When I wrote about Superman Family Adventures #1, I talked about the things it did well. And it did many things very well. But I also brought up a few of the places I thought it fell short when it came to filling the hole left by the ending of the all-ages, gender-balanced, kid-centered Tiny Titans series by the same team, Art Baltazar and Franco.
In response to that article, Art Baltazar tweeted, “just wait til issue 2. Aw yeah.” He was not lying.
Superman Family Adventures #2 is everything I could hope for in a comic book for kids. Every one of my initial concerns with issue #1 has been addressed. This issue is, without question, a kid-centered story. In the first issue, Supergirl and Superboy were definitely playing second fiddle to Superman. In this issue, though, the Superkids are the ones in charge while Superman is off being Clark Kent. We are introduced to a gaggle of boys and girls — Jimmy’s chums — on the very first page, and we see the return of some Tiny Titans characters hanging out with Superboy and Supergirl in the Fortress of Solitude. I’m also happy to note that Baltazar and Franco were able to bring in some non-white characters, including Jimmy’s pals and the Titans. (I’m not just talking about green Beast Boy and yellow Starfire — Cyborg being a dark-skinned kid hero is a Big Deal among my children and their friends.) And this issue brings us closer to the gender balance which was such a vital part of Tiny Titans. In fact, Supergirl gets a few pages all to herself, in which she repeatedly saves the day.
Another concern I had about Superman Family Adventures was that the first issue wasn’t really “all-ages” but more targeted for elementary school kids. It wasn’t a question of the content. The fighting and explody bits — though exciting enough for young fans of Smash! Bam! Sizzle! — were not off-putting to kids who are more into the costumes and secret identities than the crime fighting. But the flames and flying robot parts made for busy, chaotic pages which were challenging for beginning readers to lock their focus on. It’s especially tough to follow the graphics on a cluttered page when someone else is reading the words, and younger kids can get lost.
Issue 2 still packs a tremendous amount of energy into the pages, but the short chapter format that worked so well in Tiny Titans is back, giving kids some time to pause and catch their bearings before barreling on ahead. The story of this issue is also, in my opinion, more accessible to kids of all ages. It’s silly and playful without losing the drama and excitement we saw in the first issue. Kids love superheroes from birth, practically. A book that gives the bigger kids what they need in terms of action and adventure while still welcoming smaller people and nudging them toward a love of reading is something extraordinary. And Baltazar and Franco have created just that book. Again.
In all, I couldn’t be more thrilled by the new issue. I am very much looking forward to watching this series grow. It is exciting and exuberant and a welcome new look at classic superheroes. Superman Family Adventures is continuing the Baltazar/Franco tradition of leaking small bits of superhero legend into the mix, with appearances by Ma Kent and Jor-El, and Bizarro brings the ridiculous persona that my kids so loved in his counterpart Match in Tiny Titans. These inclusions are wonderful ways to introduce kids to the vast universe of superheroes My kids are delighted when some new bit of comic book lore drops onto the page. They pummel me (and every adult they know who might have possibly read a comic book ever) with questions — and then they clamber up on my lap and ask me to scour the internet for more answers. This early interest in reading and researching gives birth to a lifetime of literacy.
It seems like I can finally stop worrying about the void left by the ending of Tiny Titans. Baltazar and Franco have won me over, again. Instead of just giving me more ice cream, they’ve introduced me to a brand-new flavor. I’m especially happy to see that some of my favorite elements are on their way to becoming recurring bits. Like the most sublime opening to any book, ever: “Meanwhile, in the far reaches of space…” I mean really. That opening is a catapult of awesome.
Superman Family Adventures is available through all good comic shops.