By Dustin Cabeal

The creative team behind Super Sons might not have wanted or expected me to read and review this title. If they are familiar with my reviews it’s likely that seeing one from me is scary (at least I’ve been told that multiple times… multiple times). Listen, I didn’t expect to read this either, but curiosity got the best of me. I had no intention of reviewing it either unless it spoke to me in some way. I suppose that means it did since you’re here reading my review for Super Sons #1 which was surprisingly great. Let me repeat that, Super Sons #1, was surprisingly great.

Pairing up sidekicks of sorts is nothing new. Hell, DC has the market cornered, and they do it quite well. It’s at times fun to read and other times just a clear and blatant cash grab. We’ll leave a question mark on that last part for Super Sons, but it ticks the “fun” box.

Perhaps it’s due to the characters as both boys aren’t technically their father’s flesh and blood, but both are being raised as such. With Jon, if I’m not completely wrong, he’s actually Zod’s son that Clark and Lois are raising as their own. With Damian, he’s apparently a test tube baby, and while he has Bruce’s DNA, it’s still more science than nature. And yet these two boys are fascinated by each other. More so it seems on Damian’s side as we learn he’s infiltrated Jon’s school.

We see Jon wearing thick frame glasses and taking the bus. He’s given multiple opportunities to use his powers, but he doesn’t. It was probably the best thing “Superman” related I’ve read in years. This little boy is wanting so desperately to use his powers but knows he can’t because of how he was raised… by Clark Kent. Not Superman, but Clark Kent. Showing that Superman’s moral’s can be passed on and developed with others and it was such a perfect moment that you’ll no longer hate the fact that they gave Superman a kid.

Super Sons was the first time I didn’t find Damian annoying. The only other time I found him tolerable, was when he was hanging out with Steph Brown Batgirl. I wish this little fucker were more like this in other books because unlike a lot of readers I don’t “love to hate him,” but just hate him. Damian and Jon are great in that they’re very much like a little Bruce and Clark which is essentially the reason to read Super Sons. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to see kid Batman and kid Superman hang out and grow up together, then this is the answer to that question, but now they’re Robin and Superboy.

The art is a huge part of this stories success. Jorge Jimenez’s artwork is frankly wonderful. It is a true reminder of how beautiful, imaginative and brilliant comic books can be. As much as I liked the story, I liked the art way more. The art is this book. Jon’s sigh, Damian giving Alfred grief, a snowball fight with bullies and two kids that are facing danger, but my god doesn’t it look like they’re having fun? Jimenez’s artwork sold me on this book in a huge way, and he will be the number one reason I’ll continue reading.

With that comes a lot of props to Alejandro Sanchez for coloring this issue and making Jimenez’s artwork look beautiful. The thing for me, a great colorist can make a good artist look great, but when you pair a great colorist with a great artist, you get something incredibly special. I’m all about snow in comics, and if you can make me feel cold while looking at a page, you’ve done your job which is the case with Super Sons.

I will surprisingly be back for more of this series which surprises me more than anyone else. The jaded comic reader in me wants me to think that I just happened to read it in the right mood, but I was smiling after finishing this issue. It was a great reminder of what some comics should be, and that’s fun. Not all of them, but some comics should just be fun as hell to read, and that’s Super Sons #1

Score: 5/5

Super Sons #1
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Jorge Jimenez
Colorist: Alejandro Sanchez
Publisher: DC Comics