What do you think?
Rate this book
Super Sons #5
Adventures of the Super Sons, Vol. 2: Little Monsters
TWO SUPER-KIDS. AN ARMY OF SUPER-POWERED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
Jonathan Kent is Superboy, the son of Superman. Damian Wayne is Robin, the son of Batman. Before things got a little complicated recently, the Super Sons were just two best friends off on a summer vacation adventure into the farthest reaches of space. Unfortunately, after running afoul of Rex Luthor--a crazed alien preteen who's styled himself after Earth's foremost evil genius--Jon and Damian find themselves in the last place two young heroes would ever expect to interstellar juvie!
But to Rex Luthor, a prison planet full of bad-seed alien kids is the perfect place to make his move. All it takes is costumes and weapons based on Earth super-villains, and suddenly Rex is being backed up by his own Injustice Army! With hundreds of allies like Doomsdame and Brainiac 6, nothing can stop Rex from defeating the Super Sons and setting his sights on Earth! Well, nothing except a trainee Green Lantern kid with no power ring, a robot cowboy and the only Injustice Army member brave enough to stand up to Joker Jr.
Oh, and also the sons of the two greatest heroes of all time, who are determined to save the universe and get back home before the new school year starts. They don't call them the Super Sons for nothin'!
Writer Peter J. Tomasi (DETECTIVE COMICS) and artists including Carlo Barberi (GREEN LANTERNS) and Matt Santorelli (SUPERWOMAN) bring the Super Sons' greatest-ever adventure to a thrilling conclusion! Collects ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS #7-12.
Jonathan Kent is Superboy, the son of Superman. Damian Wayne is Robin, the son of Batman. Before things got a little complicated recently, the Super Sons were just two best friends off on a summer vacation adventure into the farthest reaches of space. Unfortunately, after running afoul of Rex Luthor--a crazed alien preteen who's styled himself after Earth's foremost evil genius--Jon and Damian find themselves in the last place two young heroes would ever expect to interstellar juvie!
But to Rex Luthor, a prison planet full of bad-seed alien kids is the perfect place to make his move. All it takes is costumes and weapons based on Earth super-villains, and suddenly Rex is being backed up by his own Injustice Army! With hundreds of allies like Doomsdame and Brainiac 6, nothing can stop Rex from defeating the Super Sons and setting his sights on Earth! Well, nothing except a trainee Green Lantern kid with no power ring, a robot cowboy and the only Injustice Army member brave enough to stand up to Joker Jr.
Oh, and also the sons of the two greatest heroes of all time, who are determined to save the universe and get back home before the new school year starts. They don't call them the Super Sons for nothin'!
Writer Peter J. Tomasi (DETECTIVE COMICS) and artists including Carlo Barberi (GREEN LANTERNS) and Matt Santorelli (SUPERWOMAN) bring the Super Sons' greatest-ever adventure to a thrilling conclusion! Collects ADVENTURES OF THE SUPER SONS #7-12.
144 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2019
7 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Peter J. Tomasi
1,394 books472 followersPeter 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 13, 2019
This is comics at their best. It's just fun. Tomasi knows how to write kids that actually feel like kids. The book is witty, humorous, and packed with action. Superboy and Robin team up to take on junior league versions of all DC's greatest villains. Rex Luther, the pint size version of Lex may actually be more menacing than the real thing. Carlo Barberi does a bang up job of drawing kids that look like kids. I like the kinetic nature of his art.
November 27, 2019
Adventures Of The Super Sons Volume 2 is basically exactly the same as Volume 1 in terms of strengths and weaknesses. The story doesn't really warrant the extended page count, and meanders around for like 4 issues before the final two draw the focus back onto Rex Luthor and his plot properly, instead of fleshing out the villain and actually making him seem like a threat rather than just enormously annoying.
The random addition of a few new characters halfway through here feels forced, and while the trainee Green Lantern is adorable, this is meant to be giving us more Jon and Damian, which we won't get anymore because of Jon's new status quo (or at least not in the same way), so it feels like it's distracting from the whole point.
The art's pretty good, I can't deny that. Carlo Barberi and Scott Godlewski pencil these six issues, and it's consistent with the previous volume, as well as the Super Sons series before it, since Barberi drew the last arc of that too. His kids look like kids, which isn't easy.
Adventures Of The Super Sons has its heart in the right place, it just sometimes forgets what it's meant to be doing in favour of wandering around doing something else instead. Like a kid, I guess?
