Source: Adventure Comics #310 (1963)
Type: Hoax
Superboy barking like a dog? Krypto talking like a boy? How is that possible?! Unless it's a Silver Age story...
Yep, it's one of those kooky tales, and it begins with Lana's dad, archaeologist Professor Lang, having his promotion threatened by a colleague's accusations. Seems Prof Lang found a sphere with a strange inscription that promises to exchange the minds of any two beings facing it, but he needs more time to double-check his translation. Except he doesn't have enough time, as the board of promotion-givers is meeting shortly. Superboy and Krypto to the rescue (hey, it's Smallville, it can't always - or ever - be Darkseid).
The two look at the spinning sphere and the next thing you know, Krypto is walking and talking like a human being, while Superboy is on all fours, barking like a dog. They are still themselves, but Krypto has been evolved while Superboy has been devolved. Makes me wonder what the sphere would do to two humans ("Now I've got human-level intelligence!" - no doubt, an improvement for some). While Krypto lords over his new pet, Superboy spends his time chasing cats...
...eating kibble...
...howling at the moon...
...and running after sticks.
But still, Lang's colleague doesn't believe the artifact or its effects are real. He blames super-hypnotism.
Well, yes, that's one theory... And then the man's child gets lost in the woods and is miraculously found in the woods by bloodhound Superboy. The doubting Thomas has a change of heart right then and there.
If I were cynical, I'd be tempted to ask how that particular child on that particular day just happened to get lost in the woods, but Krypto teaches me well. I shall be neither cynical nor arbitrary. Lang gets his promotion and the kingdom is saved. Yay! And then Superboy starts talking normally again. It was all a hoax to save (well, advance) a man's career. How did he do it?
That's what I call a well-trained dog. Thanks to his super-canine intelligence, Krypto can do a lot more than "sit" or ..."heal"? Is that the word? He doesn't just understand and obey commands about walking on his hind legs and such:
That's right. While Superboy was using super-ventriloquism (whose only reason for being is to hoax Lana and Lois every 2 or 3 stories) to make Krypto talk, Krypto was using super-ventriloquism to make Superboy bark and growl! On cue! That's one awesome dog, but let's not forget to give credit to Superboy. Lang's promotion was so important to him he actually slept in a doghouse for an entire night and ate dog food. At least Krypto got a juicy t-bone out of it.
Type: Hoax
Superboy barking like a dog? Krypto talking like a boy? How is that possible?! Unless it's a Silver Age story...Yep, it's one of those kooky tales, and it begins with Lana's dad, archaeologist Professor Lang, having his promotion threatened by a colleague's accusations. Seems Prof Lang found a sphere with a strange inscription that promises to exchange the minds of any two beings facing it, but he needs more time to double-check his translation. Except he doesn't have enough time, as the board of promotion-givers is meeting shortly. Superboy and Krypto to the rescue (hey, it's Smallville, it can't always - or ever - be Darkseid).
The two look at the spinning sphere and the next thing you know, Krypto is walking and talking like a human being, while Superboy is on all fours, barking like a dog. They are still themselves, but Krypto has been evolved while Superboy has been devolved. Makes me wonder what the sphere would do to two humans ("Now I've got human-level intelligence!" - no doubt, an improvement for some). While Krypto lords over his new pet, Superboy spends his time chasing cats...
...eating kibble...
...howling at the moon...
...and running after sticks.
But still, Lang's colleague doesn't believe the artifact or its effects are real. He blames super-hypnotism.
Well, yes, that's one theory... And then the man's child gets lost in the woods and is miraculously found in the woods by bloodhound Superboy. The doubting Thomas has a change of heart right then and there.
If I were cynical, I'd be tempted to ask how that particular child on that particular day just happened to get lost in the woods, but Krypto teaches me well. I shall be neither cynical nor arbitrary. Lang gets his promotion and the kingdom is saved. Yay! And then Superboy starts talking normally again. It was all a hoax to save (well, advance) a man's career. How did he do it?
That's what I call a well-trained dog. Thanks to his super-canine intelligence, Krypto can do a lot more than "sit" or ..."heal"? Is that the word? He doesn't just understand and obey commands about walking on his hind legs and such:
That's right. While Superboy was using super-ventriloquism (whose only reason for being is to hoax Lana and Lois every 2 or 3 stories) to make Krypto talk, Krypto was using super-ventriloquism to make Superboy bark and growl! On cue! That's one awesome dog, but let's not forget to give credit to Superboy. Lang's promotion was so important to him he actually slept in a doghouse for an entire night and ate dog food. At least Krypto got a juicy t-bone out of it.
Comments
You may be looking for "heel" as in "follow next to my left heel": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obedience_training#Basic_commands
Anon: I double dare you. That's an awesome idea.
Yeah. I said it.