Adventures of the Super Sons #2 Review

Tag Team Back Again

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art team: Carlo Barberi, Art Thibert, Protobunker, and Rob Leigh
Covers: Dan Mora and Jorge Jimenez
Release Date: 9/5/18
Cover Price: $3.99
Reviewed by: Jon Wayne

When we last saw our heroes they had been cornered by The Gang, otherwise known as a mini Legion of Doom, also known as our Young Rogues’ gallery. Robin had been encapsulated in some sort of mummification device, while Superboy had been hit with some Gold Kryptonite losing his powers for now. Frankly, this was a perfect cliffhanger and had me fully on board for issue #2 (not that I wasn’t already fully on board! I love me some Super Sons!). Does this issue deliver on the promise of #1? Let’s find out!


We open the issue but getting some needed backstory for the antagonists of our story. It’s revealed to us that The Gang isn’t from some random Earth in the multiverse, but rather from a planet in the Cygnus system which is devoted to the celebration of our Earth and all its greatness. That planet models its society, tech, weapons, and everything else based on what we do on Earth – including the ideals espoused by our heroes. However, it seems that at least one kid from this planet hates Earth and has decided to follow the ideals espoused by our villains! The narrator is revealed to be “Rex Luthor,” and his narration is a very nice parallel to what is going on in Scott Snyder’s Justice League with Lex falling back into villainy. 

Anyways, the fight from last time continues with Superboy still missing his powers. Jon is in possession of a belt from his father (from pre-trunksgate) that provides him with a forcefield to defend him from attacks. Combined with his training from Damian, Jon holds his own even without his powers. Until the Puppeteer from the last issue reappears and asserts his control over Jon’s forcefield. The Gang then successfully uses Superboy to gain access to the Fortress of Solitude (still in the Arctic – as it should be – and not wherever the hell Bendis has moved it to) and they steal the Hypercube, an ancient object that gives its user instant access to eight dimensions… once Rex figures out how to use it of course!
If you read my reviews, you know that I tend to avoid spoilers. But we get a fun twist here that definitely throws a wrench into how I envisioned this story going. You’ll know it when you see it. Actually, scratch that. There are TWO twists here towards the end of the issue that complicate matters, but that doesn’t matter because I’m very intrigued and I want to see where Peter Tomasi takes the story next! 

Can’t forget the art here. I’m on record loving Jorge Jimenez, the main artist on the original Super Sons series. But Carlo Barberi has taken the reins and while his style is similar to Jimenez’ it is distinctly his own, and he has really made this book his own by now. And Thibert provides amazing colors that really pop on the page. Zero complaints about the art.

Bits and Pieces:

There were complaints from some folks I know (like one Jim Werner) that the pacing of issue #1 was off, particularly in the beginning with some retreading of old ground from the first series. It moved past that towards the end of issue #1, and it is barely present in issue #2 if at all. This is full steam ahead with The Gang vs. The Super Sons, and I for one can’t wait to see where we go from here.

9/10