Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons is the latest animated film in the DC Animated Universe. This time around, the focus is on Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne — the sons of Superman and Batman, respectively. Like in the comic series the film is loosely based on, the friendship that the titular Super Sons share is the highlight of this film. Though it has some odd pacing, Battle of the Super Sons is an incredibly enjoyable and pleasantly wholesome superhero romp.
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Character relationships are the most consistently excellent facet of this film. Whether it’s the aforementioned friendship between Jon and Damian, Clark and Lois’ marriage, or Clark and Bruce’s camaraderie, the writers of this film have a great grasp on these characters. There’s a surprising number of little cameos from other members of the Justice League and Teen Titans. It doesn’t feel unnecessary, instead fleshing out the sense of continuity in the movie’s world.
The inclusion of Starro as the villain is an interesting choice, as 2021’s The Suicide Squad also featured the extraterrestrial starfish as the primary antagonist. Given Starro’s brainwashing abilities, it’s certainly a good choice for making interpersonal conflicts between typically friendly characters. Super Sons takes advantage of this by having everyone from the Teen Titans to President Luthor deal with Starro in one way or another, which keeps the narrative exciting.
The action in Battle of the Super Sons is dynamic and thrilling, taking advantage of the different characters’ powers and physical attributes to create unique fights. Seeing Jon and Damian team up to fight Starro and their possessed friends and fathers is a blast and ends up leading to some great character moments. I like that the film also has a bit of blood. It’s by no means gratuitous or out of place, but it adds a bit of weight to the battles.
My primary issue with Battle of the Super Sons is that the pacing is a bit all-over-the-place. The film opens with Superman’s origin story and a quick slideshow of him meeting Lois, getting married, and having Jon. I understand that this is likely a means to establish Jon as one of the two main characters, but Superman’s origin is so well-known that it made the opening dull and a bit confusing, given Superman isn’t the main character of this film. The Super Sons also don’t get fully involved in the conflict until around two-thirds of the way into the movie. As a result, I’d say the pace could have been sped up, and spent a bit more time on the Watchtower.
The movie has a very distinct visual style. I’ve been wary of 3D animation in this sort of film, but like Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero earlier this year, Battle of the Super Sons makes a strong case for the potential of this kind of animation. Everyone looks fantastic and the comic-like expressions and poses make this movie stand out even among other DC animated films.
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Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons is a good time all around. Its pacing is a bit stilted, but the interactions between the characters and the exciting action make up for it. Whether you’re a fan of the Super Sons comic or are entirely new to DC, Battle of the Super Sons is a fun way to spend an hour and a half.
SCORE: 7.5/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 7.5 equates to “Good.” A successful piece of entertainment that is worth checking out, but it may not appeal to everyone.
Disclosure: The critic received a screening link for ComingSoon’s Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons review.
