Challenge of the Super Sons, Vol. 1

Super Sons #6

by Peter J. Tomasi, Max Raynor (Artist), Jorge Corona (Artist)

The fan-favorite duo of the Super Sons—Damian Wayne and Jonathan Kent, the son of Batman and the son of Superman—are back in a new adventure, and only Robin and Superboy can save their dads from certain doom!

The Super Sons are back! Picking up where the sensational Adventures of the Super Sons left off, the son of Batman and the son of Superman tackle their greatest threat ever: the deadly DOOM SCROLL. Whoever (whomever? We can never tell) has their name inscribed on this ancient and magical parchment will be killed post-haste.

Now, the evil powers-that-be have written the names of the Justice League on the deadly doc, and Superboy and Robin are the only ones who can save their dads from certain doom! The catch? No one can know it was the boys that saved them.

Join returning Super Sons writer Peter J. Tomasi and superstar artists including Max Raynor and Jorge Corona for another romp through the DC Universe alongside everyone's favorite Super Sons!

This volume collects Challenge of the Super Sons #1-7.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Superheroes, Superman

168 pages, Paperback

First published March 29, 2022

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Join Peter J. Tomasi for another flashback tale of the Super Sons - when a mysterious magic scroll promises doom for the Justice League, only Superboy and Robin can save them. But their quest takes a turn for the worse when they end up travelling back in time and running afoul of not only Felix Faust but Vandal Savage as well!

Challenge Of The Super Sons has a good story in it somewhere, it just takes some digging to get it out. It's told almost entirely out of order, and that becomes frustrating about the second time we change time periods - and I don't just mean when the kids time travel, I mean we just decide to change setting between issues for no apparent reason. I get telling a story out of order for dramatic effect, but telling it all over the place is just irritating.

Once you get it in the right order, it's fun enough. Tomasi nails Damian and Jon's bickering as well as he always has, and the inclusion of the Justice League and the villains of the piece works well too. The side character/deus ex machina is a bit more bland, but I get the need for some more motivation in the past section of the story.

The art on these digital first books is always a bit flat; Max Raynor's contributions are probably the most solid of all the artists involved across the fourteen chapters.

If you're absolutely desperate for more Super Sons, Challenge will scratch the itch, but some peculiar storytelling decisions stop it from being as good as any of Jon and Damian's previous adventures.

[Vinicius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestamente, eu daria 2 estrelas para essa HQ, porém eu estaria sendo injusto com o gibi. Apesar de não ter gostado da trama, acredito que seja mais porque ela não dialogou comigo, ou seja, o público alvo dessa história é outro, pois não acredito que ela seja realmente ruim para duas estrelas, ela só realmente não é para mim.

Na trama, acompanhamos uma aventura divertida e despretensiosa, sem amarras cronológicos da editora. Apenas uma história aventuresca com pegada mais juvenil.

Na trama, acompanhamos Jon e Damian tendo que lidar com uma "maldição" que foi jogada na liga da justiça no passado e que está reverberando no futuro. Por isso, há viagens no tempo e questões cronologicas, o que também não sou muito fã.

O destaque fica por conta da relação entre o Superboy e o Robin, que ao mesmo tempo que são ótimos amigos, também são ótimos em discutir por conta das habilidades e criação dos 2 serem tão distintas. Essa dicotomia do Jon ser todo alegre e bobo, enquanto o Damian é estressado e fechado, traz uma leveza e uma riqueza para a história, pois desenvolve bem os personagens.

[Trike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a hoot. When Tomasi is on, he’s on fire, and this one is scorching. It’s a fun time travel adventure with the super kids going up against perennial baddies Felix Faust and Vandal Savage. It certainly could’ve been an issue shorter, but I didn’t mind much, because there are plenty of fun moments, including several that made me laugh out loud.

Even this panel out of context is funny:

https://ibb.co/4YpZdDX

[Nico · Rating 4 out of 5]

i will never forgive bendis for what he took from us

[Roman Zarichnyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ран «Суперсини» Пітера Томасі вважаю одним із кращих у періодів «Відродження». Тому пропустити лімітку «Виклик Cуперсинів» («Challenge of the Super Sons») #1–12, 2020 того ж Пітера Томасі я не міг. Я був дуже розчарований, коли Джон Кент постаршав. І поява цього коміксу, де ми повертаємося знову до чудової команди Деміана й молодшого Джона, — гарна новина.

