Ricky Church reviews Super Sons #1…
“When I grow up” part one! The sons of Batman and Superman have graduated to their own monthly comic—but if they want to survive, they’re going to have to share it! Writer Peter J. Tomasi (BATMAN & ROBIN, SUPERMAN) teams with rising-star artist Jorge Jimenez (EARTH 2) to bring you the adventures of the World’s Smallest. This debut issue looks at the lives of Robin and Superboy and their destiny to follow in their fathers’ footsteps, while we meet a new villain whose ascension parallels the boys’ own understanding of their powers—except that he believes it’s his right to rule over every being on the planet!
SEE ALSO: Check out a preview of Super Sons #1 here
Peter J. Tomasi has had a lot of experience writing about the exploits of superhero parents and their offspring, from his work in The New 52’s Batman & Robin to his much more recent, and great, work in Rebirth’s Superman. It was inevitable Damien Wayne and Jon Kent would get their own series and if you even needed proof Tomasi would be the right man for the job, look no further than Super Sons #1.
Tomasi injects this book with a lot of fun between Robin and Superboy’s banter as the two butt heads over their conflicting personalities and approaches. There’s a clear divide between how these two think and operate, much like how their was in the early days of their fathers partnership, but there’s already a sense of fun and joy just from the simple fact the two main characters are kids.
The handling of Robin and Superboy’s relationship is nice in that Tomasi doesn’t overdo their banter or make them seem really kiddy. The snowball fight in the issue, for example, sees Jon acting his age as a typical kid would, but also taking in the lessons of his father not to react too strongly and use his powers against his bullies. Damien, meanwhile, has no such concerns and is much more grown up, but over the years since his introduction has allowed himself to feel more like a normal kid, something Tomasi has worked with to a very large degree. His skipping out on Batman’s homework to go have ‘fun’ fighting crime is one such example.
While its a little different to see someone other than Patrick Gleason work on Tomasi’s script, Jorge Jimenez proves himself quite capable of doing so, especially with his artwork on Jon; the kid just looks so expressive with Jimenez’s art. Alejandro Sanchez’s colours also do the trick, making a nice contrast between scenes in the Kent home and Batcave. There’s a vibrancy to Super Sons #1 thanks to both their work that make the pages standout.
One might have wondered just how much Tomasi could do with Robin after his work in The New 52, but he shows there’s so much more potential ground to cover as the Boy Wonder is paired with Superman’s son. Just based on this first issue, there’s a lot of mileage this series can go and right now there’s little doubt Tomasi and Jimenez won’t deliver.
Rating: 9/10
Ricky Church
Originally published February 18, 2017. Updated November 14, 2019.
