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Super Sons #1

Super Sons, Vol. 1: When I Grow Up...

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A part of DC Universe Rebirth!

Superboy (aka Jonathan Kent) and Robin (aka Damian Wayne) make their super hero duo debut in this all-new series SUPER SONS, part of DC Rebirth.

This debut series 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!

Collects SUPER SONS #1-5

132 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2017

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About the author

Peter J. Tomasi

1,270 books456 followers
Peter J. Tomasi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, such as Batman And Robin; Superman; Super Sons; Batman: Detective Comics; Green Lantern Corps; and Superman/Wonder Woman; as well as Batman: Arkham Knight; Brightest Day; Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors; Nightwing; Black Adam, and many more.

In the course of his staff career at DC Comics, Tomasi served as a group editor and ushered in new eras for Batman, Green Lantern, and the JSA, along with a host of special projects like Kingdom Come.

He is also the author of the creator-owned titles House Of Penance with artist Ian Bertram; Light Brigade with artist Peter Snejbjerg; The Mighty with Keith Champagne and Chris Samnee; and the critically acclaimed epic graphic novel The Bridge: How The Roeblings Connected Brooklyn To New York, illustrated by Sara DuVall and published by Abrams ComicArts.

In 2018 New York Times best-selling author Tomasi received the Inkpot Award for achievement in comics.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
Profile Image for Anne.
4,241 reviews70k followers
January 3, 2018
3.5 stars

Ok, it's not the best plot-wise, but the art is adorable and I just love the concept of Damien and Jon doing this frenemyish team-up.

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Look at these two! The cuteness level is just off the charts!

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But. I'm hoping volume 2 will delve a tad deeper into their budding friendship because I think this volume pushed the border of Ok Enough! with the wash, rinse, repeat cycle of insults that these kids flung at each other. It wasn't quite too much, but...eh.
Almost.
It was fun to see that even the Superdads still have a bit of the immature one-upmanship thing going on, though.

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This title has everything going for it except that little bit of meat on the bone it will need to catapult it into something special. <--for me, at least. I'm hoping that the next volume gets a bit of that something-something because, if so, I could see this easily becoming one of my favorite DC titles.

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Realistically? I can't resist the characters or the art, so I'll be back for more.
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,164 followers
October 15, 2017
Damn this is so goddamn fun! I love these kids. I want my future kids to be these kids.

So most people know Damien, the son of batman. Think a young, ignorant, little piece of shit, with the sickest burns around town. Then got Jon who is Clark's son who follows his footsteps. This volume is mostly one big story, a boys night out, where Damien drags Jon into a big fight against a kid who can split himself up and create copies of other people. Also contains a one shot of Jon coming to terms with accepting he's moving away from the farm and Damien comforting him by fighting? Yea, you now 12-13 year old boys.

Good: Loooooove the dialog between the boys. They are wonderful together and some amazing moments of them whooping ass. The art is top notch and grabs the style perfectly for them. The last issue is probably my favorite when you see they really are just kids. The action is also great!

Bad: The main villain, while screwed up, is kind of boring. I really didn't care much about if he died or live even if his sister was cool.

Overall this is a GREAT first volume. Charming, fun, and exciting. I really hope this series stays for awhile. Super Sons is easily top 5 DC titles right now.
Profile Image for Chad.
8,708 reviews965 followers
October 21, 2017
This is just FUN. All of the charm and adventure of Superman (It's the same writer.) with the added bonus of two exceptional children learning to accept one another (while bickering nonstop). This one's a winner. Jorge Jimenez's art was made for this title. His frenetic style works wonderfully with children looking for adventure. Bring on volume 2!

Received an advance copy from DC and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bookishrealm.
2,418 reviews5,738 followers
May 10, 2021
I'm not going to lie. This was stinking cute. I wasn't necessarily sure what to expect because I haven't read many comics that feature Jon and Damien interacting. Actually, I don't think I've read any books that feature Jon as a younger character so this was new, fun, and exciting for me as a comic book reader. Super Sons follows a couple of adventures between Jon (Superboy) and Damien (Robin) and it is clear from the very beginning that the two do not get along. They spend most of their time bickering, but they also develop a certain level of respect that I don't think I was expecting. I've seen the ups and downs between Batman and Superman, but it was interesting watching their sons have the chance to get to know each other and have adventures. The way in which Jon and Damien view situations is definitely indicative of the way in which they are raised. I think that Jon comes off as a little warmer because that’s the way that his father interacts with him, while Damien can be quite cold which is clearly attributed to the toxic relationship he has with his father. I'm definitely interested in seeing where the rest of this story goes because of how cute it was in this first volume!
Profile Image for Subham.
2,854 reviews84 followers
May 23, 2022
This was so good omg!

