Super-Sons
Encyclopedia
The Super-Sons were a pair of fictional character
s in an alternate version of the DC Comics
universe
. The characters were created by Bob Haney
and Dick Dillin
(based upon Superman
by Jerry Siegel
& Joe Shuster
, and Batman
by Bob Kane
& Bill Finger
). The duo first appeared in World's Finest Comics
#215 (January 1973).
The Super-Sons were Superman Jr. (Clark Kent Jr.) and Batman Jr. (Bruce Wayne Jr.), college-aged versions of their superhero
fathers. Their mothers are never fully shown – their faces either being hidden or turned away from the reader – and are never referred to by name by their husbands, but would appear to be Lois Lane
or Lana Lang
and Talia al Ghul
or Selena Kyle respectively. Although, as they were computer programs designed by Superman and Batman, it was mutually decided that who their mothers were was irrelevant.
Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred Pennyworth
, makes brief appearances in three of the stories, namely "Saga of the Super Sons", "Cry Not For my Forsaken Son" and "Crown for a New Batman", Commissioner Gordon appears briefly in "Cry Not For my Forsaken Son", while the original Robin
, Dick Grayson
, plays a major part in "Crown for a New Batman". (It is interesting to note that like Bruce Jr. and Clark Jr., Dick is still a teenager in the story – which implies that, in this alternate DC Comics Universe, he and Bruce Jr. grew up together as brothers.) The Super-Sons also get to meet Superman Sr.'s old enemy, Lex Luthor
, and his daughter, Ardora, who appears in "The Angel With a Dirty Name".
The Super-Sons, tired of living in their fathers' shadows, were apparently intended by writer Bob Haney
to represent the youth culture versions of Superman and Batman, not unlike his take on the Teen Titans. The Super-Sons debuted in World's Finest Comics
#215 (1973), and had a sporadic run in that title through #242 (1976).
The Super-Sons look almost exactly like their fathers and wear identical costumes. The characters spoke with a slightly exaggerated version of the slang popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They regard each other as brothers, since both understand the pressures involved in being the son of a living legend. Like his father, Batman Jr. has no superhuman powers and relies on athletic prowess and gadgets. Superman Jr., on the other hand, has inherited his father's powers. Since Superman Jr. is half-human, his powers are lesser than those of Superman, Sr. (but still developing). However, the elder Superman's powers were almost limitless.
Although the very first Super-Sons Story insisted that the stories of the Super-Sons were actual stories in the lives of Superman and Batman, the final story in World's Finest #263, "Final Secret of the Super-Sons", written by Dennis O'Neil
, revealed that the Sons had never really existed — they were merely computer simulations of what might have been, created by Superman and Batman on the Man of Steel's computer in his Fortress of Solitude
.
limited series, Superman Jr. and Batman Jr. were erased from DC continuity. A Super-Sons story by Bob Haney was published in the rare comic special Elseworlds 80-Page Giant
(1999). In "Elseworlds
" tales, "heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places -- some that have existed, and others that can't, couldn't or shouldn't exist." Thus, the Super-Sons continued to be viewed as "imaginary" characters outside mainstream DC continuity.
The Super-Sons (and their fathers) appear briefly during the Infinite Crisis
limited series, during which time Alexander Luthor, Jr.
of Earth-Three
warps reality in an attempt to restore the multiverse
. Their planet -- identified as Earth-154 -- and countless other Earths later contract into a single "New Earth". However, in the limited series 52
, it is later revealed that 52 identical parallel universes were created. During his subsequent attempt to consume the multiverse, the worm-like villain Mister Mind altered each of the parallel worlds, creating distinct histories for each. According to DC Nation #89, one of those worlds is Earth-16, home of the Super-Sons.
Unlike the other stories, Saga of the Super Sons and Final Secret of the Super Sons were not divided into 'Parts'.
It should also be pointed out that 'Super Sons' was spelled both on the story titles and on the cover of DC Comics' trade-paperback collection without a hyphen, as here.
In World's Finest, the title of the series as given on the stories themselves tended to vary from issue to issue, i.e. Superman and Batman, Superman, Batman and their Super-Sons etc. These variations have been mentioned where they occur. However, Cry Not For my Forsaken Son bore only its story title and no series title was given at all.
