Krypto #20: Doggie Throwaway

From: Adventure Comics #271 and Superboy #80 (April 1960)

This is the second time Krypto appears in two books, but is not at the center of at least one story. Appearing in all of 5 panels that month, Krypto serves as plot contrivance only. In Adventure Comics #271 (above), he appears in the infamous origin of Lex Luthor only to prove a kryptonite field really is kryptonite and that Luthor's serum works on Superboy.

In Superboy #80, "The Shyest Boy in Town", a story in which Clark's school tries to get him involved in extracurricular activities he doesn't want to fit in his schedule, Krypto flies by at the right moment to get Clark out of trouble:

See, the coach sabotaged the tackle dummy so that it would fly off the beam when weakling Clark hit it, thus justifying his inclusion on the team and boosting Clark's confidence. But Superboy can't be allowed on the football team lest other kids get hurt tackling him, so he has his dog hit the dummy first. I guess the coach didn't find another way to give Clark a pep talk.

Krypto's been taken for granted before, but this is the fewest panels he's ever gotten. Are they now feeling Krypto's appearances are obligatory? Does he have that strong a fan base? Has he become synonymous with the Adventures of Superman as a Boy? Will this writing tactic becomes more prevalent in the future? We'll just have to see.