So we pick up with Damian and Jon as they team up and I love the dynamic between the two and the arrogance of the former and his cocky attitude and how he considers himself superior to Jon and then them going after Luthor and then encountering Kid amazo and seeing the villains origins and I love how simple it is and makes for fun dynamics and his powers and being connected to the "Amazo virus" storyline from Johns JL run and then these two having to work together to stop the villain and save the world at the cost of breaking curfew lol.

The mix of opposing personalities mixed with being the sons of worlds greatest super-heroes and then working together to stop threats and also dealing with angry parents makes for great story telling and I have fond memories of this era and I freaking love it and the art of Jorge which is just too good and makes for remarkable reading experience! One of the best ongoings ever!
Profile Image for Chelsea &#x1f3f3;️‍&#x1f308;.
1,721 reviews6 followers
December 29, 2019
28 December 2019: Still as wonderful as I remembered! :) Here's hoping DC puts together and animated show someday.


Re-reading as a volume and this series is as wonderful as I remember! Ahhhh, everything about it is just spot on! I adore the contrast between Damian & Bruce and Jon & Clark. I love Damian's headstrong, self-assured nature and Jon's stubborn, protective nature. It's just so wonderful and everything I needed to cheer me up and get me out of my reading slump.

5 stars! Definitely a recommend if you haven't picked up this series yet.

Edit: Upon rereading, I noticed even more of a contrast between Damian's relationship with Bruce and Jon's relationship with Clark. When they're being disciplined, Clark gets down low to be on Jon's level and look him in the eye. When Bruce is talking to Damian, he looks down on him which is such a subtle way of showing how different their parenting styles are. Bruce treats Damian like a soldier to be shaped through orders and punishments. Clark treats Jon like a person and tries to spread understanding and comfort. It makes me so sad because I wish Damian got to have more nurturing parents but it is realistic because Bruce had Alfred but Alfred doesn't seem prone to hugs and kisses.
Profile Image for Maksym Karpovets.
329 reviews141 followers
August 14, 2018
One of the best Rebirth series so far. Tomasi knows how to write a story about family relationships, but this time we meet a duet from two opposing families: Superboy of a typical American family and Robin with from not an ideal, but still family. They are opposites in everything, but that's why they manage to cope with obstacles, which often create for themselves). Tomasi easily and skillfully develops the plot without resorting to unnecessary clarifications. The dialogues in this series are just perfect and funny, reflecting the status of young superhero relationships that constantly compete with each other as typical teens in their age.

Damian: I have to ask, do you have any superpowers?
Jon: Shut. Up.
Damian: I mean other than being easily captured.


More to say, the confrontation between Damian and Jon reflects a permanent conflict between their parents who also cannot reconcile themselves with each other. It shows how parental relationships are reflected in children, and superheroes are not an exception in this case. However, when they really have a great danger (or should rescue other less vulnerable beings), they are united and work towards a common goal. All this is perfectly complemented by the art of Jorge Jimenez, which equally draws both calm and dynamic scenes, emotions, and setting. I do not know how the series will be further developed, but the first five issues are simply perfect.
Profile Image for Diz.
1,698 reviews111 followers
December 9, 2017
I loved this! Batman and Superman's relationship has always been an interesting one, but since they are adults, the clash of their ideologies has been mostly restrained. However, in Super Sons we have child versions of these heroes in Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne, and as anyone who has spent time around children knows, they don't hold anything back. The clash between these two as they learn how to work together as a team is really funny, and it sheds light on the relationship between Batman and Superman as well.

Another thing that I appreciate about this book is that it depicts Batman and Superman as friends, not just colleagues. That was something that was missing in the New 52 version of these characters. Having that friendship back just feels right. This more upbeat view of the characters is reflected in the art, which is vibrant and colorful. Overall, Super Sons is a great addition to the DC universe.
Profile Image for Scott.
1,914 reviews214 followers
November 13, 2018
"I'm the world's greatest hero and she needs my help now!" - Damian 'Robin' Wayne

"Do you even listen to yourself?" - Jonathan 'Superbly' Kent

"Touch my cycle and you will never be considered for the Titans!" - Damian 'Robin' Wayne