#231 (May 1956), in a story written by Edmond Hamilton
, with art by Sheldon Moldoff
. In the story, Batman Junior is John Vance, a boy who once helped Batman
as sidekick long before Robin
(Dick Grayson
at the time), had arrived. John re-enters Batman's life to solve yet another case, making Robin feel that he is about to be replaced. Apart from a reprint of the story in Batman #185 (October-November 1966), John Vance has not reappeared.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
s in an alternate version of the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
. The characters were created by Bob Haney
Bob Haney
Robert G. "Bob" Haney was a US comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. He co-created the Teen Titans as well as characters such as Metamorpho, Eclipso, Cain, and the Super-Sons.- Early life and career :...
and Dick Dillin
Dick Dillin
Richard Allen "Dick" Dillin was an American comic book artist best known for an extraordinarily long 12-year run as the penciler of the DC Comics superhero-team series Justice League of America. He drew 115 issues from 1968 up until his death, bridging the venerable title's Mike Sekowsky and...
(based upon Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
by Jerry Siegel
Jerry Siegel
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S...
& Joe Shuster
Joe Shuster
Joseph "Joe" Shuster was a Canadian-born American comic book artist. He was best known for co-creating the DC Comics character Superman, with writer Jerry Siegel, first published in Action Comics #1...
, and Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
by Bob Kane
Bob Kane
Bob Kane was an American comic book artist and writer, credited as the creator of the DC Comics superhero Batman...
& Bill Finger
Bill Finger
William "Bill" Finger was an American comic strip and comic book writer best known as the uncredited co-creator, with Bob Kane, of the DC Comics character Batman, as well as the co-architect of the series' development...
). The duo first appeared in World's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics was an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled World's Best Comics for its first issue; issue #2 switched to the more familiar name...
#215 (January 1973).
The Super-Sons were Superman Jr. (Clark Kent Jr.) and Batman Jr. (Bruce Wayne Jr.), college-aged versions of their superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
fathers. Their mothers are never fully shown – their faces either being hidden or turned away from the reader – and are never referred to by name by their husbands, but would appear to be Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
or Lana Lang
Lana Lang
Lana Lang is a fictional supporting character in DC Comics' Superman series. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist John Sikela, the character first appears in Superboy #10...
and Talia al Ghul
Talia al Ghul
Talia al Ghul is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, the now-estranged daughter of the supervillain Ra's al Ghul, a love interest of Batman, and the mother of his son Damian Wayne, the fifth Robin...
or Selena Kyle respectively. Although, as they were computer programs designed by Superman and Batman, it was mutually decided that who their mothers were was irrelevant.
Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure...
, makes brief appearances in three of the stories, namely "Saga of the Super Sons", "Cry Not For my Forsaken Son" and "Crown for a New Batman", Commissioner Gordon appears briefly in "Cry Not For my Forsaken Son", while the original Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
, Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
, plays a major part in "Crown for a New Batman". (It is interesting to note that like Bruce Jr. and Clark Jr., Dick is still a teenager in the story – which implies that, in this alternate DC Comics Universe, he and Bruce Jr. grew up together as brothers.) The Super-Sons also get to meet Superman Sr.'s old enemy, Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
, and his daughter, Ardora, who appears in "The Angel With a Dirty Name".
The Super-Sons, tired of living in their fathers' shadows, were apparently intended by writer Bob Haney
Bob Haney
Robert G. "Bob" Haney was a US comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics. He co-created the Teen Titans as well as characters such as Metamorpho, Eclipso, Cain, and the Super-Sons.- Early life and career :...
to represent the youth culture versions of Superman and Batman, not unlike his take on the Teen Titans. The Super-Sons debuted in World's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics
World's Finest Comics was an American comic book series published by DC Comics from 1941 to 1986. The series was initially titled World's Best Comics for its first issue; issue #2 switched to the more familiar name...
#215 (1973), and had a sporadic run in that title through #242 (1976).
The Super-Sons look almost exactly like their fathers and wear identical costumes. The characters spoke with a slightly exaggerated version of the slang popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They regard each other as brothers, since both understand the pressures involved in being the son of a living legend. Like his father, Batman Jr. has no superhuman powers and relies on athletic prowess and gadgets. Superman Jr., on the other hand, has inherited his father's powers. Since Superman Jr. is half-human, his powers are lesser than those of Superman, Sr. (but still developing). However, the elder Superman's powers were almost limitless.
