Krypto #9: The Execution of Krypto

From: Superboy #67 (September 1958)

No! Superboy would never let his dog DIE, would he?! Well... Our story begins with Superboy raiding the secret crime lab of "Univac" Smith. Among the blueprints seized by the Teen of Steel are these items NOT on the lab's shelves. Three guesses at which will be part of the Silver Age hosing solution.
At home, Superboy opens his secret closet and brings out a plastic dummy of Clark Kent he means to use the next day at school so Superboy can give Clark an award along with other honor students. Hm, how does that work? Telekinetic super-breath again? But he'll have to make another one (again, how?) because this one has an awkwardly-twisted arm. Yes, THAT'S what's going to give the dummy away, Clark. So hey, Krypto, will you dump this misshapen thing in the river?
The incident is seen by a prospector and the cops have a zero tolerance policy for killer animals. But they can't keep Krypto prisoner for more than a second with all his powers. Figuring something must be up, Krypto returns to space. Superboy doesn't wait for him to return though. He seeks him out and takes him to jail. Why doesn't he just show up as Clark Kent to exculpate Krypto?! Far from it, Superboy makes sure the sunken dummy never resurfaces and then visits the Kents who are playing along for the neighbors. I guess Krypto must face the repercussion of his fake crime. And Superboy seals the deal with his own signature!
A police executioner dumps a lump of Green Kryptonite in the cell and Krypto settles down to die. Superboy goes in for one last (secret) chat, and then...
LET'S FREAK OUT SOME KIDS!!! And then, all of a sudden, Clark Kent returns from the sea on a raft. The dog died for nothing! Or did he? Because remember that invention that might have fallen into the wrong hands? It did:
So this crook just wanted the mind-reading helmet to read Krypto's, but now that he's dead, Superboy's secrets are safe! Oh crap! Did Superboy just frame Krypto to keep his secret identity safe? Instead of maybe, I dunno, sending the pooch to space and not resting until the helmet and its plans were destroyed? Oh crap, he DID! Well... almost. Switcheroo on the kryptonite, Krypto super-playing dead... He's fine.
Yes. "Super-love". Right. The only reason I don't make my loved ones spend a night on death's row is that I simply DO NOT LOVE THEM ENOUGH.

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