Super Sons: The PolarShield Project

Damian Wayne and Jonathan Kent may be the offspring of Batman and Superman, but they are still too young to follow in their fathers’ footsteps. While their superdads attempt to save the world from coastal devastation caused by climate change, Damian and Jon team up with two other friends, Candace and Tilly, to find out who or what is behind the outbreak of an illness infecting, among others, Jon’s mother, Lois Kent, née Lane. Not only are they new at this whole superhero business, they must navigate their new partnership, all four with something to hide. Pearson integrates timely elements through the focus on climate change and allusions to the refugee experience, while Gonzalez’s artwork is vivid and crisp, riffing on a classic comic style. Though the protagonists are inexperienced heroes in the making, action scenes evoke some of the best of their fathers’ adventures, albeit on a more modest scale. Pearson and Gonzalez’s take on the iconic figures offers good fun, especially for young readers who are just discovering the DC universe. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary. (Apr.)