Beppo (DC)
Beppo is a male comic character who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Beppo was a male simian life form who was native to the planet Krypton. He was originally a test animal used by Jor-El during his spaceflight development project to see if his son could survive space travel, and stowed away on board the craft that ultimately saved Superman from Krypton's destruction. Following these developmental trials, the simian secretly stowed away inside an infant's space capsule to escape the ultimate destruction of the world. (Superboy v1 #76)
The infant's space capsule from Krypton carried a stowaway monkey that escaped the doom of its home world and arrived undetected on Earth. Upon its arrival, the simian possessed standard Kryptonian abilities under the influence of a yellow sun, including flight, super-strength, invulnerability, heat vision, and x-ray vision, though it retained the typical intelligence of an ordinary primate. Beppo caused severe chaos through uninhibited, super-powered mischief around the Kent farm, which forced the young Superboy to trick the monkey into following a plaything deep into outer space, leaving it there to protect Smallville from further destruction. While wandering through the deep cosmos, the monkey spotted Superboy's rocket on a trans-solar trajectory and trailed the vehicle back down to the surface of Earth. 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. The Super-Monkey was initially an unseen rascal, causing a lot of troubles mainly by imitating baby Clark, dismantling cars and houses while 'playing'. At first, Jonathan and Martha believed their little Clark to be responsible of all the mischief, but finally managed to spot the monkey. Ma and Pa Kent initially blamed baby Clark for Beppo's super-powered actions, 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 was not 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 had gotten lost out there somewhere. (Superboy v1 #76)
Shortly after landing, Beppo traversed a local forest where it directly encountered Krypto the Superdog, who was currently tracking a unique scent through the brush. This unexpected meeting forged an immediate telepathic and tactical bond between the two super-powered animals, prompting Krypto to introduce the monkey to an extended network of extraordinary animals. Recognizing a mutual directive to defend the planet against deep-space threats, Beppo coordinated with Krypto, Streaky the Supercat, and Comet the Super-Horse to formally merge their defensive operational capabilities, establishing a highly synchronized, collaborative planetary security alliance designated as the Legion of Super-Pets. (Superboy v1 #76)
The two were rightfully worried that Beppo’s 'games' would have eventually jeopardize their efforts in keeping Clark’s true nature secret, but the Super-Monkey unwillingly took care of it himself: while causing troubles as usual, he unwillingly set off some fireworks for the 4th of July that Jonathan was keeping in his garage, and the sudden explosions terrified him. Fast as a bullet, the Super-Monkey flew to open space, trying to escape from the “burning things”, but here he found a comet, that he believed to be yet another bigger firework coming after him. Even more scared, Beppo flew even further away from Earth, and when the Kents did not see him coming back, they assumed he had gotten lost in the unthinkable vastness of the universe, and that they would have never seen him again. The Super-Monkey, however, eventually found his way home, happy to stick around Clark some more. The turning point in his curious and pesky existence came when he met Clark’s cousin, Supergirl, who in turn introduced him to Streaky the Super-Cat and Krypto the Super-Dog. Inspired by their human masters, the three animals joined forces with Comet the Super-Horse and the shapeshifter from the future Proty II to form the Legion of Super-Pets: on their first adventure, the Super-Pets defeated the villainous Brain-Globes, mind-controlling aliens who had seized both the Kryptonians and even the Legion of Super-Heroes. Finally, even Beppo had found a productive way of using his inexhaustible energies.
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Beppo was a small, quadrupedal mammalian creature that possessed the structural biological physical traits of a standard monkey integrated with a miniature superhero costume. Beppo possessed a coat of brown fur that covered the majority of the body, with a bare, lighter skin tone on the face, hands, and feet. The facial anatomy featured two dark eyes, a small flat nose, and a wide mouth. The upper and lower limbs were long and highly flexible, terminating in dexterous digits, and a long, prehensile tail extended from the lower back. For a uniform, Beppo wore a custom-tailored miniature replica of the Superman costume. This uniform consisted of a bright blue fabric bodysuit covering the torso, a bright red cape fastened around the neck that trailed down the back, and a stylized yellow belt wrapped around the waist. (Superboy v1 #76)
Beppo is a curious and pesky monkey, an overly enthusiast trouble-maker who has no restrain in the use of his powers. As the Super-Monkey, he possesses incredible strength, durability, speed, stamina and agility, he can fly, he has heightened senses, he can use x-ray and heat vision, he’s invulnerable, and probably possesses also other typical Kryptonian powers; he is also much more intelligent than a regular monkey. With a natural gift for wreaking havoc, Beppo the Super-Monkey plays with everyone and everything, failing to realize the enormity of the troubles he causes with his innocent games: basically, he is a happy and playful tornado.
Powers and abilities
Pre-Crisis: Beppo was born a member of the primate race where he was a member of a monkey species native to the planet Krypton. On a basic feats level, Beppo's Kryptonian cellular structure absorbed and processed yellow solar radiation, granting the animal exceptional superhuman physical attributes that matched those of Superboy. Beppo possessed immense physical strength, allowing the animal to lift heavy human structures, punch through solid walls, and shatter boulders without sustaining injury. Beppo's physical durability was absolute, rendering the animal completely invulnerable to blunt-force trauma, human weaponry, and extreme temperatures. Additionally, Beppo possessed the capability for high-speed atmospheric flight, superhuman physical speed, and telescopic vision, though the animal maintained the standard baseline cognitive intelligence and behavioral patterns of an ordinary monkey. (Superboy v1 #76)
Post-Crisis:
Post-Flashpoint:
Notes
- Beppo was created by Otto Binder and George Papp where he made his first appearance in Superboy v1 #76 (October, 1959).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Superman & Lois, a character named Chrissy Beppo appeared in the setting of the live-action television series where he was portrayed by actress Sofia Hasmik. This version was a female human who operated as the head of Smallville's local newspaper. She came to hire Lois Lane after she and Clark Kent had decided to move to Smallville.
Appearances
- Superboy v1: (1959)
External Links
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