Superman's Good Guy Gang 2025 FCBD Special Edition (2025-) #1

by Rob Justus

Nine-year-old Clark Kent is pretty super-fast, super-strong, and super-cool! But being so super can also besuper lonely, until he meets fellow super-powered kids Kendra Saunders and Guy Gardner, a.k.a. Hawkgirl andGreen Lantern! Together, they’ll form a club where other supers can be themselves, test their powers, grow together, and maybe earn some good-guy points along the way. Future books in the series will include Mr. Terrific,Batman, Wonder Woman, and more as the Good Guy Gang grows!

Genres: Dc Comics, Comics, Childrens, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Juvenile, Graphic Novels Comics

Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2025

About the author

Formerly an award-winning market researcher, Rob Justus is a self-taught debut author/illustrator who raised himself on a classic diet of comics and Saturday morning cartoons. His debut picture book,Kid Coach, was published in 2020; this is his first graphic novel. Rob lives and doodles near Ottawa, Canada.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Yeah, no." -- Kendra Saunders, a.k.a. Hawkgirl, coincidentally offering a similar sentiment

The publication of DC's Superman's Good Guy Gang was timed to coincide with the release of the latest Warner Brothers' Superman movie, all the more obvious with the book's only supporting characters being Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Lex Luthor (plus a cameo appearance by Mr. Terrific). Geared toward the elementary school age-range, it presents the thinnest of witless storylines and also doesn't respect the firmly established background lore of the titular superhero. An eight year-old Superman - who should really be 'Superboy,' but don't let me veer off track here - is presented as a self-absorbed, somewhat clueless, and slightly mean-spirited kid, especially in his behavior towards someone who is shown as only trying to be a friend to him. Presumably Ma and Pa Kent are just out of frame, smacking their heads . . . along with the parents reading this book to their own children.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just STOP with the character assassination of Superman. He would NEVER have been like this as a child, NEVER. I’m sure his adoptive parents were in the picture and raised him properly.

The catchphrase has been and always will be “Truth, Justice and the American Way”. Superman was created the way he was FOR A REASON. To retcon and make him less than what he originally stood for, kindness, justice, protection and care of others, etc., is to spit on the ideals that created him and to lower the bar of what we should all strive for.

Just a kids book, so I should lighten up? No. What we teach our children, in work and in play, is important. This is not worth even reading in fun.

I had gotten this for my nephew before I read it and now it’s going straight to the trash.

This is not the first children’s geared super hero book where Superman’s character was being destroyed. I’m afraid it won’t be the last.

1, I recommend this to no one, stars.

[CapesandCovers · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was cute, and written in a way that will make it easy for kids to read and follow along with. i also loved seeing guy in this!

unfortunately, it's a two-star rating because what really annoyed me was the mischaracterization of superman. you might be going "it's a kid's book, things are going to be different!" at me, and i get it, i really do. but to have superman bully Lex and run around freezing animals for fun was so out of character and also something i just wouldn't want to teach kids is okay to do. and that's while Lex was going out of his way to be nice to him too.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 4 out of 5]

DC Comics provided an early galley for review.

From the creator of Death and Sparkles comes this children's book to tie into the upcoming Superman movie this summer. It is very much targetted for young readers (ages 5 to 7), which was right around the time I got into my first comic books many decades ago. I thought this would be fun to check out.

Justus (a perfect name, by the way, for someone writing about super-heroes) does a fantastic job tailoring the material for his target age group. The dialogue is easy to read, and the artwork has a slightly exaggerated style that will appeal to kids. The characters act very much like eight-year-olds. This Superman even has a bit of that Silver Age snarkiness to his personality.

I like how the book ends, leaving it very open for a potential sequel. If it does well (and I suspect it will), this could easily turn into a series for early readers to enjoy.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUPER cute! My nephew is gonna LOVE this!

[Kendra Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute little graphic novel for kids just learning how to read.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Super" reading for super emergent readers.

Using a very limited vocabulary, this DC series will appeal to readers who want to independently read about a superhero and feel success at having done it themselves.

In this first book of the series, 8-year-old Clark Kent realizes his super powers set him aside to the point he is lonely. When a young Lex Luthor tries to be his friend, Superman is not interested and flies off. He meets another super kid flying in the sky - a young Green Lantern. They run into Hawkgirl who is saving some puppies from being frozen (this seems inconsistent with the image of smoke and fire). Together the trio battle a giant milkshake making robot built by Lex Luthor and form the "Good Guy Gang".

