In case you missed the most recent episode of the Hour Cosmic, your favorite comics gameshow podcast (Episode 80: Pug Con with Mike Norton), we spent a good amount of time discussing pets, both in comics and in real life. That got us thinking: what are our favorite pets in all of comics? Matt and Brian picked relatively common answers, but Chad went all Chad on us (which means referencing things most people forgot ever happened). Before you read on, download the most recent episode, or stream it below!
[audio: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thehourcosmic/~5/8GGwnf_xjug/THCNorton.mp3]Matt’s Pick: Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
I think when most people think of cats in comics they tend to overthink it a bit to the more stereotypical figures, like the ones who have the word “cat” in their names. But to me, I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone out there who doesn’t have at least some affection for the famous stuffed imaginary pal of young Calvin, Hobbes, who came to life to keep his buddy company as they days went by. Hobbes was a sympathetic ear, a wrestling partner, a smooth dancer and more, and I think the amount of things that Hobbes taught not just Calvin but the reader as well about how to be a good person will probably be never fully appreciate in all its depth.
Chad’s Pick: Radar, the Hound Supreme from Alan Moore and various artists’ Supreme.
“Why not just say Krypto?” It’s a good question, and one I understand, especially if you’ve never read or aren’t familiar with Alan Moore’s Supreme. And yes, on the surface, Radar seems like little more than a Krypto stand-in, which, look, he totally is! But he’s not *just* that. And if you read a little deeper, he, like all things in Moore’s love letter to the Silver Age of Superman (and comics, in general) often transcends its inspiration and takes on a life all its own.
For instance, Krypto’s inability to communicate with others verbally made him a fairly introspective pooch. Certainly, readers knew what he had on his mind, but not even Superman can talk to dogs. Radar, on the other hand, has a dog collar equipped with tiny speakers built in that translate his thoughts into a somewhat rudimentary form of speech. So yeah, he’s a talking dog with super powers. And it’s hilarious. But that small difference allows Radar to emote and interface with characters and the story in ways Krypto never could, and it’s those little tonal tweaks that separates Radar from his DC counterpart. Moore takes the outlandish idea of a super dog and treats it with a level of sophisticated respect that moves Radar far outside of analog territory to become, not just my favorite dog, but one of my favorite characters, period.
Brian’s Pick: Krypto
In answer to Chad’s question of, “Why not pick Krypto”,” I did just pick Krypto. Those that listen to the show on the reg know that I have a dog of my own named Lola. There have only been three months in my entire life that I could not claim a dog as my own, but Lola is something special (she was Pet of the Week once, after all).
Lola :: Brian as Krypto :: Superman. We can exist without our dogs, but would rather not do so. We are better when they are at our side, and their loyalty and simple forms of communication mean that they are ours in a way that Radar can never be – anyone can know what Radar is saying – me and Superman, we know our dogs better than anyone, and can help them, and let them help us, in ways that a stranger just couldn’t manage.
Monday’s show will be one of our “best of” episodes, as travel, schedules, and intermittent internet service will prevent us from recording this week. Enjoy it, and share your favorite comic pets in the comments!
