In DC League of Super-Pets, Supeman’s dog, Krypto (Dwayne Johnson), teams up with Batman’s dog, Ace The Bat-Hound (Kevin Hart), and various other animals to rescue a couple of heroes that are being held captive by Lex Luthor. After successfully completing the mission, the animals form their own superhero team known as the “League of Super Pets.”
In the movie, audiences get to learn a couple of things about Ace, including the fact that he was wrongfully placed in an animal shelter because the parents of a little girl thought he had attacked her, yet he had saved her. However, there are a couple of details about the dog that only DC comic fans are aware of at the moment.
His Introduction Pre-Crisis
In the Pre-Crisis events, Batman adopts Ace after his owner, the engraver, John Wilker, gets kidnaped by a vicious gang of counterfeiters. He then trains him and sets him with all the tech needed to communicate.
Unlike the movie version, the Pre-Crisis Ace isn’t anthropomorphic. He also has the appearance of a normal dog, with the only exception being the mask. But that doesn’t mean he’s a weaker version of the Bat-Hound. Ace is described as being faster than one of the best Batmobiles. He has greater endurance, too, as he recovers from various injuries, including getting struck by a bullet.
How Bats Gets The Mask
In order to prevent people from knowing he is Bruce Wayne, Batman gets Ace a hood-like mask in Batman #92. He does this because he had been walking Ace while he was Bruce Wayne and the dog just so happens to have a star-shaped mark on his forehead. In Batman (Vol. 3) Annual #1, Batman gets Ace a mask for Christmas.
The decision by Batman to make Ace wear a mask makes sense because his secret identity means a lot to him. There have been a couple of occasions when Batman was outed as Bruce Wayne and the consequences were grave. By putting a mask on Ace, Batman also makes his work easier since criminals get to not only know the dog but also fear it. As such, Batman enjoys the luxury of resting while Ace carries out some missions on how own.
He Briefly Acquires Superpowers
Ace is granted superpowers by one of the most powerful DC magical beings, Bat-Mite, in Batman #158. In the comics, Bat-Mite is said to have infinite magical powers. His technology is also far superior to that of Bruce Wayne since it’s from the fifth dimension.
This storyline is more in line with the movie, where each of the animals in the shelters acquires superpowers after the guinea pig, Lulu, brings a piece of Kryptonite with her. However, the comic storyline feels more fitting since Bat-Hound acquires more Bat-like powers as opposed to Kryptonian abilities. In the movie, he gets to be more like Superman, which creates a disconnect between him and Batman.
The Origin Of The Name Bat-Hound
In Batman #92, Ace apprehends a notorious Gotham burglar all by himself. Because of the mask that resembles that of Batman, the burglar christens him Bat-Hound.
Bat-Hound is clearly a cooler name than Bat-Dog. And as is the case with the mask, Gotham’s criminals begin cowering when they hear rumors that there is a Bat-Hound in town. However, this doesn’t come without negative consequences. Bat-Hound’s reputation makes him a target, too like Batman. Consequently, he almost gets killed on a couple of occasions.
The Forgotten Characters
An interesting storyline in Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3D #1 involves Ace and a couple of other characters residing in an area known as Limbo, which is full of DC characters that comic writers forgot about. Luckily, Superman and his buddies free everyone from Limbo.
Limbo is indeed a creative way for DC to poke fun at itself for ignoring some characters. As a dog, Ace hasn’t had as much page and screen time as other DC characters but just like the movie, this particular comic issue changes that. The only downside to the story is that Batman is not involved once again.
The Joker’s Dog
In Batman (Vol. 3) Annual #1, Ace starts out as one of the guard dogs of one of the greatest Batman villains, the Joker. The name Ace comes from the card symbol on the neck (each of the Joker’s dogs has different card symbols). The dog ends up at the Gotham pound after being abandoned by the Joker but is adopted by Alfred.
This iteration of Ace is a unique one because it’s described as female by the Gotham pound owner. However, Alfred and Bruce never confirm if this is the case. And at the moment, the detail remains ambiguous since Bat-Hound still isn’t lucky enough to get plenty of action in this particular DC timeline.
His Time As A Stray
Azrael takes over the Batman identity in Batman #500 after Bruce Wayne’s back gets broken by Bane. He then ejects Ace. After a long time without an owner, he is taken in by Batman’s friend, Harold.
It’s one of the many interesting details about Batman’s rivalry with Bane. Batman’s time on the sidelines affects Ace as a character too since he doesn’t get to do much. Used to getting instructions from Batman, he is forced to idle around. And that doesn’t change when Harold adopts him either.
A Hybrid From An Alternate Timeline
In Batman: Castle Of The Bat, Dr. Bruce Wayne conducts several experiments, and one of them results in a literal Bat-Hound. The hound has all the characteristics of a dog but can also fly like a bat.
The tale that’s heavily borrowed from the Frankenstein mythos is a refreshing one because it sees Bruce Wayne as more of a scientist than a superhero. Creating Bat-Hound turns out to be a good move for him since the dog helps him capture the vengeful monster he also created, known as Bat-Man. And since Bat-Hound can fly, he gets to cover much more distance than the ordinary version of the dog.
Damien's Pet Titus
In Batman and Robin (Vol. 1) Born to Kill, which is part of New 52’s continuity, Bruce purchases a dog and gives it to his son Damian. Bruce’s son then names the dog Titus and nicknames it Bat-Hound. In Detective Comics #1015, which is part of Rebirth, both Titus and Ace are shown to be living at Wayne Manor.
Both Titus and Ace aren’t lucky enough get to be granted any great arcs in this particular timeline since they are mostly depicted as pets. Rather than super dogs. But through them, Bruce and Alfred are once again painted as a pet’s dream owners. Through Titus, Bruce also gets to bond a lot more with his son.
Ace Isn’t A Member Of The Original Legion Of Super-Pets
While Ace is depicted as an original member of the legion in the movie, that isn’t the case in the comics. The original hip includes Krypto the Superdog, Beppo the Super-Monkey, Streaky the Supercat, and Comet the Super-Horse.
Ace actually takes a long time to the legion in the comics, and that’s understandable because it’s mostly a Superman team. Titus also gets to the League of Super Pets before Ace because the latter happens to be sleeping when he is summoned hence he doesn’t respond. The developments end up triggering a rivalry between the two.