Although the very first Super-Sons Story insisted that the stories of the Super-Sons were actual stories in the lives of Superman and Batman, the final story in World's Finest #263, "Final Secret of the Super-Sons", written by Dennis O'Neil
Dennis O'Neil
Dennis J. "Denny" O'Neil is an American comic book writer and editor, principally for Marvel Comics and DC Comics in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of books until his retirement....
, revealed that the Sons had never really existed — they were merely computer simulations of what might have been, created by Superman and Batman on the Man of Steel's computer in his Fortress of Solitude
Fortress of Solitude
The Fortress of Solitude is the occasional headquarters of Superman in DC Comics. Its predecessor, Superman's "Secret Citadel", first appeared in Superman #17, where it was said to be built into a mountain on the outskirts of Metropolis...
.
Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths
Following the Crisis on Infinite EarthsCrisis on Infinite Earths
Crisis on Infinite Earths is a 12-issue American comic book limited series and crossover event, produced by DC Comics in 1985 to simplify its then 50-year-old continuity...
limited series, Superman Jr. and Batman Jr. were erased from DC continuity. A Super-Sons story by Bob Haney was published in the rare comic special Elseworlds 80-Page Giant
Elseworlds 80-Page Giant
The Elseworlds 80-Page Giant is an 80-page collection of Elseworlds stories published by DC Comics. The collection was withdrawn and pulped after DC became concerned about a scene in one of the stories.-Publication history:...
(1999). In "Elseworlds
Elseworlds
Elseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
" tales, "heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places -- some that have existed, and others that can't, couldn't or shouldn't exist." Thus, the Super-Sons continued to be viewed as "imaginary" characters outside mainstream DC continuity.
The Super-Sons (and their fathers) appear briefly during the Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis is a 2005 - 2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, and a number of tie-in books...
limited series, during which time Alexander Luthor, Jr.
Alexander Luthor, Jr.
Alexander Luthor Jr. is a DC Comics character who turned from a hero to a villain. Created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, Alexander has a prominent role in the DC Universe storylines Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis....
of Earth-Three
Earth-Three
Earth-Three is a fictional alternate universe set in the . It is the Earth of an alternate reality in the DC Multiverse. It first appeared in Justice League of America #29 .-Pre-Crisis:Its history is a mirror image to the Earth we know...
warps reality in an attempt to restore the multiverse
Multiverse (DC Comics)
The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
. Their planet -- identified as Earth-154 -- and countless other Earths later contract into a single "New Earth". However, in the limited series 52
52 (comics)
52 was a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue Infinite Crisis. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid with layouts by Keith Giffen...
, it is later revealed that 52 identical parallel universes were created. During his subsequent attempt to consume the multiverse, the worm-like villain Mister Mind altered each of the parallel worlds, creating distinct histories for each. According to DC Nation #89, one of those worlds is Earth-16, home of the Super-Sons.
The Super-Sons Stories
The titles of the individual 'Parts' of the stories are presented here as they were in the comic books. In other words, that of Part Two of Little Town With a Big Secret was actually shown in quotation marks, and the number of The Angel With a Dirty Name Part 3 was in numerical form rather than being spelled out as were the previous two Parts. These variations have thus been reflected below, and are not mistakes.Unlike the other stories, Saga of the Super Sons and Final Secret of the Super Sons were not divided into 'Parts'.
It should also be pointed out that 'Super Sons' was spelled both on the story titles and on the cover of DC Comics' trade-paperback collection without a hyphen, as here.
In World's Finest, the title of the series as given on the stories themselves tended to vary from issue to issue, i.e. Superman and Batman, Superman, Batman and their Super-Sons etc. These variations have been mentioned where they occur. However, Cry Not For my Forsaken Son bore only its story title and no series title was given at all.