Комікс розпочинається в далекому майбутньому, коли Джон і Деміан, уже дідусі, сперечаються через відеогру, у той час, як онуки, скрадаються, щоб схопити нову копію пригод «Суперсинів». Та справжня пригода починається зі сцени, де підлітки Джон та Деміан, перебувають у школі й постійно сперечаються. Після школи в них звичне й нудне патрулювання містом. Але наприкінці зміни до них підходить незнайома жінка, яка, невідомо чому, вибухає. Та враження, наче, вона все контролює й за кілька хвилин, з’являються «інші» Робін і Суперхлопець у каптурах і сувоєм у руках. І ми дійсно розуміємо, що все так і мало бути. Далі ми дізнаємося правила сувою, поринаємо хитрі місії щодо героїв зазначених у сувої, отримуємо подорожі в минуле, нових цікавих антагоністів з іншого часу й відкриємо таємницю загадкової жінки. І це все приправляється великою кількістю екшену й веселих сцен разом із Деміаном та Джоном.

Як на мене, це чудовий приклад, як можна використовувати чудову й цікаву команду для створення ось таких супергеройсько-пригодницьких коміксів. Динамічно, весело, з долею інтриги, а ще і красиво намальовано, завдяки художникам Джорджу Короні та Максу Рейнору. Дивно, що DC не намагаються рухатися в цьому напрямку. Тому висновок про «Виклик Cуперсинів» — беріть читайте й насолоджуйтеся хорошим коміксом.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun story of the super sons travelling through time to help with a quest to save the justice league.

The most fun part of this story was each chapter basically being the two super sons saving a different justice league member and they had to do it without them knowing. It was just a really fun premise which included some great banter moments for Damian to shine.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was really nice having them back for a minute. the only reason i'm not rating this higher is because the story was kinda all over the place. but i was still smiling the whole time i was reading, because this last dance really nailed their dynamic.

[Tshepiso · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Peter J. Tomasi pens yet another lighthearted Super Sons adventure. This installment Challenge of the Super Sons finds our heroes flung through time as they are forced to stop a 16th-century Vandal Savage and Dr. Faust from murdering the Justice League. Damian and Jon with the help of Faust's unwitting apprentice Rora defeat the dastardly plots all while avoiding revealing their imminent doom to the League.

Challenge of the Super Sons is a similar wholesome adventure to previous installments in the series. We have the expected Jon-Damian banter and plenty of shenanigans to keep a reader hooked. I especially loved the vibrant and colour full art of Max Raynor and Jorge Corona. I will say the time travel story was occasionally confusing as we initially switched back and forth in time with no context as to why. However, by the end of the story all is explained and everything is tied up cleanly.

While I had fun with this installment as always I do find that the Super Sons are getting a bit stale with time. While I love the way Tomasi writes these two their relationship over the course of three series hasn't been given the space to evolve. I may be asking too much of a series only attempting to be a lighthearted child-friendly adventure, but I do occasionally wish I got a little bit more from their dynamic than Damian as the egotistical hard head and Jon's the happy-go-lucky one from time to time.

Otherwise, this comic was exactly what I expected from it so I can't complain too much.

[pennpenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

This was such an adorable and entertaining ride! I laughed out loud so many times during this book LOL. I love it when Jon and Damian get to act like the ridiculous 13 year olds they are <3

[Michael Emond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of this entire series although some volumes are definitely stronger than others. In this one Peter Tomasi captures everything I love about the series. The humour and the hilarious interactions between Damian and Jon. It is so perfect. Grounding it in one adventure and keeping them on Earth (and keeping it fun and light) was the key for this being one of my favourite volumes so far.

The art is great (although there is one issue where is was really bad when the regular artist took the issue off) capturing the dynamics of the duo and the humour to great effect.

But the star here is Peter Tomasi's ability to make you love these characters. They are - in some ways - exaggerated versions of their fathers. Damian is smart, capable, and condescending and Jon is brave, heroic and naive. The story is just the right amount of "threat" and "fun adventure" with the boys having to save each of the Justice league (without the JL member being aware) from a doom by Felix Faust and Vandal Savage. Not sure if Vandal was needed here other than someone for Felix to argue with. But regardless - a good story to hang the fun interactions of the Super Sons on.

Not sure if this is the last volume we will get with Peter at the helm but if it is - a perfect send off.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story in the first third or so, when we were establishing the premise of the “Doom Scroll,” where heroes shown on the scroll are doomed to a predetermined death unless the Super Sons can stop them without said heroes knowing.

I thought this was a great plot, invoking the ways kids would try to get things done without their parents or other adults knowing 🤭

Those scenes were great, but the following context, told out-of-order, was a bit hard to follow since it was time-traveling shenanigans 😅 I read it slowly, so I think I got… most of it? 😅😅

All in all, the initial concept of the “Doom Scroll” piqued my interest the most with the spotlight mostly on Jon and Damian 😂 I wish the magic setting could’ve been explored more; I found it hilarious watching Jon and Damian interact with the forest and the troll 😂

Gosh, I can’t believe we haven’t had more Super Sons since this… Well, we’ll get more eventually… because nothing bad happened, right? This series is just on pause… And the movie was so much fun! So, DC will make more Super Sons because nothing bad happened to Jon Kent specifically. Nope, not at all.

