A familiar writer is back with a fantastic creative team for a darker vision of super children!
Written by Peter J. TomasiCover by Brad Walker
Illustrated by David Lafuente
Colored by Tamra Bonvillain
Lettered by Rob LeighMEET DC’S DEVIOUS NEW DUO!
They’re bad to the bone, ready to brawl, and the sons of two of the deadliest villains in the galaxy: they’re the Sinister Sons and the DC Universe will never be the same!
When the son of General Zod was cast off of his adopted homeworld of New Kandor, Lor-Zod runs afoul of a kid on a mission: Sinson is out to prove he’s got what it takes to live up to the family name of Sinestro! But all is not as it seems, and the sons’ journeys will take them into the heart of darkness in this sensational first issue!
Superstar Super Sons scribe Peter J. Tomasi returns to the world of DC youth once again–joined by fan-favorite artist David Lafuente–to craft one of the most dynamic debuts of a duo in DCU history!
The idea of children branching out from their parents is one possibly as old as life itself. Teenagers especially want to do their own thing, or are forced to by various circumstances. With “Sinister Sons” #1, we see an intriguing, dual-focus tale about sons and their fathers… but rather than being about superheroes, it is of supervillains (though admittedly the morality of each father is more prone to shifts of late, and may be closer to neutral on the whole). With a returning creative team from the “Green Lantern” #4 to #7 backup story, ‘Wayward Son,’ how does this tale of troublemakers really shape up?
Peter J. Tomasi is no stranger to spinning out with the children of established super people, as shown by his extensive time with the Super Sons Damian Wayne (a.k.a. Robin) and Jonathan Samuel Kent (a.k.a., at the time, Superboy). He is adept at writing them separately in their own stories with their parents (such as in “Batman and Robin” or his run on “Superman”), and together as a team. He has shown that he knows how to write not just superheroes who happen to be younger, but melding the immaturity of youth with earnest action to make the characters actually feel like younger people, rather than just being treated like anybody else in the hero-and-villain enterprise. This experience serves him well in “Sinister Sons” #1, which may as well be the story of the Super Sons’ evil, fully extraterrestrial counterparts. These characters make impulsive decisions and ridiculous mistakes, and may seem to be trying too hard to be tough, but rather than detracting from the storytelling, these flaws only enhance the story, even providing some comedy. Even when the supporting cast may feel largely forgettable to start from, it is the characterization of the principle figures that makes it all seem worth it in the end.
On the surface, the particular characters in the eponymous “Sinister Sons” (a name deliberately harkening to that other team up) are an odd choice for Tomasi. Outside of both being extraterrestrials with an association toward the color yellow (be it the yellow sun for Kryptonians on one hand or the yellow light of fear on the other), there is not much to hold them together. However, Tomasi makes that distinction far more intriguing, drawing on their polar opposite responses to their family. “Sinson” believes Thaal Sinestro is his father, but they have not met, and he seems to genuinely idolize the dictator, working with and seemingly friendly with them in his quest. On the other hand, following the events of “Kneel Before Zod” #1, Lor-Zod wants nothing to do with his confirmed biological father or mother, General Dru-Zod and Ursa respectively, and is shown mostly working alone. The two protagonists have barely had much interaction so far, but the dichotomy is enough to entice readers to see what will happen between them.
Although “Sinister Sons” #1 is both a continuation of the aforementioned ‘Wayward Son’ and a spin-off from the first issue of “Kneel Before Zod,” Tomasi makes sure that readers do not need to know anything about either of those stories, giving what information is necessary as efficiently as he can. Helping this endeavor is how he can relatively easily attribute similar characterizations to Lor-Zod and Sinson as he did for Robin and Superboy; the aggressive, arrogant, lone veteran contrasting against the more excitable, happy newcomer. Of course, Lor-Zod already had some of this characterization under Joe Casey’s writing in “Kneel Before Zod” #1, but the result is likely familiar nonetheless, and therefore easily digestible to fans of the Super Sons.
Continued belowDavid Lafuente uses a deliberately rough style that leans heavily on action. Unlike earlier work, which felt cleaner, this style gives an added levity to the story in spite of one of the characters at least trying to be serious. The looser style even seems to shift the narrative itself to be more in favor of Sinson’s point-of-view. Generally speaking, “Sinister Sons” #1 is a more or less equal split between both of the characters, but by using the style Sinson has had already, his childish whimsy and wonder shine through in lieu of Lor-Zod’s more serious, albeit self-important, perspective. In a bizarre way, the somewhat exaggerated style brings to mind a whole host of positive emotions rather than the fear desired by the two villainous protagonists and their aims at spreading their influence.
Perhaps it is not just the illustration that makes “Sinister Sons” #1 come across so positively, but rather their combination with Tamra Bonvillain’s excellent colors. The vibrant hues around Sinson contrast marvelously against the slightly more subdued, more natural coloration around Lor-Zod. The purples and other dark shades help Sinson to pop out, the multiple colors at play making most scenes with him seem like the rare, one-panel show of combat by Lor-Zod seemingly highlighted with yellow, brighter lighting.
Final Verdict: 8.0– A fun duo begins their journey in this almost mirror universe take on something similar to the Super Sons.