The random addition of a few new characters halfway through here feels forced, and while the trainee Green Lantern is adorable, this is meant to be giving us more Jon and Damian, which we won't get anymore because of Jon's new status quo (or at least not in the same way), so it feels like it's distracting from the whole point.
The art's pretty good, I can't deny that. Carlo Barberi and Scott Godlewski pencil these six issues, and it's consistent with the previous volume, as well as the Super Sons series before it, since Barberi drew the last arc of that too. His kids look like kids, which isn't easy.
Adventures Of The Super Sons has its heart in the right place, it just sometimes forgets what it's meant to be doing in favour of wandering around doing something else instead. Like a kid, I guess?
July 5, 2019
Look this isn't art. Turn off your brain, grab some popcorn, and have some fun. Damian and Jon are in the process of having The Powers that Be muck with their continuity and character. That comes with the territory of company owned characters. Enjoy this before the version disappears completely.
In the last issue Tomasi throws in a deus ex machina that should even keep continuity wonks happy (or at least I liked it). The series begins with Damian and Jon doing what most teens would do. Planning to have a super summer.
Then they get dragged into an interstellar affair with a mini-Lex Luthor (but three times the ego). Add to that versions of Tommy Tomorrow, a Green Lantern and Jonah Hex that fit the mood of this series.
The mood is fun. Damn you Bendis for messing with Jon, because this team is now defunct (until editorial changes its mind again).
Note: read as digital floppies, decided to just sum up the 12 issues in this one review.
In the last issue Tomasi throws in a deus ex machina that should even keep continuity wonks happy (or at least I liked it). The series begins with Damian and Jon doing what most teens would do. Planning to have a super summer.
Then they get dragged into an interstellar affair with a mini-Lex Luthor (but three times the ego). Add to that versions of Tommy Tomorrow, a Green Lantern and Jonah Hex that fit the mood of this series.
The mood is fun. Damn you Bendis for messing with Jon, because this team is now defunct (until editorial changes its mind again).
Note: read as digital floppies, decided to just sum up the 12 issues in this one review.
July 11, 2021
*Half read as single issues, half read as a vol*
A bit of a shaky storyline. At times it was tenuous and a bit ridiculous, but Tomasi always brought it back to the fun. For every cringy joke there was a good one—and there were a lot of both!
The art and colours were fantastic, but Jon's hair was ridiculous throughout. He looked like he was in immediate need of a haircut since the very beginning.
It was really all about the fun because if you took this too seriously you’d lose what makes the Super Sons so great and start to notice that really the plot, especially the resolution, was borderline rubbish.
My detailed reviews of:
Issue #7: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Issue #8: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Issue #9: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A bit of a shaky storyline. At times it was tenuous and a bit ridiculous, but Tomasi always brought it back to the fun. For every cringy joke there was a good one—and there were a lot of both!
The art and colours were fantastic, but Jon's hair was ridiculous throughout. He looked like he was in immediate need of a haircut since the very beginning.
It was really all about the fun because if you took this too seriously you’d lose what makes the Super Sons so great and start to notice that really the plot, especially the resolution, was borderline rubbish.
My detailed reviews of:
Issue #7: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Issue #8: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Issue #9: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
September 8, 2021
Not quite as great as the first volume, but still a lot of fun despite the early cancellation.
September 7, 2021
The storyline in this volume wasn’t exactly my favorite, but I love these two! I enjoyed the character moments between Jon & Damian! Still sad Bendus came to DC and ruined this :(
August 23, 2024
3.75/5
I really loved and enjoyed seeing Damian and Jon again, but the storyline was really dragged. I feel like the whole Rex Luthor stuff could’ve ended in the first volume.
I really loved and enjoyed seeing Damian and Jon again, but the storyline was really dragged. I feel like the whole Rex Luthor stuff could’ve ended in the first volume.
March 11, 2021
I wouldn't really call this volume a disappointment, because the first one wasn't that great, but this one is actually worse, uncreative and underwhelming. I love the Super Sons, the first series was amazing and so fun, with a unique chemistry, nice and touching moments and cool stories. Here there's none of that, except the dynamic between the two. And even that aspect isn't worked on. Their relationship stagnates, their interactions aren't that funny or charming and they just fight their way through the story. It's a shame, because they were the core of the series, and they inspired decent and compelling themes. Those were centered around three poles: family, what it means to be a brave hero and growing-up. Once again, there's none of what made the series work.