"Whatever, 'dork' knight - I'm calling my dad!" - Jonathan 'Superboy' Kent

While it has an undistinguished plot (though the villain - a wicked teen dubbed 'Kid Amazo' - was a reasonable adversary) the fun of Super Sons, Volume 1 is the nearly non-stop quarreling between title characters Jon and Damian. They strike out late one night - without parental consent, naturally - to satisfy their innate superhero impulse, and for the most part they succeed in a haphazard way. However, the best page of the book may be the morning after confrontation when they're caught sneaking into the Kent home. Hint: it's not Superman and Batman standing at the door.
Profile Image for Artemy.
1,045 reviews960 followers
December 24, 2017
Consistently entertaining interactions between Damian and Jon mostly make up for an uninspired plot involving a generic villain who does some crazy illogical things. Overall, it's a solid comic from Tomasi that's centered around two characters that he writes best, and I am definitely coming back for the second volume.
Profile Image for Corey Allen.
219 reviews16 followers
August 28, 2022
3.5: Honestly the story for me, felt like it was lacking for me. But let's be real here, we are all just reading this to see Damien and Jonathan. Also, it has some great art.

I don't really have much else to say, except it was a fun read!
Profile Image for Mizuki.
3,113 reviews1,295 followers
May 25, 2019
I was (and still am) in a freaking bad mood so I need something light-heartened to lighten the gloom a bit, this comic did the job, the tone is delightful, the characters design and the artwork is supper lovely, I mean...it is entirely, devastatingly adorable!!!!! I really love it...and I love it even more when despite the cuteness, something creepy has also been going on in the storyline, plus with Lex Luthor and the fucking dinosaur in the Batcave around, what can go wrong?
Profile Image for Wing Kee.
2,091 reviews31 followers
August 11, 2017
This is what DC needs. More please!

World: Jimenez's art is sublime and perfect for this title. It's kinetic, full of big bold emotions and over the top just like the book needs to be. It's gorgeous. The world building is also fantastic, living in the little nook that these two have in the DCU. Everything tonally in this series is brighter and lighter, even Batman and that's a good thing.

Story: Great little tale that is great cause of the amazing dialog and chemistry between Jon and Damian. They are great together and their bromance is fantastic. The pacing was fast and fun and the villain was interesting and suitable for this duo. The adults in their book are also fantastic. I can't get enough of this series. This is what the DCU needs so much.

Characters: Jon and Damian are great. They are just like their fathers and that makes the oil and water dynamic great. Add to that they each have a unique personal voice that makes them even greater together. The villain of this tale was also fun and interesting and I liked that he was also a child. The adults, awesome...even Luthor.

Just a fun fun series that will make you smile.

Onward to the next book!

*single issues read*
Profile Image for Christy.
1,505 reviews285 followers
July 26, 2017
I laughed a lot while reading this book. Loved seeing Jon and Damian develop in light of their fathers.
Profile Image for ✔️ JAVI ®️.
174 reviews14 followers
November 1, 2022
7/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cómic juvenil, por el argumento, de Peter J. Tomasi. Pero el dibujazo de Jorge Jiménez no tiene edad. Está edición (he leído la dc pocket) reúne los cinco primeros números a modo de prólogo de las aventuras del hijo de Batman y el de Superman. Me ha entretenido y me ha gustado ver las versiones júnior de estos superheroes, pero me ha dejado con la miel en los labios, con la sensación de que lo mejor está por llegar.
Profile Image for GrilledCheeseSamurai (Scott).
627 reviews113 followers
August 22, 2017
Damian & Jonathan sneak out after bedtime and hijinx ensue.

But you know what? It's pretty darn entertaining. Sure, Damian is a little shit head and Jonathan is pretty much a pussy...but they have that same chemistry that their two fathers have.



I read this in single issues last night before bed and I haveta say that I am sure glad that I did. It's like when you have been drinking coffee all morning and then you have a glass of orange juice. It's a party in your mouth!

That's what these comics were like. A wonderful pallet cleanser from the darker versions of DC's other offerings. A nice simple story with some witty banter while our 2 heroes take on a bad guy or two.

And the art is fabulous. It very much suited the style of story and the characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed it.

Sometimes I forget that comics are supposed to be fun. :p

3.5 stars if goodreads would let me
Profile Image for maria.
27 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2022
OH. MY. GOD !! ✨

This was so fun to read: We follow Damian Wayne teaming up with Jon Kent against Kid Amazo a dude who has been afflicted by the Amazo virus (give powers to people) and even though there is a cure it didn't work for him and his family. He decited to do evil with his powers by stealing Lex's Amazo Armor...

