Warning: Contains spoilers for Dark Crisis #3!
Damian Wayne and Jonathan Kent have long been framed as the top choices to replace their fathers once Batman and Superman are ready to leave their mantles behind. But with the World’s Finest superhero team eliminated from DC’s Dark Crisis, the Super Sons have already begun to fill their fathers’ shoes… in ways both good and bad.
Following the apparent death of the Justice League at the hands of Pariah and his Dark Army, Earth (and the universe at large) is left without many of its greatest defenders. The leftovers, including several legacy heroes, must pick up the slack and save the world from both Pariah and mounting attacks from Deathstroke and the world’s villains on Earth. At the forefront stands Jonathan Kent, operating as Superman in his father’s absence and attempting to assemble a Justice League of his own, calling on Yara-Flor and fellow ‘Super Son’ Damian Wayne to round out his trinity as Wonder Woman and Batman analogs, respectively.
The third chapter of Dark Crisis, entitled “Boot Camp,” comes from Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere. Things begin to look bleak for the new Justice League, as many of them go their separate ways following Black Adam’s departure. This causes the new Trinity to reconvene on the steps of the Hall of Justice, leading the Super Sons to an argument as to whether or not Black Adam is correct in assessing the team as destined to fail. This argument shows just how similar to their fathers they’ve really become.
Damian and Jon’s spat highlights an ideological difference often seen in their fathers, as Damian takes a realist’s (bordering on pessimist’s) approach to the situation, while Jon values hope perhaps to a fault. It’s a common struggle their parents face, as the two men, equally heroic, simply have different views on the world stemming from their individual upbringings and power sets. Pain permeates the scene, as Damian punctuates his argument by insisting the Justice League’s commitment to hope is perhaps what got them killed in the first place. Though Batman and Superman are also portrayed as superherodom’s greatest friends, their arguments benefit from being heroes first, and individuals second. Since Damian and Jon have been partners and best friends for a good part of their lives, the dispute cuts even deeper. With both heroes clearly hurt by their words, the fight highlights that the heroes are in a transitional moment in their lives: Super Sons no longer, but not quite confident that they’re the world’s finest protectors yet.
It makes perfect sense for Damian to be more apprehensive of the new Justice League’s current status, as the son of the Dark Knight and Talia al Ghul has simply faced more horror, tragedy and bloodshed in his lifetime than the child of hope incarnate. Even so, it’s a heavy moment to see the Super Sons fully embody the legacies of Batman and Superman, taking on their fathers’ roles for better or for worse in a sign that they are children no more.
Dark Crisis #3 is available from DC Comics now.
