Is The 2020 Edition Of The Super Sons Omnibus Worth Your Money?
To anyone in the know of the world of DC, the classic comic distributor, Super Sons should be a familiar name. Even to those who are outside of the know, there is a sense of familiarity in the characters on the cover: the son of Superman, Jon Kent, and the son of Batman (as well as current Robin), Damian Wayne. Both blaze the symbols and colors of their fathers and represent a sense of immediate recognisability even if the viewer doesn't know the exact characters as they are in these comics.
Published in 2017 with the art of Jorge Jimenez and the writing of Peter Tomasi, Super Sons was a breakout hit that many have credited as being a wholesome and welcome break from the onslaught of more serious superhero comics. As a result, it got a 16 issue run that was succeeded by a 12 issue run called Adventures of the Super Sons. As of late 2021, DC has also begun running a new install slated to last another 12 issues called Challenge of the Super Sons. What's clear as day is that Jon Kent and Damian Wayne as they are in Super Sons will not be going away, despite how it is now a departure from the main canon of DC.
The Original Run and Omnibus of the Super Sons
Considering the popularity of the characters and their short runs in comics, it isn't much of a surprise that Super Sons had an omnibus prior to the version released in 2020. Back in 2018, DC released an omnibus that contained all 16 issues along with 2 extra issues from the Superman run of the time written by Tomasi that tie into the existence of the Jon Kent character and his eventual alliance with the current Robin. It also included a holiday special that was ungodly charming and a one-off about the Superpets and the Batpets which, again, was ungodly charming.
It was a good omnibus, too. Alongside containing all of the currently printed comics for the current incarnation of the Super Son franchise, the original 2018 omnibus also contained a variety of development art by Jimenez as well as a full collection of the full-color alternative covers for each issue. There were even development sketches of the pages themselves, both in ink and in pre-ink stages, which was a neat look at the production method of the artists. There was only one issue with this omnibus:
DC decided to give Super Sons a little more.
Adventures of the Super Sons
The return to the characters featured Tomasi again at the helm for writing, but with a variety of different artists other than Jimenez for the art. Most specifically, Carlo Barberi took over, giving it a different but still distinct and well-done art style that was nice to look at and read with. It was twelve issues long and very self-contained, telling a more fantastical story than the previous comic had by forcing Jon and Damian into space and alternate dimensions.
It did, however, present a problem.
The old Super Sons Omnibus now was missing a full 12 issue run of the characters. They knew it, too because Adventures of the Super Sons ended in 2019, and the new Omnibus was released only a year later with the same original contents and bonus art alongside all of Adventures. With two very expensive Omnibus collections on your hands, that leaves the reader asking a very important question.
What's Really the Difference Between the Two Omnibuses?
While both Omnibuses are complete for their time, and full of great art and storytelling, that doesn't necessarily mean that one is better than the other for the given individual. The original Omnibus follows the story of the Super Sons in the context of their familial ties and the evolution of their abilities, always keeping a surprisingly grounded focus for a story about superhero children.
Adventures of the Super Sons, however, is a lot more grandiose and fantastical.
That is to say, Adventures has a bit of a tonal shift that's more about high adventure in grander scales such as an adventure in space and alternative dimensions. In that sense, it's a lot more freeform, and the writers are a fair bit more liberal about how far they can go with the excessively bizarre storytelling. For example, there is a section of the story that is dedicated to an 'artificial' Kryptonite that causes Jon to break into two different halves. Any of his biological oddities here are mostly attributed to his half-human nature.
It is definitely more open and willing to tackling more extreme ideas. That said, this can at times make it seem a little tonally dissonant with the original run of Super Sons, which even at its most extreme always tied back to Earth and the two families that these boys originated from. Adventures of the Super Sons is definitely more out of the left-field, but, that's not a vote against it, just that it may seem a little bit more bizarre than the original Super Sons.
What is preserved is the likable characters and the incredibly well-realized dynamic between Superboy and Robin, as well as the overall aura of creative minds working on fun worlds.
So When It Comes To Your Omnibus Choice, It Comes Down to What?
