Review: Super Sons #9

Super Sons #9 came out last week and finished the Planet of the Capes storyline. I must admit, I don't know if actually followed what the heck was happening. I don't know if I understood what the living Ygarddis was hoping for. I don't know if I understood what the motivation of Kraklow was. I don't think I got what the heroes were hoping to accomplish.

What I do know is that the character moments continued to be a high point. I liked the interaction between Damian and Jon. I liked Jon starting to become an inspiration even at his early age. I liked the sons response to the end of the mission. That all worked.

But the story around those moments? I'll reread the issue (again) but I don't know if I'll ever 1005 follow what was happening.

The art is listed as being done by Jorge Jimenez and Carmine Di Giandomenico. There is no page breakdown so hard to know where one artist ends and the other begins. But some pages have a rougher look than Jimenez normally has so I have to assume that is Di Giandomenico. The page layouts have a similar feeling so the book sort of flows fine.

On to the book.

Last issue the boys found themselves on the living world Ygarddis. The planet has discovered the boys and has sent some magic clay super-hero simulacrums to attack.

I liked this opening page showing the boys getting a bit more in synch in their battle mode. Robin saying that he as going to set up these things to be smashed by Jon. And Jon realizing that these are 'things' and can be smashed is fun. We get to see him let loose.

But this seemed organized. And I thought that was cool.

So this is where I start to get a bit lost.

Realizing this is a never-ending fight to a planet, Jon has he and Damian stand down. They surrender. And Ygarddis scoops them up and puts them into an area where Kraklow is.

But is this prison? Is Ygarddis aware of what they are saying? And why did Jon think this would work?

And then Ygarddis talks about heading back to the boys' world so it can feed there. But is there the clay he eats on our world? And I don't get how Ygarddis can remain so powerful when we hear that the clay has basically run out on this world.

Meanwhile, Kraklow is in this area of Ygarddis as are Hardline and Big Shot.

This is the main DCU Kraklow. He is having a crisis in knowing what is real and what isn't real. But he knows one thing. Hardline and Big Shot aren't real. They are his creations. They have memories and powers. But they aren't 'alive' in the classic sense.

Okay, that is an interesting wrinkle. But I barely know these two and I barely know Kraklow. So I don't know if it impacted me as much as such a revelation should.

Then I start to get lost. We hear how this Kraklow talked to that Kraklow. Remember, that Kraklow gave this one a tub of magic clay in hopes of fighting Ygarddis. He knew that this clay could manifest independent thought.

But why did that Kraklow think this was a good idea. And what was he hoping this Kraklow would accomplish.

Regardless, everyone is here and the exposition is done. And I mean this is pages of exposition where writer Peter Tomasi is trying to explain what is happening to me. But I was lost.

Hardline and Big Shot are reeling from the news that they aren't alive. But Jon does his best Superman imitation. He looks at them and says he knows heroes when he sees them and these girls are heroes. And he knows that heroes always try their best.

It is an inspiring talk from this kid. Even Damian has to admit Jon sounds like Superman. This was my favorite moment.

But then I'm lost again. Kraklow seemingly becomes evil, opens up a portal to the main DCU world for Ygarddis who has a two page montage where the villain repears 'feed, create, feed'. But it turns out that the portal isn't a real portal. Kraklow set up Ygarddis. It is some feedback loop.

Kraklow was trying to do the best he could, stating the hero line Jon said.

Still. How does Kraklow have the ability to do this? What is the feed/create mantra and what was Ygarddis doing? What clay was he using?

I just didn't follow. So someone please explain it.

With Ygarddis temporarily gone, Kraklow talks about not being forgotten anymore (remember his DCU origin as a Forgotten Villain). He'll be the hero of this world. He'll work with Hardline and Big Shot  (and other heroes he will create) to truly defeat Ygarddis rather than stall.

And then he opens the real portal and sends the Super Sons home. I like that all this has reinvigorated the heroic spirit of the girls on the world. Inspiration again!

But how can they defeat the planet they live on?

Back on Earth, the sons discuss the adventure with Superman who says maybe one day the League will head there to help. But after seeing Jon be the inspiration, we now see Clark as Jon's inspiration. This panel with Jon literally looking up at a figure too big to fully take in is great. And Damian looking away? Perfect?

Still this is a bittersweet closure. The boys wonder what is happening on that world right now. They know their friends are locked in battle. That isn't a win. A hero isn't always victorious.

So good character moments in a plot that I thought was too convoluted. The art was dynamic and thrilling as it usually is. So still enjoyable.

Overall grade: B