🥲🥲🥲🫠🫠🫠🤡🤡🤡

[Nate]

I loved the Super Sons Rebirth comic. It was prematurely cancelled because Bendis took over Superman and Action Comics and had plans to age up Jon Kent. That left me pretty bitter, especially because Bendis' Superman sucked. But fan outcry and Tomasi's desire to write more adventures with young Jon and Damian led to a solid sequel, as well as this digital-first series. And while Jon and Damian's interactions are fun here, the story isn't great. The nonlinear storytelling really drags it down. There's a much better way this story could have been told. You're likely going to read this for Jon and Damian's friendship, which is charming as I said, but the supporting story is all over the place. Time will tell if Tomasi will write more Super Sons books, but as much as I love that early series, I'm not sure we need more after this.

[Dre · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enojy this run of the Supersons, their series was one of the first things I read and bought, pretty randomly honestly bc I'm not a fan of Damian, I think his existence ruins parts of Batman not bc of his character but bc of what it emplies, and I wasn't familiar with Jon to have chosen them but still they're a big reason as to why I now read comics and this run left a lot to desire, the art towards the end wasn't for me and the story just felt messy and honestly boring, it's not like supersons tends to have great stories but this was below the line for me, also the writing for Damian wasn't my fave, just "violent rude boy", multiple times he says he doesn't care about animals, that's not Damian lol.

[Francine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just love my boys so I'm always happy to spend time with them. 😊

The plot is alright. The time travel aspect was a bit all over the place, I can see what they were trying to do but it didn't really work for me.
Savage and Faust are the villains this time and they sure are villainous. Not super interesting imo but they are certainly being evil.

Things I didn't like about this volume: when Jon drank the pee.
Also that the art style changes so drastically for two chapters in the middle of the adventure. I don't mind either art style, but I do prefer consistency!

All in all, this was pretty mid. Not a masterpiece, just some punchy fighty slock. That's okay sometimes.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

These Peter Tomasi Supersons stories are always worth a read. In this one, Damian and Jon have to secretly save all the members of the Justice League from a plan Vandal Savage and Felix Faust put together 500 years before. There are some rough transitions between some of these 14 chapters of this digital first comic, sometimes leaving you wondering where you're at. The interactions between the boys is still fantastic and this makes me remember how much I miss Jon Kent before he was aged up to adulthood. Thanks for nothing Bendis!

[Vishal · Rating 4 out of 5]

DC's biggest mistake to age Jon kent

Super sons are fantastic and their stories are super fun, alas DC made a huge mistake by allowing Bendis to age Jon Kent and well that was end to Super sons. However this volume was written later as "in not to distant past" so I am hoping to get more of this but in actual continuity that's not going to happen. Tomasi is great as always, there is no one who understands these kids better than him. Art was alright, Max Raynor's art is great, rest was not that good. Overall fun adventure, recommended.

[Brenda A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to give it 5 stars, because I love these two to death. Why don’t we have more?! I need more volumes with their dynamic front and center. This volume is such a great showcase of how close they’ve become and how well they work together. The Justice League is honestly lucky to have them on their side.
If you’ll excuse me, I’m now on a mission to find every single chapter where they’re together or even just mention each other. This is my life now.

[AJ Easterday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Super Sons adventure! It's hard to go wrong with these two! Their dynamic is just so perfect. Really my biggest complaint about this installment was that there is an artist change partway through the book and the new art style does not match the rest of the book at all. I get sometimes you have to change artists, but at least find someone who can match style.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time travel

Good color artwork. The team up of super boy and robin is pretty obnoxious at times. The magic driven storyline is entertaining but still seems a little young adult or tween like.

[Doctor Doom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite iteration of the Super-sons. The artwork goes from good to clunky - I know these are supposed to be kids but Superbrat's ankle is so small at times it looks like a toothpick. The basic story is okay but the constant bickering is annoying.

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss these two kids.

Such a shame we will never see these two kids get old. Damien is still around but we all know what happened to Jon. These two are very funny together and I really liked this concept. Just a shame its gone now. It was fun while it lasted.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The banter between Damian and Jon was entertaining and I liked the art style a lot! I enjoyed how they went about saving everyone. Definitely a good read! I'm not a huge supersons reader though so I can't tell you if it's a good representation of them. I personally think it is though.

[Highland G · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed it overall, the time jumps back and forth were more than a little jarring.

[Thea (All About Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little time-twisting adventure, as Jon and Damian face second-stringers Felix Faust and Vandal Savage in the past and present.

[Rivulet027 · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a fun read!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well thought out story. Bit of an American manga vibe

[Icarus · Rating 2 out of 5]

My God, this was so boring. The saving grace was the characters (obviously). Seriously lame story, don't know why they bothered releasing it.

[laila r · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best supersons book ever. that was so stupid cute

[Alejandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5