Superman has acquired a number of sidekicks over the years, ranging from pals like Jimmy Olsen to pets like Krypto. After decades out of continuity, DC just reintroduced another one of these sidekicks into the DC All-In era. However, a retcon changes them in a significant way.
The classic sidekick returns in Superman Unlimited #12 by Dan Slott and Lucas Meyer. One subplot in the issue centers around a secret lab in Metropolis. It is here that test animals are being injected with various Kryptonite solutions to see if they can gain powers from them.
One of the animals, a monkey dubbed Subject #06638, manages to break its cage and escape. They are later found by Superman friend and fanboy Bibbo Bibbowski as he’s closing up his food truck for the night. Kindly as ever, Bibbo shares a meal with the monkey, guessing their name is “Beppo” after misreading the upside-down number on the chimp’s ID bracelet. This confirms the animal as an updated incarnation of Beppo the Super-Monkey.
DC’s Beppo the Super-Monkey explained
First appearing in 1959’s Superboy #76, Beppo the Super-Monkey was a comedic addition to the Superman mythos. A retcon introduced Beppo as a test animal belonging to Jor-El. As mischievous as Curious George, Beppo stowed-away in the infant Superman’s rocket before Krypton’s destruction.
Beppo’s earliest adventures saw him accidentally causing trouble, usually by imitating what he saw others doing. However, he eventually smartened up under Earth’s yellow sun and was more serious in later stories. He also formed a Legion of Super-Pets with Krypto, Comet the Super-Horse, and other super pets. While still appearing in DC books aimed at kids (like DC’s Super Pets series), Beppo has not made a canon Superman comic appearance for several decades.
There is also a nod to the past in Beppo being found and named by Bibbo. The bar-and-grill owner played a similar role in reintroducing Krypto, albeit as an ordinary Earth dog he adopted during the Death of Superman event. However, unlike that super pet, the new Beppo has superpowers while not being from Krypton.
Superman Unlimited #12 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