Their dynamic is awesome and i'll never shut up about how much i adore Damian, a lot of people find him annoying, arrogant or whatever but honestly i love his personality. I enjoy reading stories about him. Then, my first time reading about Jon, i find him cute, innocent and he contrasts well with Damian.

These panels where they were bickering are so funny, I couldn't stop laughing and looking forward to how their relationship develops.

I'm such a fan of Jorge Jiménez's art, he's the best.
Profile Image for Clarissa.
352 reviews18 followers
June 24, 2018
This is insanely adorable!

Okay so, plot-wise, it’s not the best, but I can’t resist the frenemies that are Damian and Jon. The dialogue between them is brilliant and it’s fun to see just a tiny bit of banter between the superdads too.

The contrast between their upbringing and personalities is very clear and it’s interesting to see them crash and interact. I’m looking forward to their budding friendship in volume 2!
Profile Image for M. J. .
131 reviews10 followers
June 19, 2023
Lately I've been down and while not able to focus on reading the books I'm committed to at the moment I was able to read this comic book quite joyously. Fast paced, light, funny and with a lot of heart, I get it now why this series is such a favorite among DC readers, it is now a favorite of mine as well. Jiménez's playful art complements Tomasi's writing in this story about family and friendship, something I'd gladly give to my younger sisters to read back when they were kids. I'm glad I finally got to read this, I felt compelled to do so after the excellent family movie based on this run The Battle of the Super Sons, which I also recommend for anyone needing a silly fun and heartwarming distraction.
Profile Image for Danielle.
391 reviews23 followers
October 18, 2017
Read this review and more on my blog, uncovered-books.

I received a free copy of Super Sons Volume 1: When I Grow Up from DC Comics in exchange for my honest opinion.

Such a fun story that you can easily get lost in and just enjoy. Super Sons follows Superman’s and Batman’s sons (no, not together sorry Superbat fans), Jonathan Kent and Damien Wayne. Together both get into all sorts of trouble as only super-powered children can.

The storyline is very easy to follow, with it purely being what Damien convinces Jonathan to do whilst trying to avoid their fathers. Whilst this is predominantly what will occupy you thoughts, it does hint to underlying issues that I suspect that Jonathan and Damien will help each other overcome (either that or they will end up constantly fighting because they think that they are better than the other). We also get to see how they both are like their fathers, whether they like it, or even admit to it or not. I cannot wait to see how they both grow in the coming volumes.

The art style is what you would expect from a comic entered on two super-powered children. Lots of bright colours that did not oversaturate the page with just a general fun tone. This art style really suited how Super Sons is supposed to come across, as more of an enjoyable light-hearted compared to the likes of Batman.

If you want to get lost for a few hours then Super Sons Volume 1 is a great way to do so.
Profile Image for Chris Lemmerman.
Author 7 books104 followers
September 17, 2017
[Read as single issues]
Have I talked about how Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason did superb work on Batman & Robin, and are doing superb work on Superman? Well, now Tomasi has taken the two best parts of those comics and combined them into one - meet the Super Sons, Damian Wayne and Jon Kent, better known as Superboy and Robin.

When the two are kind of thrown together by their parents, they don't exactly get along, but this opening arc of the series shows them just why their dads are such a good team, and why they can be too. Pitted against Kid Amazo, a leftover from the New 52 Justice League story The Amazo Virus, the pair must fight side by side to save other kids their own age while not beating each other up at the same time.

I'm always a little weirded out reading comics about very young characters (Jon's meant to be 10 I think, and Damian's 13?), because it feels kind of irresponsible for them to be doing this stuff, but hey, comic books, and they're fun characters that read older than they are anyway so it's easy to forget.

Also joining Pete Tomasi is Jorge Jimenez, whose art I absolutely love. I've followed him from Earth 2 to Superman to here, and it's about time he got to headline his own book. His art is super dynamic, capturing all the energy of Humberto Ramos without going into the super-distended character forms, and the colours are sublime.

Big, big fan of this one.
Profile Image for Kay.
1,559 reviews14 followers
December 5, 2018
Very cute & fun (which I haven't said for a superhero comic in a long time -and boy is this refreshing!).

I really like Jon & I think he plays well against Damian's stuffy know-it-all-ness.
description

The plot of this vol. wasn't all that advanced, but it was kinda confusing in the beginning. And because of that I really liked that this whole volume was one cohesive story.

