Superboy #76
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeSuperboy #76 holds a firm place in Silver Age Superman mythology as the debut of Beppo the Super-Monkey, the Kryptonian primate who would go on to become a charter member of the Legion of Super-Pets — DC's beloved team of super-powered animals assembled in Adventure Comics #293 (1962). The issue plants a seed central to the expanded Superman family concept of the era: that Krypton sent more than one passenger to Earth aboard Kal-El's rocket, broadening the mythology well beyond Clark Kent himself. The lead story's framing device — a teenage Clark reminiscing about a Superbaby adventure he could never tell anyone — also exemplifies the 'Untold Tales of Superboy' storytelling formula that editor Mort Weisinger used throughout the late 1950s to retroactively deepen Superman's prehistory. That a single issue could introduce a character durable enough to survive Crisis on Infinite Earths reboots, reappear in Final Crisis, and inspire nods in live-action television speaks to how fully formed Otto Binder's whimsical concept was from its very first page.
In "The Super-Monkey from Krypton!", a trip to the zoo sparks a childhood memory for Clark as he recalls a mischievous monkey from Krypton that stowed away in his rocket ship—causing chaos before being sent flying into space by a comet. Written by Otto Binder and illustrated by George Papp, this 1959 tale blends whimsy and wonder with a touch of interplanetary mischief. The cover by Curt Swan and Stan Kaye captures the playful spirit of the story, making it a standout in the Superboy series.
In a whimsical flashback from Superboy’s childhood, Clark recalls a strange adventure from his infancy when a mischievous monkey from Krypton stowed away in his rocket ship. Beppo the Super-Monkey, a curious and powerful creature with a knack for trouble, causes chaos on Earth before being sent back into space by a passing comet.
In "The Day Clark Kent Got a Haircut!", the barber in Smallville grows suspicious when he realizes he’s never cut Clark Kent’s hair—leading him to wonder if Clark might be Superboy. As the young hero scrambles to keep his secret, he’s forced to pull out every trick in the book to avoid being exposed.
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The issue was edited by Mort Weisinger, the architect of the tightly interlocked Silver Age Superman family of titles, and went on sale August 20, 1959, with a cover date of October 1959. The lead story, 'The Super-Monkey from Krypton!', was written by Otto Binder — the prolific scripter responsible for much of the era's Superman-family world-building, including the creation of Supergirl — and drawn by George Papp, with Curt Swan providing the cover pencils and Stan Kaye inking the cover. The issue's three stories carried three different writing credits (Binder, Alvin Schwartz, and Robert Bernstein) and two different art teams (Papp on the lead, John Sikela on the back two), a typical anthology production practice for Weisinger-edited titles of the period.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance and origin of Beppo the Super-Monkey (later named Beppo), created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp; in this debut story the character is referred to only as 'Super-Monkey' and is not given the name Beppo within the story's text.
- Cover date: October 1959; on-sale date from copyright registration: August 20, 1959. Published by National Comics Publications Inc. (DC Comics) under editor Mort Weisinger.
- Cover art pencilled by Curt Swan and inked by Stan Kaye; the lead interior story ('The Super-Monkey from Krypton!') is pencilled and inked by George Papp.
- The issue contains three stories: 'The Super-Monkey from Krypton!' (Binder/Papp), 'The Biggest Bully in Smallville!' (Alvin Schwartz/John Sikela, featuring Krypto), and 'The Day Clark Kent Got a Haircut!' (Robert Bernstein/John Sikela, featuring Lana Lang and Superboy robots).
- The lead story is framed as a flashback 'Untold Tale of Superboy,' with teenage Clark narrating how Jor-El's laboratory monkey stowed away on his rocket, gained Kryptonian super-powers under Earth's yellow sun, caused mischief mistakenly blamed on baby Clark, then fled into space frightened by fireworks.
- Beppo went on to join the Legion of Super-Pets (debuting as a team in Adventure Comics #293, February 1962), alongside Krypto, Streaky the Super-Cat, Comet the Super-Horse, and Proty II.
- The lead story was reprinted in Superman Annual #5 (Summer 1962) and DC Goes Ape #1; 'The Day Clark Kent Got a Haircut!' was reprinted in Superboy Annual #1 (Summer 1964) and The Best of DC #15 (August 1981).
- Beppo has made appearances across multiple DC continuities and media, including references in Superman: The Animated Series, a cameo in the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths tie-in comic, a role in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds (2009), and inspired the name of a recurring character ('Chrissy Beppo') in the Superman & Lois television series.
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Reprints
Reprinted in Superman Annual #5 (1962), Superboy Annual #1 (1964), Superman #4/1968 (1968), Superman et Batman #7 (1968), The Best of DC #15 (1981), Superman: Cover to Cover #[nn] (2006), DC Goes Ape #1 (2008), Tails of the Super-Pets #[nn] (2022)
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