The 8 Best Dogs in Superhero Comics for National Dog Day

Today is National Dog Day, which gives dog lovers everywhere an opportunity to celebrate their four-legged friends. And as many comic fans will know, there are plenty of canines within pages of superhero comics that deserve a shout-out.

Whether they’re full-fledged heroes, super-powered sidekicks, or just moral support for a particular hero, they’ve proved to be an adorable addition to their particular comic canon.

So in honor of today’s holiday, we thought we’d highlight some of the most noteworthy dogs from the world of superhero comics. Click through to the next slide to see our favorites (in no particular order).

Ms. Lion

Kicking things off is Ms. Lion, an adorable pooch with longstanding ties to the world of Peter Parker/Spider Man.

Ms. Lion first debuted in the 1980s Spider-Man animated series, in the episode ‘Triumph of the Green Goblin.’ In that incarnation, she was owned by Angelica Jones/Firestar, and proved to be an adorable ally to Angelia, Peter, and Bobby Drake/Iceman.

After sporadic comic appearances, Ms. Lion was reintroduced in 2009 as a male dog owned by Peter’s Aunt May. He then became a founding member of the Pet Avengers, despite having no special powers or abilities.

Even though there have been quite a few Spider-Man movies, fans have yet to see either version of Ms. Lion in live-action. But with another Pet Avengers member (who we’ll get to in a minute) making their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut very soon, it isn’t out of the question that Ms. Lion could cameo in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming sequel.

Krypto

Another white-haired dog from the world of superhero comics is none other than Krypto the Super Dog.

Krypto was first introduced in Adventure Comics #210, as a lifelong companion of Kal-El/Superman. He has had several different comic origins in the subsequent years, but has remained a facet of the DC Comics universe.

Outside of the comics, Krypto has made a plethora of appearances in various animated films and television shows. He even headlined his own Krypto the Superdog animated series in 2005, introducing a whole new generation to the pets of DC Comics.

Krypto has yet to appear in live-action, aside from a brief stint on Smallville. But with both the DCEU and the Arrowverse having their own Superfamily properties, Krypto would certainly be an lovable addition.

Lucky

Lovingly referred to as ‘Pizza Dog’, Lucky is easily one of the most humorous pups in the Marvel Comics universe.

Clint Barton/Hawkeye rescued Lucky from mobsters in the early issues of Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye run. Lucky quickly bonded with Clint and Kate Bishop/Hawkeye, becoming a fan-favorite character in the process. He since has relocated to Los Angeles, as part of Kate Bishop’s solo Hawkeye series.

Lucky even earned the spotlight in Hawkeye Vol. 4‘ eleventh issue, with the entire comic told from his point of view. While the concept raised a few eyebrows in the comic community, the issue became very beloved, winning the 2014 Eisner Award for Best Single Issue.

Like Ms. Lion, Lucky has yet to make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But with Hawkeye (played by Jeremy Renner) rumored to go through quite a bit of development in Avengers 3 and 4, maybe adopting a certain pizza-loving dog will be part of that?

Ace the Bat-Hound

While Batman might have a large net of allies, none of them are quite like Ace the Bat-Hound.

The German Shepherd was first introduced in 1955’s Batman #92, and was directly inspired by Krypto’s popularity. After helping the Dark Knight in a series of comic appearances, he was essentially put on the back-burner until 1991. The newest version of Ace was introduced in the DC Rebirth era, as a former guard dog of the Joker who was later adopted by Alfred Pennyworth.

Ace has appeared throughout the DC animated universe, most notably in Batman Beyond and the aforementioned Krypto the Superdog. While he has yet to appear in live-action, there are certainly plenty of avenues for him to do so, whether in the DCEU or on Fox’s Batman prequel series Gotham.

 

Dogpool

If you secretly wish that Deadpool was a bit more cuddly, then Dogpool is perfect for you.

The mutated mutt holds many of the same powers as the Marvel Comics antihero, and even shares the name of Wilson. Unlike Earth-616’s Wade Wilson, Dogpool gained his powers through a series of inhuman tests in a questionable makeup lab.

Dogpool first appeared in Deadpool Corps #3, where he stole the hearts of many readers – and Wade Wilson himself. Sadly, Dogpool sacrificed himself in 2013’s Deadpool Kills Deadpool event, but there’s plenty of Marvel Comics precedent for him to rise from the dead in a future comic.

In terms of live-action, Dogpool did not appear in last year’s Deadpool solo film. While there is no word yet as to if he could appear in the sequel, which is currently filming, stranger things certainly have happened.

 

Rex the Wonder Dog

While DC Comics has had plenty of canines, none of them are quite like Rex the Wonder Dog. With a slew of mystical powers, as well as super strength, speed, and intelligence, Rex proved his own next to quite a few superpowered humans.

Created three years before Krypto’s debut, Rex debuted in his own solo series, The Adventures of Rex the Wonder Dog, in the 1950s. He essentially disappeared from the canon until appearing in the pages of Justice League of America in 1977, and has been confined to sporadic appearances in in the decades since.

Although Rex has been missing in action for a while, there’s no reason why he couldn’t reappear in the current Rebirth canon in some way. Or maybe he could make a cameo appearance in The CW’s time-traveling series Legends of Tomorrow.

Cosmo

A telepathic Soviet dog might sound weird in theory, but Cosmo has grown to be a beloved fixture of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The space-trotting pup first premiered in Nova Vol 4. #7 in 2008, and has received his own backstory and lore in the years since. He served as a security officer in the planet Knowhere, and later became a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Unlike all of the previously mentioned pooches, Cosmo has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making his debut in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film. A life-size animatronic of him even appears at Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout ride.

 

Lockjaw

And finally, no superhero dog is in the pop culture zeitgeist quite like Lockjaw.

The telepathic canine, and protector of the Inhumans royal family, first debuted in 1965, courtesy of Marvel Comics icons Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. It’s safe to say that he’s gotten quite a following in the decades since, teaming up with the Fantastic Four and Ms. Marvel, and forming the aforementioned Pet Avengers.

Lockjaw is set to make his live-action debut in Marvel’s Inhumans, which debuts next month. The pooch has already been regarded as a highlight of the series, as can be seen throughout the show’s marketing campaign. ABC even unveiled a new poster of Lockjaw earlier today, helping Marvel fans everywhere celebrate National Dog Day.