I know that a comic can be just a fun entertainment, but it still has to be well-made. I could compare this to some fantastic all-ages titles like Spidey or Squirrel Girl, but I can use as an example the first series itself. It was bold, engaging and creative. Here, the action sequences are numb and lazy, and that's a huge deal. There are so, so many characters and powers at stake. Instead of displaying them and using them creatively, there are just splash pages of the protagonists hitting a group, while everybody else watches. Actually, there's only one "power move", aka a combining use of characters' powers (it's a term used in Teen Titans Go!, a much better DC story with teens). Also, the villains are pathetic, useless and illogical. Using "kid" versions of famous foes is fun but it's never fully used. Also, the first volume already did it with Kid Amazo, and he was much more threatening than Rex. As a main antagonist, he looks satirical but isn't, and he is focused on a weird McGuffin.
This comes to a last-issue twist, which really put me off. I don't even want to say what it is. It's so out of place. First, the title's story never depended on twists and revelations, so I'm not waiting for one when I read a Super Sons comic. But that's not the main problem. The exposition almost takes half of the last issue, which is bad timing. Also, it comes out of nowhere. But finally, it gives a new explanation for things that were already explained, changing them. To be fair, it makes sense looking back at before, but it's still quite bad.
I know that the story possibilities were limited because Brian Bendis already ended kid Jon's story, so the characters can't go too much change. But I disagree. This title was an opportunity to offer a separate, totally controlled story without being cancelled in the middle. But this doesn't offer anything, whether it's the action or the themes. I expected more. However, if you went this far on the characters' journeys and you absolutely love the Super Sons, so this is still a fine read.
I know that a comic can be just a fun entertainment, but it still has to be well-made. I could compare this to some fantastic all-ages titles like Spidey or Squirrel Girl, but I can use as an example the first series itself. It was bold, engaging and creative. Here, the action sequences are numb and lazy, and that's a huge deal. There are so, so many characters and powers at stake. Instead of displaying them and using them creatively, there are just splash pages of the protagonists hitting a group, while everybody else watches. Actually, there's only one "power move", aka a combining use of characters' powers (it's a term used in Teen Titans Go!, a much better DC story with teens). Also, the villains are pathetic, useless and illogical. Using "kid" versions of famous foes is fun but it's never fully used. Also, the first volume already did it with Kid Amazo, and he was much more threatening than Rex. As a main antagonist, he looks satirical but isn't, and he is focused on a weird McGuffin.
This comes to a last-issue twist, which really put me off. I don't even want to say what it is. It's so out of place. First, the title's story never depended on twists and revelations, so I'm not waiting for one when I read a Super Sons comic. But that's not the main problem. The exposition almost takes half of the last issue, which is bad timing. Also, it comes out of nowhere. But finally, it gives a new explanation for things that were already explained, changing them. To be fair, it makes sense looking back at before, but it's still quite bad.
I know that the story possibilities were limited because Brian Bendis already ended kid Jon's story, so the characters can't go too much change. But I disagree. This title was an opportunity to offer a separate, totally controlled story without being cancelled in the middle. But this doesn't offer anything, whether it's the action or the themes. I expected more. However, if you went this far on the characters' journeys and you absolutely love the Super Sons, so this is still a fine read.
April 4, 2020
While I adore Jonathan and Damian as a team, this story dragged for way too long. This run could have had some great arcs, but it only had one very long one. it was nice, but Rex Luthor got on my nerves by issue 3 and this whole thing lasted 12 issues...
Sadly, it looks like this will be the last of this version of the Super Sons, though. Jon being aged and being the focus of the Legion of Super-Heroes, now, kind of kills everything that set the Super Sons apart. I will miss them.
Sadly, it looks like this will be the last of this version of the Super Sons, though. Jon being aged and being the focus of the Legion of Super-Heroes, now, kind of kills everything that set the Super Sons apart. I will miss them.
August 6, 2019
this book, and the whole series was such a nice, funny, feel-good read with damian and jon, i wish it were still tomasi writing the on-going superman series. also, this is so good for kids, if you want your kid to get into comic books this is the one, super sons is amazing.
December 27, 2020
*I've read A LOT more than I've reviewed, so... time for some knee-jerk reactions.*
Dear DC: Please give us more of these adventures with the Super Sons. I need more of these fun stories.
