himself quite well, since as a Kryptonian monkey he had the usual array of super-powers
Powers and abilities of Superman
The powers of DC Comics character Superman have changed a great deal since his introduction in the 1930s. The extent of his powers peaked during the 1970s and 1980s to the point where various writers found it difficult to create suitable challenges for the character...
.
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
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
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 v1 076 (October 1959). At the end of the story, which is told in flashback
Flashback (narrative)
Flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story’s primary sequence of events or to fill in crucial backstory...
by teenaged Clark, the reader is informed that Beppo made his way back to Earth before too long.
Many years later, Beppo encountered Supergirl
Supergirl
Supergirl is a female counterpart to the DC Comics Superman. As his cousin, she shares his super powers and vulnerability to Kryptonite. She was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino in 1959. She first appeared in the Action Comics comic book series and later branched out...
, who introduced him to Krypto the Superdog
Krypto
Krypto, also known as Krypto the Superdog, is a fictional character. He is Superman's pet dog in the various Superman comic books published by DC Comics. Krypto's first appearance was in a Superboy story in Adventure Comics #210 in March 1955...
and Streaky the Supercat
Streaky the Supercat
Streaky the Supercat is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Streaky first appeared in Action Comics #261 , and was created by Otto Binder and Jim Mooney.-Fictional character biography:...
. Beppo went on to join the Legion of Super-Pets
Legion of Super-Pets
The Legion of Super-Pets is a fictional team of super-powered pets in the pre-Crisis DC Universe. Members include Krypto the Super-Dog and Streaky the Supercat...
.
Beppo was retconned out of existence following the original Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
. The Monk of Might made his first canonical appearance in more than twenty years in the fifth and final issue of the Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds series in September 2009. Before that, Beppo had been returned to existence briefly by the Psycho-Pirate
Psycho-Pirate
The Psycho-Pirate is the name of two DC Comics supervillains, dating back to the Golden Age of Comics.-Charles Halstead:Charles Halstead is a minor character who first appears in All-Star Comics #23, created by Gardner Fox and Joe Gallagher...
during the earlier Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
.
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 ComeKingdom Come (comics)
Kingdom Come is a four-issue comic book mini-series published in 1996 by DC Comics. It was written by Alex Ross and Mark Waid and painted in gouache by Ross, who also developed the concept from an original idea...
001 (May 1996). He also appears in the out-of-continuity Tiny Titans
Tiny Titans
Tiny Titans is an Eisner Award-winning comic book series by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani. It is published by DC Comics, beginning publication in February 2008. The first issue was also released as part of the annual Free Comic Book Day promotion in May 2008.Tiny Titans stars alternate versions...
, alongside Streaky the Super-Cat, as Supergirl's pet.
Beppo is referenced in "Monkey Fun", an episode of Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series is an American animated television series starring DC Comics' flagship character, Superman. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on The WB from September 6, 1996 to February 12, 2000. Warner Bros...
. Beppo is the name of Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
's childhood toy, a stuffed monkey that played "Pop Goes the Weasel
Pop Goes the Weasel
"Pop! Goes the Weasel" is an English language nursery rhyme and singing game. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 5249.-Lyrics:There are many different versions of the lyrics to the song...
". The toy was also the favorite of Titano
Titano
Titano the Super-Ape is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, primarily as a foe of Superman. He was clearly inspired by King Kong.-Pre-Crisis version:...
, 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").
On the Colbert Report, Stephen names God's chimp Beppo, of whom all chimps are made in His likeness.
In the animated online adventure Smallville Legends: Justice & Doom (a spinoff from the Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
television series), the Ezra Small House (on the official Smallville website), and other online media related to the show, a character named "Christopher James Beppo" is the researcher and caretaker of the Ezra Small Prophecies, a set of cryptic writings made by the founder of the town of Smallville which foretell various events within the show and the eventual destiny of Superman.