DC Special Blue Ribbon Digest #9
"Birth of the Atom!" is a charming 1981 tale from Otto Binder and Curt Swan, with inks by Sy Barry and colors by Anthony Tollin, that brings a whimsical twist to Superboy’s Smallville roots. When a rocket-riding, super-powered dog named Krypto arrives with proof of his origin as Jor-El’s test animal, Superboy must keep his new companion from accidentally exposing his secret identity—while also navigating the chaos of a furry, space-faring sidekick. The cover by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano captures the moment with classic flair.
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A super-powerful dog arrives in Smallville in a rocket complete with written records proving that he is baby Kal-El's puppy who Jor-El used as a test animal when developing his space rockets. Though happy to be reunited with his dog, Superboy needs to make sure that Krypto does not give away his secret identity several times before Krypto leaves for a romp in space.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).