With the new direction the DCAU is taking, it only makes sense for them to finally veer in to the world of the Super Sons. For a few years now, Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne’s sons have been the most unlikely popular duo. Warner and DC even welcome them in to the fold of the DC Animated library with a full CG animated movie rather than hand drawn. I much prefer hand drawn, but the CG animation works wonders for the high energy first adventures of Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne. In either case, “Battle of the Super Sons” is a great buddy action movie, and it’s a coming of age action film featuring two legacy heroes that have a big task on their hands.
Young Jonathan Kent, son of Lois Lane and Clark Kent, and reluctant young sidekick Damian Wayne, son of Bruce Wayne, are burdened with saving the world from impending doom at the hands of an alien menace. The two must join forces to rescue their fathers and the Justice League from the evil mind controlling Starro, and save the planet by becoming the super heroes they were intended to be. Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne are the teen protagonists, both of whom are anxious to prove themselves.
Jack Dylan Grazer and Jack Griffo are great in their respective roles, doing everything they can to race against the increasing domination of the mind controlling alien Starro. The pair has excellent chemistry and they’re fun to watch as the respective heroes. The animation works well for the light-hearted, occasionally menacing science fiction adventure, and I loved the contrast of light and dark, especially in regards to Damian and Jonathan. While “Battle of the Super Sons” is more Jonathan’s movie than anyone else’s, Damian is given a very good sub-plot.
Here he is rejected from the Teen Titans for failing to be a good team player, and he’s forced to work alongside Jonathan and come to the realization that maybe he can be in a team if the stakes are high enough. “Battle of the Super Sons” is very reminiscent of Robert Rodriguez’s “The Faculty,” and is primarily meant for an audience in the tweens and preteens. However I did find it very accessible to the older audiences. Batman and Superman have great screen time, as does Lois Lane, all the while Starro is a menacing, occasionally creepy super villain who has no intentions of going easy on the two super teens. I just wish DC and Warner would give these movies a little more run time beyond eighty minutes.
The build up and introductions of characters could have really given us a wider scope of what Jonathan Kent was being invited in to. That said, I hope the future films featuring the Super Sons are this entertaining and energetic as DC Animation knocks it out of the park once again.
The Blu-Ray and 4K releases include Digital Redemption Codes. The supplemental material includes Rival Sons: Jonathan and Damian, a fourteen minutes short behind-the-scenes featurette that takes a look at the separate starring characters, their history on the printed page, coming-of-age tales, and the long road to this animated adaptation. There are comments from several first-hand participants such as producer Jim Krieg, DC creative director Mike Carlin, supervising producer Rick Morales, director Matt Peters, and screenwriter Jeremy Adams. A clinical psychologist is also interviewed oddly enough. Finally, From the DC Vault includes a two part classic episode of “Batman: The Animated Series,” presented in 1080p with lossy 2.0 audio, entitled “The Demon’s Quest.” It centers on Batman and Robin doing battle with Ra’s al Ghul and Talia.