Dear DC: Please give us more of these adventures with the Super Sons. I need more of these fun stories.
October 24, 2025
had its moments, especially in the first issue or so. not my favorite story with these two but at least damian is relatively in character. after all the teen titans i've been reading from this era, i'll take it.
May 6, 2020
The first book in this series saw the Super Sons fight knockoff child versions of their parents' villains. Rather than calling it a day and being original, the author simply doubles down on this lunacy. In the end, it's no wonder this book series got cancelled.
August 17, 2021
Caught in interstellar juvie, where Rex and his minions reign supreme, Jon and Damian will have to take some serious risks to break out and stop them for good - but what sort of sacrifices are the duo willing to make to save the world? Tomasi packs vibrant action, galactic adventure, and just the right about of cheesy heartfelt shocks to keep fans glued to every page. The new school session is officially the last thing the Super Sons need to worry about nowadays!
September 17, 2025
A stronger end to this arc of the Super Sons where we see the build-up towards the climax of their battle with Rex Luthor. Though the plot twist is slightly more puzzling than surprising (but that could just be my unfamiliarity with the Hypercube MacGuffin lol).
I wish we could see more legacy/next generation characters oppose new villains rather than derivatives of their parents' villains, but I guess the point of the arc was that these kids became fanatic over the stories they heard and embodied them.
Either way, my highlights of this volume were, of course, the strong-as-ever (and will always be strong forever) dynamic of Jon Kent and Damian Wayne. My "power of friendship"-loving heart was so moved throughout the story. And though Al-X didn't get a whole lot of development, I thought he was a great character to be a sort-of gateway/guide for the Super Sons and their great cosmic adventure.
Now, I didn't miss the text box when it said that there were untold adventures in the Wild West-inspired planet. I'll be waiting for that, DC... DC... hey, DC, what are you doing? What are you doing to my boy? :')
I wish we could see more legacy/next generation characters oppose new villains rather than derivatives of their parents' villains, but I guess the point of the arc was that these kids became fanatic over the stories they heard and embodied them.
Either way, my highlights of this volume were, of course, the strong-as-ever (and will always be strong forever) dynamic of Jon Kent and Damian Wayne. My "power of friendship"-loving heart was so moved throughout the story. And though Al-X didn't get a whole lot of development, I thought he was a great character to be a sort-of gateway/guide for the Super Sons and their great cosmic adventure.
Now, I didn't miss the text box when it said that there were untold adventures in the Wild West-inspired planet. I'll be waiting for that, DC... DC... hey, DC, what are you doing? What are you doing to my boy? :')
January 31, 2020
I still love the Super Sons but this was a poor way to see them off. This who two volume adventure failed for me. The premise of an alien who copied the villains of Earth so they were all young was a loong stretch just to get super villains the same age as the Super Sons. And the story just didn't work. It's a shame - I love Robin and Superboy and wished the writer hadn't sent them on a really bad space adventure. They work best juggling being sons while learning to be heroes. Taking them off Earth lost this interaction.
Too bad - the series started off so amazing but these last two volumes were big fails for me.
Too bad - the series started off so amazing but these last two volumes were big fails for me.
October 23, 2020
Following the "kiddie" nature of the first Volume, this title continues the parallels to the regular DCU by having Jon and Damian take on Rex Luthor and his Injustice Army, which is really just a bunch of delinquents who have been given the same powers as the Legion of Doom on Earth, but everyone is still a kid. Teaming up with a robotic version of Jonah Hex, they thwart the plot and save Earth. Unfortunately, they return to Earth just in time to head back to school... LOL
Really wish this book would have explored their relationship now that Jon has aged so much from his trip in space with Jor-El. Oh well...
A fun romp, but not crazy good.
Recommend, with reservations.
Really wish this book would have explored their relationship now that Jon has aged so much from his trip in space with Jor-El. Oh well...
A fun romp, but not crazy good.
Recommend, with reservations.
July 15, 2025
I almost got whiplash trying to figure out who they should or shouldn’t trust, but in the best way. I enjoyed this volume much more than the first. It truly felt like the ultimate team-building summer they didn’t know they could have.
Seeing Damian at his full potential, with his main mission being to rescue Jon, was incredible. Their bond keeps growing stronger, and they remain such an amazing duo. I honestly wish we could keep them together forever.
And the final reveal, of who was listening to the stories of the Super Sons in the future, was the perfect emotional detail to leave us with hope for a better future for all of them.