Essentially your choice of Omnibus--the 2018 copy of the 2020 copy--comes down to whether or not you're interested in Adventures of the Super Sons or not. That is, after all, the distinctive difference between the 2018 print and the 2020 print. Both share the same concept art, alternative covers, and production art bonuses. Both are hardcovers with book slips, with the original Omnibus being 608 pages and the new Omnibus being 888 pages. It's a hefty one, that 2020 one, and very heavy. So you'll also want to make sure you even have room on your shelf for either of these monstrously big books.
Either way, the presence of whichever Omnibus you're interested in does signal one thing for sure: the Super Sons aren't going away any time soon, even if there are gaps between production. As of the hiring of Michael Bendis onto the DC team, a lot has changed about the characters, but the fact that they can still sell an expensive Omnibus of the original team-up of Jon Kent and Damian Wayne says quite a bit about their longevity as characters.
In fact, shortly after the Omnibus was announced, Jorge Jimenez started teasing for the next installment of the Super Sons franchise, and since then they've begun releasing the third Super Sons collection: Challenge of the Super Sons. It is unclear whether this will mark the creation of a third Omnibus due to its different, more web-friendly format, but both it and the 2020 Omnibus shows that there is always a possibility for more Super Sons.
Opinions and Perspectives
ZenModeActivated
3y ago
Amazing how they managed to keep the quality consistent across both series.
RedCarpet_Star21
3y ago
The holiday special was such a nice touch. Really showed their lighter side.
Halperin_Hour
3y ago
Really impressed with how they maintained character consistency across both series.
Willow_Symphony
3y ago
The friendship between these two feels so authentic despite the superhero setting.
Marie_Whisper
3y ago
Just finished reading both and honestly can't pick a favorite. They each have their strengths.
Joanna_Ortega
3y ago
The alternative covers are gorgeous. Really shows different interpretations of the characters.
JasonLearns
3y ago
These stories really show how superhero comics can be fun without being simplistic.
Samantha-Rose
3y ago
I appreciate how they kept the core friendship intact even when going cosmic.
Stillness-Within_888
3y ago
The quality of both omnibuses is outstanding. DC didn't cut any corners here.
HikeMoreWorryLess
3y ago
Kind of miss the more grounded stories, but the cosmic stuff was fun too.
StreamingSeriesAddict
3y ago
The art direction in both runs really captures the energy of young superheroes.
MovieMarathonChampion
3y ago
That split personality Kryptonite story was wild, but it worked within the context.
BehindTheScenes_Insider
3y ago
The way they handle the boys' different power levels is really clever.
Simplicity-Rules_24
3y ago
Never thought I'd be so invested in a story about superhero kids, but here we are!
EpicScreenplay
3y ago
Those family dynamics really hit home. Especially the parts about living up to their fathers' legacies.
Couric_Coverage
3y ago
The original run did such a good job establishing their relationship. Made the later adventures more meaningful.
Inner-Strength_Daily_888
3y ago
I actually enjoyed seeing how different artists interpreted the characters in Adventures.
QuantumGlitchX
3y ago
The bonus content really adds value to these collections. Love seeing behind the scenes stuff.
Zen_And_Tonic_11
3y ago
The space adventure stuff reminds me of classic DC cosmic stories, but with a modern twist.
Horror_Addict_13
3y ago
Love how they balanced action with character development throughout both series.
Rosa99
3y ago
The artistic consistency in the original run was impressive. Each issue felt like part of a cohesive whole.
LilyThompson
3y ago
Interesting point about Bendis changing things up. The original dynamic was something special though.
LiliaM
3y ago
The contrast between Jon's optimism and Damian's cynicism makes for such entertaining dialogue.
Lauren_66
3y ago
I'm hoping they continue with more Super Sons stories. The dynamic between these characters is too good to waste.
Esme-Romero
3y ago
The writing really captures what it's like to be a kid while still dealing with superhero responsibilities.
UnstoppableYou
3y ago
Anyone else think the holiday special deserves more attention? It showed such a fun side to these characters.
MysterySeries_Whodunnit
3y ago
Not sure about others, but I found the development sketches fascinating. Really shows the artistic process.
PearlH
3y ago
The character development throughout both series is really impressive. You can see how their friendship evolves.
Olivia-Kate
3y ago
Looking at my bookshelf right now trying to figure out where I'd even put an 888-page omnibus!
