Sinister Sons #1 review

Korg is a space orphan convinced he’s the son of Green Lantern’s greatest – or at least, pinkest – enemy, Sinestro.

Lar-Zod knows he’s the son of Superman’s beardiest bad guy, General Zod.

Korg wants to leave the world of Xela where he’s just killed space Fagan, Nagaf (see what they did there?), and take a blood sample from Sinestro.

Lar-Zod wants to build his own empire to show his dad what a proper space dictator looks like.

Korg and Lor-Zod are trouble. And when they met, it was…page 20.

Yep, the Sinister Sons interact on just one page as their first mini-series kicks off. Which means we won’t have any idea as to whether we’ll like their teaming until next issue.

I don’t much like them so far. Lar-Zod is an angry little snot due to being raised by two Grade A Kryptonian psychopaths. Korg is more a confused kid but prone to lethal violence. They’re going to need more than this series’ six issues – that’s a guess, as DC don’t say on the cover how long things are – for a redemption arc. And if writer Peter J Tomasi isn’t planning to make the pair a lot more palatable, this comic isn’t for me.

But Tomasi is an excellent DC writer, so he gets at least a couple of issues. This series is such a (word for ‘shameless but OK) attempt to appeal to fans of his wonderful Super Sons stories that he must have some plan to add a little of the Jon and Damian charm. Perhaps we’ll find they have something in common bar tragic hair.

Meanwhile, we have Korg – or Sinson, as he’d like to be known – continuing Nagaf’s habit of sending his fellow strays out to steal for their supper.

And Lor-Zod arguing with a hologram of mom Ursa.

Editor’s notes tell readers they can find out Korg’s backstory in recent issues of Green Lantern, and Lar-Zod’s in the Kneel Before Zod mini-series. Which is a bugger if you’re not reading both. I suppose the idea was to give this series a head start by intriguing GL and KBZ readers enough to come over here. Me, I’d rather have a zero issue showing the relevant narrative bites.

But, for what it is, I can’t deny Tomasi delivers a fast-moving, sharp script, full of character.

And the illustrations of David Lafuente, with their Manga stylings, are likely to appeal to younger readers. The snarky looks of Lar-Zod are perfect for his smugger moments, yet it’s impossible to miss a certain vulnerability. As for Korg, he’s basically pop-eyed and pink (even though the people around him claim he’s purple) with that terrible lank hair, but at least Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy and Brad Anderson’s terrific cover promises improvement in that department.

Tamra Bonvillain has fun with bright cosmic tones, while letterer Rob Leigh, as usual, throws in a fantastic title design.

If you liked Super Sons, I say try this issue – Tomasi and his artistic partners had a great thing going with Super Sons until DC ruined it all by ageing up Jon Kent, I say Tomasi deserves a second chance to capture lightning in a bottle.