Adorable bits:
*Damian is going on and on that he's so tough & "better than Batman in every way", yet both he and Jon are totally cowed when faced with Alfred & Lois's anger.
*That Jon seeks out Damian at the end for advice.
*Alfred is the best, as always.
description
*When Superman and Batman find them.
Jon: "Where did you come from?"
Damian: "Diabolical! How would you like it if I followed you everywhere and listened in on your conversations!"
Batman: "You do."
LOL
Profile Image for Georgie zakka.
185 reviews6 followers
December 31, 2018
4.2
Ba ba ba ba you’re watching treehouse!

Supersons: when I grow up... - during the new 52 the Amazon virus was released (justice league vol 6: injustice league) and a lot of families were infected and got powers but after they all lost them except for 3 percent which brings us to Reggie Meyers who used his powers but his body couldn’t handle it so he went mad i guess And superboy and robin have to save the day.

My thoughts (the good and bad) - I love these two together, I love the insults they throw at each other and how Damian always makes fun of Jon and his dad, I love the art by Jorge Jimenez, Lex Luthor was cool, I loved the fight in the bat cave but my problem was the main antagonist Reggie who I thought was really boring and everytime he’s on a page it’s really boring. Honestly I love Jon and Damian’s dialogue so much I’d watch them for an hour sitting in a coffee shop just talking.

Overall great book.
Profile Image for Shannon Appelcline.
Author 25 books145 followers
August 20, 2018
The strong heart of this comic is the relationship between Jon and Damien. Tomasi writes them both well, and the interactions between these strong but different characters is even more delightful.

The story itself? Bleh. There's a Super Amazo Kid and he's crazy and they fight. Some stuff that could have been interesting about the Super Amazo Family really doesn't get that much attention.

So, call it 3.5 stars, but every time I considered the lower rating, I saw another delightful scene between our two protagonists.
Profile Image for Ivy.
1,489 reviews78 followers
July 19, 2020
5 🌟

Robin and Superboy team up to investigate kids that have been infected by the Amazo virus. They stop Amazo boy and are planning on future team ups.

Alfred, Batman, Superman, and Lois also make appearances.
Profile Image for TJ.
735 reviews54 followers
January 20, 2021
This was my second time reading this, and I really enjoyed it both times, but a lot more the second time around. Maybe it’s because I’ve read more of Damian since then, but I was just so into the interactions between Damian and Jon here. And the dialogue was just so good! All the parental figures also have amazing lines. The plot line/antagonist of this arc is a little messy, but it’s really just there to give Damian and Jon something to do— and I’m cool with that. I value character over plot, and this book delivered on that front! 4/5 stars.
Profile Image for Peter Derk.
Author 30 books368 followers
March 31, 2018
This one's cute and all, but I think it's meant to be an "all-ages" book. Which means it's appropriate for kids and adults can read it too because, you know, we do whatever we want. We're grown-ups. Eat Starburst Jellybeans to the point I get a stomachache? Even though I KNEW, before I hit the wall, that I was headed for ache-town? Yeah, damn straight.

I think I might be Damian Wayne-ed out. He's not my favorite character, and he's in a lotta books these days.

Also, Superman having a son really brings to light how stupid it is to have a story where Batman has a son. Superman having a son makes total sense, and it makes total sense why he'd sort of have to guide him to the super life. Because he's gonna have powers, so he might as well be responsible, use his freeze breath to stop a giant starfish or whatever. Also, Superman is a total dad type. The big blue boy scout. Batman doesn't really make sense as a dad. It kinda makes sense that Damian got all fucked up from being raised all fucked up, and Batman wants to try and shape him into someone useful. But for being such a badass, Batman is NOT good at teaching a kid to not have such a smarty pants smart mouth.

Summary: Batman is kind of a sucky dad, Superman is a good dad. And I guess that could make things interesting, but it doesn't seem to. It just seems to make Batman having a kid more wacky.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
302 reviews66 followers
September 2, 2018
I expected this to be really fun, making me less mad about the DC reboot (yes, I'm still salty about it years later, specifically for what they did to the Batfamily dynamics, don't @ me)... but while there were a few amusing scenes (mostly thanks to Alfred), this was mostly a book full of Damian being an annoying, arrogant brat and Jon putting up with him.

The art was pretty much the only thing I completely enjoyed.

There was a bit of a hint of something great there (maybe once I feel like the boys are genuinly friends?), so I will give this series another try if I can find the next volume cheap.
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