Beppo (comics)

Beppo
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; ;

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

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 the destruction of Krypton by stowing away aboard baby Kal-El's rocket. Upon landing, Beppo hopped out unseen and went off on his own for some months.

Due to Earth's environment and yellow sun, Beppo develops abilities equivalent to Superman. After seeing Kal-El, Beppo flies to Smallville and secretly causes havoc. Beppo accidentally sets off fireworks stored in Jonathan and Martha Kent's garage, which startle him and cause him to flee into space. At the end of the story, which is told in a flashback by teenaged Clark, the reader is informed that Beppo eventually returned to Earth.^[4]

Beppo later 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 was erased from existence following Crisis on Infinite Earths, which rebooted the continuity of the DC Comics universe, and did not appear for years afterward. He was later reintroduced to current continuity and went on to appear in Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, and the 2024 one-shot Ape-Ril Special.^[7] A separate character based on Beppo is introduced in the series Superman Unlimited; this version is an ordinary monkey who was enhanced with kryptonite injections. Beppo escapes containment and encounters Bibbo Bibbowski, who gives him the name Beppo based on his numerical designation, #06638. Read upside down, these numbers resemble the word "Beppo".^[8]

Other versions

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

In other media

Television

Beppo toys appear in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) series Superman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond.
Chrissy Beppo, a character named after Beppo, appears in Superman & Lois, portrayed by Sofia Hasmik.^[9] This version is a human reporter.

Video games

A character inspired by Beppo named Christopher Beppo appears in Smallville Legends: Justice and Doom.
Beppo appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[10]

References

↑ Fleisher, Michael L. (2007). The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman. DC Comics. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-4012-1389-3.
↑ Schelly, William (2013). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 215. ISBN 9781605490540.
↑ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
↑ Superboy #76 (October 1959)
↑ Eury, Michael (2006). The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 36. ISBN 9781893905610.
↑ Rovin, Jeff (1991). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals. Prentice Hall Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-13-275561-0. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
↑ Grunenwald, Joe (March 19, 2024). "DC Round-Up: Ape-Ril Special #1 is more fun than a barrel of monkeys". The Beat. Retrieved November 10, 2024. This story also prominently features Beppo the Super-Monkey, which scores it immediate points.
↑ Jennings, Collier (April 15, 2026). "'Superman Unlimited' #12 gets tangled in time-travel chaos". AIPT. Retrieved April 15, 2026. [Superman Unlimited] introduces a new element with a runaway monkey that's been tested with a new form of Kryptonite serum. Said monkey, Beppo, ends up forming a bond with Bibbo Bibbowski that's honestly heartwarming, but I feel it cuts into the main plot of the issue, which finds a younger Jon Kent and his present-day self – now going by "Tomorrow Man" – adjusting to the present day.
↑ Byrne, Craig (February 25, 2021). "Superman & Lois: Who Is Chrissy Beppo?". KryptonSite. Retrieved June 24, 2025. at least the 'Christopher James Beppo' character was named after the super‑monkey.
↑ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 23, 2024.

External links

[1] Fleisher, Michael L. (2007). The Original Encyclopedia of Comic Book Heroes, Volume Three: Superman. DC Comics. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-4012-1389-3.

[2] Schelly, William (2013). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1950s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 215. ISBN 9781605490540.

[3] Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.

[4] Superboy #76 (October 1959)

[5] Eury, Michael (2006). The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 36. ISBN 9781893905610.

[6] Rovin, Jeff (1991). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals. Prentice Hall Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-13-275561-0. Retrieved 31 March 2020.

[7] Grunenwald, Joe (March 19, 2024). "DC Round-Up: Ape-Ril Special #1 is more fun than a barrel of monkeys". The Beat. Retrieved November 10, 2024. This story also prominently features Beppo the Super-Monkey, which scores it immediate points.

[8] Jennings, Collier (April 15, 2026). "'Superman Unlimited' #12 gets tangled in time-travel chaos". AIPT. Retrieved April 15, 2026. [Superman Unlimited] introduces a new element with a runaway monkey that's been tested with a new form of Kryptonite serum. Said monkey, Beppo, ends up forming a bond with Bibbo Bibbowski that's honestly heartwarming, but I feel it cuts into the main plot of the issue, which finds a younger Jon Kent and his present-day self – now going by "Tomorrow Man" – adjusting to the present day.

[KryptonSiteChrissy-9] Byrne, Craig (February 25, 2021). "Superman & Lois: Who Is Chrissy Beppo?". KryptonSite. Retrieved June 24, 2025. at least the 'Christopher James Beppo' character was named after the super‑monkey.

[10] Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 23, 2024.

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