Seeing Damian at his full potential, with his main mission being to rescue Jon, was incredible. Their bond keeps growing stronger, and they remain such an amazing duo. I honestly wish we could keep them together forever.
And the final reveal, of who was listening to the stories of the Super Sons in the future, was the perfect emotional detail to leave us with hope for a better future for all of them.
December 20, 2020
I don't feel like the Adventures of the Super Sons captures the same magic that The Super Sons had. The villains weren't very creative, as they were just kid versions of Superman and Batman's villains and I don't feel like Damian and Jon's dynamic was captured as well. This mission felt really long and not super interesting, but that may have just been because I tend to prefer earth-bound missions to off world ones. I probably won't be looking for more Adventures of the Super Sons, but I will be checking out Challenge of the Super Sons which had a great first issue.
May 19, 2020
This is the continuing story arc of an alien teen, Rex Luthor, who emulates Superman villian, Lex Luthor, and with a teen imitation of The Legion of Doom give the Super Sons some trouble.
I really enjoyed the art of Carlo Barberi but Peter Tomasi's writing seems very weak in this series.
Tomasi's best work was in his initial run on Batman & Robin.
If it weren't for the art work this would be a hard pass.
I really enjoyed the art of Carlo Barberi but Peter Tomasi's writing seems very weak in this series.
Tomasi's best work was in his initial run on Batman & Robin.
If it weren't for the art work this would be a hard pass.
December 7, 2020
I don't really have anything to add that I didn't say in the review for the first half of this series. It's a fun read that's accessible to new readers, but also has lots of nods for long time Tomasi or DC fans. I liked the twist at the end, which still allowed for the series to be a silly comedy but did tie it into a more serious DC Universe. Had lots of fun, but these two volumes really should be combined.
April 13, 2021
The second volume of this story arc gave me whiplash - in a good way.
There were so many twists and turns, times that I gasped, and times that I had to re-read panels because I couldn't believe that something happened.
*slight spoiler*
Then for the Super Sons to finally get back to earth to find that there summer was over was hilarious as both boys look so tired and done.
I loved this story arc.
There were so many twists and turns, times that I gasped, and times that I had to re-read panels because I couldn't believe that something happened.
*slight spoiler*
Then for the Super Sons to finally get back to earth to find that there summer was over was hilarious as both boys look so tired and done.
I loved this story arc.
May 7, 2020
That was a wild ride. I did enjoy the original Super Sons run a bit more than this, but it was still very cool to have Damian and Jon travel all over space trying to find their way back home. It's crazy how much time can pass in space when you're having so many adventures. Overall, this is still a very fun run and I do recommend it if you want to read something a bit more light-hearted and fun.
August 6, 2020
OK.
Art was great and banter was fine; I like the Super Sons.
But I found I occasionally had small gaps of understanding; whether that's panel to panel in the art or else scene to scene in the writing. I felt things were often too abbreviated and missed a line or two of dialogue or an extra panel or two to smooth it out.
Art was great and banter was fine; I like the Super Sons.
But I found I occasionally had small gaps of understanding; whether that's panel to panel in the art or else scene to scene in the writing. I felt things were often too abbreviated and missed a line or two of dialogue or an extra panel or two to smooth it out.
December 24, 2020
A solid, fast-moving, wittily bantered conclusion to the second Super Sons series. Good art, plot's a bit thinly spread to cover six issues, but cute little meta wrap-up on the nature of serial storytelling. I definitely enjoyed the ride.
June 14, 2022
One star for the boys, and one star for the cowboy. My absolute favourite panel was all of #7 page twenty. 😍
Everything else I feel pretty meh towards. I just really do not care about this Rex Luthor kid.
Everything else I feel pretty meh towards. I just really do not care about this Rex Luthor kid.
January 13, 2020
Likely a 3.5 All ages for me.
I like a lot of what's going on here, but I may be a smidge older than target.
I like a lot of what's going on here, but I may be a smidge older than target.
June 29, 2020
I'm not sure this story needed to be this long, but I like Damian and Jon.
August 25, 2020
Overstuffed with so many peripheral characters, our leads feel more like guest stars in their own title. They're more interesting when rooted to their own reality, like in the previous series.
October 1, 2020
I love the friendship of Jon and Damien in this one, and I love the story of how this story came to be told as well, though I do wish we knew more about the grandkids...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews