Warning: contains spoilers for “Petsurrection,” appearing in Batman: The Brave and the Bold #17!DC just turned a surprise member of the Superman Family into their resident expert on magic. After Kryptonite, magic is Superman’s primary weakness, and it is one that extends to certain other members of the Family, such as Supergirl. Yet in “Petsurrection,” appearing in Batman: The Brave and the Bold #17, an obscure, yet underrated Superman Family member finds themselves gaining a crash course in magic courtesy of John Constantine.
Streaky the Super Cat was co-created by Jerry Siegel.
“Petsurrection,” appearing in Batman: The Brave and the Bold #17, is written by Zipporah Smith and drawn by Mike Norton. John Constantine has traveled to the suburbs, where someone has used dark magic to resurrect dead pets and turn them into demonic monsters. Streaky the Super-Cat, Supergirl’s cat, brings Constantine an amulet, but he tells Streaky to get lost. Despite this, Constantine knows something is amiss with the amulet Streaky found.
Streaky is persistent, repeatedly saving him from evil monsters.
Finally, Constantine relents and agrees to work with Streaky–despite being allergic to cats himself.
The Superman Family Is Highly Diverse
The Superman Family Even Includes Animals
The Superman Family has existed in some form or other since comics’ Silver Age, with the arrival of Supergirl. Over the past 60 years, it has grown, encompassing not only Superman and Supergirl, but other Kryptonians such as Krypto and Power Girl, as well as adjacent heroes like Steel, Superboy Conner Kent, and Kong Kenan, the Super-Man of China. Furthermore, it includes members of his supporting cast, such as Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, and Ma and Pa Kent. In recent times, the Family has even embraced reformed villains, such as Silver Banshee.
There were even super-powered animals other than Krypto in the Superman Family, such as Comet the Super–Horse and Beppo the Super-Monkey. Each animal had its own unique gimmick, but Streaky the Super-Cat may have had the wildest. First appearing in 1960’s Action Comics #261, Streaky was originally an ordinary cat, but thanks to exposure to the mysterious X-Kryptonite, created by Supergirl, he gained Kryptonian-like powers, as well as super-intelligence. Streaky was a quirk of the Silver Age, and came to be regarded as too “silly” for more discerning tastes.
Streaky Does Not Get the Same Love As Krypto, But He Should
Streaky’s Unique Origin May Make Him Immune to Magic
Now, Streaky steps up and shows the world what he is made of, justifying his place in the Superman Family. Streaky immediately knows magic is involved, and somehow finds the mystical amulet he presents to Constantine. Constantine can tell the amulet is somehow involved in the pet resurrection shenanigans, but Streaky beats him to it. Just how Streaky knew about the amulet is not revealed, but the fact he has it in the first place is impressive, and speaks volumes to Streaky’s tenacity. Streaky erases any doubts he belongs in the Superman Family, and modern comics as a whole.
Since Streaky gained his powers from X-Kryptonite, and not Kryptonian physiology, he may in fact be immune to magic in a way Superman is not.
Streaky may want to tread lightly, as he is dealing with magic and demonic sorcerers, but for him, it may not be an issue. Constantine notes that Streaky does not seem affected by the amulet. He speculates this is because Streaky is a cat, but the truth may lie in his classic Silver Age origin. Since Streaky gained his powers from X-Kryptonite, and not Kryptonian physiology, he may in fact be immune to magic in a way Superman is not. If so, this gives Streaky and the Superman Family a serious advantage in fighting magic users.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #24 is on sale now from DC Comics!