| Title | Issue | Date | Writer | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superman and Batman: Saga of the Super Sons |
World’s Finest #215 | January, 1973 | Bob Haney | Dick Dillin, Henry Scarpelli |
| Superman, Batman and their Super-Sons: Little Town With a Big Secret |
World’s Finest #216 | March, 1973 | Bob Haney | Dick Dillin, Murphy Anderson |
| (Part One is untitled) Part Two: "The People Without Shadows" Part Three: Children of the Universe | ||||
| Cry Not For my Forsaken Son | World’s Finest #221 | February, 1974 | Bob Haney | Dick Dillin, Murphy Anderson |
| Part 1: Sharper Than a Serpent’s Tooth Part 2: Rendezvous on Massacre Island Part 3: Just an Ordinary Hero | ||||
| Superman Junior and Batman Junior: Evil in Paradise |
World’s Finest #222 | April, 1974 | Bob Haney | Dick Dillin, Vince Colletta |
| (Part 1 is untitled) Part 2: The Human Test Tube Part 3: Who the Killer, Who the Prey? | ||||
| Superman and Batman: The Shocking Switch of the Super Sons |
World’s Finest #224 | June/July, 1974 | Bob Haney | Dick Dillin, Vince Colletta |
| Part 1: A Chasm So Wide...! Part 2: The Mighty Marauder Part 3: The Breath of Death | ||||
| Superman, Batman and their Sons, co-starring Robin: Crown for a New Batman |
World’s Finest #228 | March, 1975 | Bob Haney | Dick Dillin, Tex Blaisdell |
| Part 1: Avenge Thy Father Part 2: The Riddle of Smoke Island Part 3: Tomb of Ice | ||||
| Superman and Batman and their Sons: The Girl Whom Time Forgot |
World’s Finest #230 | May, 1975 | Bob Haney | Curt Swan, Tex Blaisdell |
| Part 1: What the Satellite Saw Part 2: The Silent City Part 3: Sins of the Fathers | ||||
| Superman, Batman and their Super Sons: Hero is a Dirty Name |
World’s Finest #231 | July, 1975 | Bob Haney | Dick Dillin, Tex Blaisdell |
| Part 1: Fathers on Trial Part 2: Unwelcome Allies Part 3: The Weather Bomb | ||||
| Superman & Batman and their Super-Sons: World Without Men |
World’s Finest #233 | October, 1975 | Bob Haney | Dick Dillin, John Calnan |
| Part 1: Big Sister is Watching You Part 2: The Greatest Hate | ||||
| Superman, Batman and their Super Sons: The Angel With a Dirty Name |
World’s Finest #238 | June, 1976 | Bob Haney | Dick Dillin, John Calnan |
| Part One: Those Who Play the Puppets Part Two: The Plague Giants Part 3: Between Two Worlds | ||||
| The Super Sons of Superman and Batman: Town of the Timeless Killers |
World’s Finest #242 | December, 1976 | Bob Haney | Ernie Chan, John Calnan |
| Part 1: Trio of Fear Part 2: He Whom Evil Fights Part 3: The Epitaph That Saved a Superman | ||||
| Superman and Batman: Final Secret of the Super Sons |
World’s Finest #263 | July, 1980 | Dennis O'Neil | Rich Buckler, Dick Giordano |
| Superman Jr. is No More! | Elseworlds 80-Page Giant #1 | June, 1999 | Bob Haney | Kieron Dwyer |
Collection
In December 2007, DC Comics published a trade-paperback collection of the series entitled Superman/Batman: Saga of the Super Sons. It collects the stories from: World's Finest #215-216, 221-222, 224, 228, 230, 231, 233, 238, 242, and 263; and Elseworlds 80-Page Giant #1. The story in World's Finest #263 is written by Dennis O'Neil, all the others by Bob Haney. ISBN 1401215025Batman Junior/John Vance
An earlier version of Batman Junior made one appearance in Detective ComicsDetective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#231 (May 1956), in a story written by Edmond Hamilton
Edmond Hamilton
Edmond Moore Hamilton was an American author of science fiction stories and novels during the mid-twentieth century. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, he was raised there and in nearby New Castle, Pennsylvania...
, with art by Sheldon Moldoff
Sheldon Moldoff
Sheldon "Shelly" Moldoff is an American comic book artist best known his early work on the DC Comics characters Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and as one of Bob Kane's primary "ghost artists" on the superhero Batman. He co-created the Batman supervillains Poison Ivy, Mr...
. In the story, Batman Junior is John Vance, a boy who once helped Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
as sidekick long before Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
(Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson
Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940....
at the time), had arrived. John re-enters Batman's life to solve yet another case, making Robin feel that he is about to be replaced. Apart from a reprint of the story in Batman #185 (October-November 1966), John Vance has not reappeared.
Batman Jones
Batman Jones was a young boy who Batman saved from an auto accident, subsequently named in Batman's honor.External links
- Operation Super-Sons
- Batman Junior's entry on Obscure Characters in the DC Universe
- Detective Comics #231 on GCD
- Detective Comics #231 Synopsis on DC Indexes