Ray Palmer? Henry Pym?? Pikers.
Ryan Choi? Eric O’Grady?? Don’t make us laugh.
Those seeking a microscopic hero of truly epic proportions need look no further than Rex The Wonder Dog.
At the tail-end of his 46-issue run, Rex - who resolutely held the fort at DC Comics while Julius Schwartz cooked up the Silver Age - ventured where few canines had gone before: science fiction.
While the covers of Rex’s comic typically depicted the fearless canine battling wild animals or two-bit hoods, back-up stories proved the Wonder Dog was equally adept exploring alternate dimensions and microscopic universes.
One such adventure took place in the 44th issue, where Rex and one of his many masters (he had a different human companion in nearly every story, just like Doctor Who … ) gulped down an experimental liquid just to see what happens.
Hey, it’s science!
Instead of dropping dead that very instant, the intrepid pair instead found themselves in a subatomic world where dogs rule society and keep little green men as pets!
(Would a race of intelligent dogs really be interested in owning pets? Don’t you think they’d rather sniff each others’ rear ends?)
Rex was horrified by this shift in roles (Didn’t he learn anything from Mr. Peabody?), but his master du jour wisely decided to play along with the locals before they decide to grind the scientist up for kibble.
Besides, he was confident that Rex would think of a way out of this mess - which made one wonder if this guy really graduated from college.
Meanwhile, Rex received one of those creepy little slaves pets, who immediately tried to please his new master by doing a handstand.
The Keeper will refrain from speculating why the Wonder Dog found that position so interesting …
Fortunately for the little green guy - and the reader - Rex’s reverie was interrupted by an attack from the dogs’ mortal enemies: birds!
Because nothing scares a dog more than a bird. It’s not like you’ve ever seen man’s best friend chase one, right?
Rex, who apparently can give Krypto a run for his money in the strength department, leapt about 100 feet off the futuristic ledge and wrestled the giant bird to the ground.
What happened after that … well, it just wasn’t very pretty.
The victorious Rex gained his master’s freedom, although the Keeper is starting to question who really was the alpha in that relationship.
Safe and sound back home, Rex and the Professor (great name for a sit-com) enjoyed a quiet moment together.
No rude jokes here, though. This book was published after the Comics Code was established!
Rex would experience a few more adventures in inner space before his book ended, but in true DC fashion those stories were only the tip of a very bizarre iceberg.
After all, within a few months Rex would pay a visit to the Wild, Wild West …