Super easy text will be super fun to read super fast. Since it is not too difficult, they will feel rewarded and hunger for more reading "candy" - one way to get them to enjoy reading. A step above 3-letter words, this has some great sight words that include terms such as: awesome, poisoning, science, thought, laugh, and fighting.

Optional purchase for ages 4-6.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for the youngest Superman fans. It’s a graphic novel at the level before chapter books but not so heavy as picture books. I like the cheekiness of the various characters and how they meet and get along. Where the author is taking Lex Luther is very interesting, how him and Superman can’t hang out because Lex Luther is only six and Superman is eight. This book just really works. If your kid is a fan of any of the Art Balthazar books, whether for Marvel or Dr. C etc., pick this up.

[Daniel Franco]

Este lo elegí en el FCBD porque la portada con un Superman animado para niños me recordó a Gastón de la Bella y la Bestia. Me llamó la atención. Creo que el arte para niños también tiene demasiado talento y una vertiente que no cualquiera puede lograr.

Creo que este cómic lo logra, y lo hace bien!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starring Lil Superman and Lil Green Lantern.

The boys encounter Hawkgirl with some puppies.

They believe she is a villain, and that she’s stolen the helpless canines.

Cute story.

The illustration style does veer basic. It’s oversimplified, and could use more precision.

Includes a sneak peek at Aquamanatee.

[Chad · Rating 1 out of 5]

Huh, this Superman is vapid and stupid. Also, he's a big jerk to Lex Luther and I'm not at all surprised he keeps trying to kill Superman in the future if this is how Superman treated him as a kid. All he does is want to be friends. It's really surprising that DC published this because I would not want to give it to a young child that is still learning how one should behave.

[Norman Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book for kids features simple, stylized artwork and kid-friendly versions of DC superheroes (as kids themselves). It's cute. I highly recommend it for kids as a future gateway to the regular DC universe.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like the Spidey and Friends series, this book introduces young readers to a superhero and villains with familiar conflicts that might be found in picture books or early readers. My kindergarten-age kiddo was engaged in this story, and it felt a lot like a superhero comic primer!

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saturday morning

Good color artwork. Previews of lite summer reading for kids. Part of the2025 free comic day bonanza. Cowabunga Cowabunga Cowabunga

[Robert Kimberlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A NICE FUN COMIC. LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE.

[Holly Letson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bet this will be a cute story.
So will *Aquamanatee*.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and funny early graphic with lots of kid appeal.

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great spin on beloved characters. Very cute art and nice story. Great book for kids.

[Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun book that the young reader target audience (ages 5-7) will love. A breezy superhero hangout with and for kids. Funny and with a lovely unique art style.

[Julia Pika · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's cute, nothing complicated, but will be funny for kids aged 4-6.

[Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Knew it was off to an interesting start when it began with Green lantern spotting Hawk Girl and saying, “Look! She’s stealing those puppies! She’s probably going to eat them.”

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In SUPERMAN’S GOOD GUY GANG, young super kid Clark Kent is lonely and bored until he meets a pair of kids who also have superpowers. When they team up to figure out who’s been freezing some cute puppies, they discover a giant milkshake machine that’s gone rogue. They’ll need to use their powers to make it stop. With humor, action-filled artwork and minimal text, this is a fun introduction to classic DC characters for young readers interested in superheroes.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so prepared to like this. Superman is the perfect choice to launch DC's early readers and teaming up with Hawk Girl and a Green Lantern felt like a nice spread for story possibilities. Instead we have him essentially bullying Lex Luthor for being 6 years old when he's inexplicably 8 and already going by Superman. The vibes are aiming for Captain Underpants, but they don't quite hit.

[Raven Black · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not for the adult reader who likes a more sophisticated book, but if your child is a typical five to eight-year-old who has a slightly goofy sense of humor and likes superheroes then this is it. Fun illustrations and fast paced story keeps the reader engaged.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art is fun and it is an easy read perfectly suited for the kids it's aimed for.
But it did bother me how Superman acted with Lex; it read to me more like bullying instead of snarky banter, especially when Lex is being nice to us.
Thank you for the eARC!

[Maggie Chesna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this arc through my job. It's a cute and quick GN for kids younger than tween age, but I didn't love that Superman wasn't too kind to Lex, who actually made the effort to be kind! Still cute overall.