Today, in honor of National Dog Day, we celebrate canines everywhere! But to do so in this article would be too massive a task. Instead, we’re just going to focus on some Marvel canines.
In the pages of Marvel comicbooks, dogs have proven friend (and foe) to superheroes, villains, Inhumans – you name it. Below are five of our favorite marvelous pups, including two co-created by Stan Lee.
Fun fact: As you saw above, Stan was a dog lover, having owned many throughout his life!
Lockjaw
The dog whose history stretches farthest back on this list, Lockjaw tore his way into Marvel comics in December 1965 in Fantastic Four #45. (In dog years, that would make him… several hundred years old.) This gigantic Inhuman bulldog that possesses teleportation powers was bred from the minds of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. As a loyal guide to the Inhuman Royal family, Lockjaw has undoubtedly become the most recognizable canine in Marvel history. Heck, he’s even appeared in TV shows and video games stretching back to the 1970s!
Cerberus
Though this three-headed hound jumped into Marvel Comics a year after Lockjaw, in 1966, Cerberus goes back way longer. Like, we’re talking Greek mythology long. Stan and Jack Kirby brought this villainous monster dog to life in Thor #130. At one point, Hades, God of the Underworld, relied on him to preserve order in the Kingdom. So, as you can guess, this is one dark pup!
Cosmo the Space Dog
We know we said Lockjaw was Marvel’s most recognizable canine, but this guy is up there, too. Though Cosmo is much younger – first appearing in Nova Vol. 4 #8 in January 2008 from the team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning – he’s had more visibility recently. Once a test subject for the Soviet space program, the telepathic pup went on to join the Guardians of the Galaxy. With that, he’s appeared in both Guardians of the Galaxy movies, as well as the new Disney+ show What If…?
Dogpool
Dogpool, aka Wade Wilson, made his entrance in Prelude to Deadpool Corps #3 in March 2010. The brainchild of Victor Gischler and Phillip Bond, this pup sadly found himself experimented on by a makeup company. In an experiment gone wrong, Dogpool was scarred, but the accident left him with the power to regenerate after any injury. Originally used for his newfound ability as the centerpiece of a circus, Dogpool eventually teamed up with the Deadpool Corps and worked on their behalf until his untimely demise in Deadpool Kills Deadpool #1 in July 2013.
Lucky the Pizza Dog
Lucky first bounded into the pages of Hawkeye Vol. 4 #1 in August 2012, created by Matt Fraction and David Aja. Though he possesses no powers, that doesn’t stop him from coming to the aid of heroes! Initially, Lucky went by the name Arrow and served as a guard dog for one of Hawkeye’s foes. Hawkeye got on his good side by feeding him a piece of pizza, and the pup later responded in kind by saving Hawkeye’s life. What a bond! And what’s even better? Fans will get to see Lucky in the upcoming Disney+ Hawkeye show!