ZenSoulJourney
3y ago
I actually prefer the more fantastical elements. Reminds me of silver age comics in the best way possible.
Paula-Duncan
3y ago
The production art really gives you appreciation for how much work goes into creating these comics.
WarpDriveSeeker
3y ago
Sometimes I wonder what Bruce and Clark think about their sons' friendship. Such an interesting parallel to their own relationship.
Zoe_Waves
3y ago
Just started reading the 2020 omnibus and I'm loving how the story evolves from grounded to more cosmic adventures.
DataPhantomX
4y ago
You make a fair point about the grounded nature of the original run. It did feel more connected to the DC universe as a whole.
Danielle-Rhodes
4y ago
The alternative covers collection is amazing. Really shows how different artists interpret these characters.
RebelGlitch
4y ago
Still can't get over how much content is packed into these omnibuses. The bonus material alone is worth the price.
Krugman_Column
4y ago
I completely understand what you mean about Adventures being more out there, but sometimes that's exactly what we need in comics.
Mira_Starburst
4y ago
The whole concept of Batman and Superman's kids being friends is just brilliant. Such a great way to explore their fathers' relationship too.
PeacockWatcher
4y ago
Anyone else love how they included the Superman tie-in issues in the original omnibus? Really helped establish Jon's character.
Namaste-Everyday
4y ago
I miss seeing these versions of Jon and Damian. The current continuity just isn't the same.
Aubrey_Flower
4y ago
That's interesting about the artificial Kryptonite. Never thought about how Jon's hybrid nature could lead to such unique storylines.
Radiate_Confidence_360
4y ago
The art in the original run was incredible, but I think people underappreciate Barberi's work in Adventures.
QuantumSurge
4y ago
Actually found the space adventures refreshing. It gave the creative team more freedom to explore different storytelling possibilities.
Talia-Oliver
4y ago
The original run had such heart. Those family moments between the boys and their fathers were so well written.
KenzieRae
4y ago
Wonder if they'll include Challenge of the Super Sons in a future omnibus. The web format might make it tricky though.
Kurtz_Commentary
4y ago
I feel the tonal shift in Adventures actually works well to show the boys' growth and willingness to tackle bigger challenges.
Hogwarts_Student_9¾
4y ago
My kids absolutely love these stories. It's refreshing to have superhero content that's both fun and appropriate for younger readers.
SoleilH
4y ago
The development art sections are fascinating. I love seeing how Jimenez developed the characters' looks.
Cine_Fanatic99
4y ago
Honestly, I think both omnibuses have their merits. The original is more cohesive, but the Adventures series adds such interesting dimensions to their story.
Heart_Centered_Living_101
4y ago
The price point for these omnibuses is steep, but the quality of the content makes it worth it in my opinion.
OConnell_Observations
4y ago
I'm glad they kept Tomasi as the writer throughout both runs. His understanding of the characters' relationship really shines through.
Camila_Hughes
4y ago
The artificial Kryptonite storyline where Jon splits in two was actually one of my favorite parts. It showed how unique his hybrid nature is.
Monica-Perkins
4y ago
Has anyone actually tried lifting the 2020 omnibus? My arms got tired just thinking about those 888 pages!
Porter_Perspective
4y ago
Jorge Jimenez's art style really brought these characters to life. I was a bit skeptical when Carlo Barberi took over, but he did a great job too.
TechWhizX
4y ago
I have to disagree about Adventures being too fantastical. The whole point of superhero comics is to push boundaries and imagine the impossible.
Oscar_Speeches_Addict
4y ago
That holiday special they mentioned was fantastic! I remember laughing so hard at the Superpets and Batpets story. Such a fun addition to the collection.
GraceB
4y ago
The space adventures in Adventures of the Super Sons felt a bit too far-fetched for me. I preferred the more grounded stories from the original run.
SacredSelf_Care_111
4y ago
Reading through this article, I'm torn between the two omnibus editions. The extra content in the 2020 version sounds tempting, but 888 pages is massive!
GlowModeOn
4y ago
I absolutely loved the original Super Sons run! The dynamic between Jon and Damian was just perfect. Their personalities complemented each other so well.