Superhero scions save the world from a monstrous threat and become besties along the way. Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons takes the DC animated universe back to a more family-friendly and fun footing. The pre-teen-powered plot tackles the usual adolescent travails with a Justice League twist. Good humor and slick CGI animation make up for a lack of surprises. The narrative plays out as expected but keeps your attention through a breezy runtime. The adventures of Jonathan Kent (Jack Dylan Grazer) and Damian Wayne (Jack Griffo) have a promising start.
On the doomed planet of Krypton, Jor-El (Nolan North) and Lara (Myrna Velasco) send baby Kal-El to Earth on a rocket. They don’t realize that a dangerous creature has latched on for the ride. The jump to light speed loses the interloper, but it still hurtles in the right direction. A comic-styled montage follows of Clark Kent (Travis Willingham) growing into Superman. He marries Lois Lane (Laura Bailey), they have Jonathan, and relocate to the Kent farm in Smallville.
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A frustrated Jonathan doesn’t understand why his dad is always gone. He thinks work is more important than his son. Clark tries to soothe his hurt boy but has to leave once again. Superman saves the Watchtower from falling after it’s hit by some kind of space debris. Jonathan’s lashing out reveals an extraordinary ability. Clark and Lois decide it’s time to tell their son of his true heritage.
A Trip to the Bat Cave
Jonathan is floored by the revelation. A trip to the Bat Cave for a health assessment is a fantasy come true. He idolizes Batman (Troy Baker) but makes a poor first impression on Damian Wayne. The surly Robin doesn’t think much of Superman’s hick kid. A signal from the Watchtower alarms Batman and Superman. There’s something strange about Green Arrow (Tom Kenny), who summons every Justice League member for a critical meeting.
Eleven-year-old Jonathan faces the same Smallville troubles as his father. He’s a nerd who gets bullied. His failure on the baseball team reinforces dweeb status. Damian is a trained assassin “who has killed more people than Jonathan will probably ever know.” The grandson of Ra’s al Ghul isn’t a team player. Damian is hot-headed and arrogant but a skilled fighter. He springs into action when the Justice League becomes compromised. Jonathan, regardless of his dorkiness, has exhibited Kryptonian traits under duress. The Super Sons must take the hero mantle from their fathers.
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Animation Looks Great
DC
The animation looks great. The film is stylistically similar to Marvel Studios What If…? 3D CGI backgrounds and characters are blended with a nod to classic cartoons. There’s not a focus on extreme realism, but everything is crisp and well-defined. The clever beginning montage adds just a hint of difference. The filmmakers deliver solid action scenes. The nasty antagonist and its creepy minions bring a needed dark element. You’ve seen this baddie before. It will definitely be compared with the live-action version.
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons must be viewed as an origin story. The primary alien attack arc is simplistic, and literally spelled out by Lois. The film establishes Jonathan and Damian as awkward youths finding friendship. Their different personalities are complimentary in battle. You cheer when they work together to overcome daunting odds. I even got a kick out of Krypto the Superdog.
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons is a production of Warner Bros. Animation. It will have a theatrical, streaming, and Blu-ray/DVD release on October 18th from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
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