DC KO: The Kids Are All Fight Special #1 review

The latest DC KO spin-off begins in the Justice League’s moonbase, where Titans Donna Troy, Arsenal and Superboy Jon Kent have been supervising the evacuation of Earth, which is being transformed into a second Apokolips. Job done, Jon wants to fly to the planet to see if there’s anything left to do, but Donna demurs, saying he can be more useful looking after ‘the kids’.

It looks like Jon and the young heroes aren’t going to get on.

The encounter is brief, though, as Jon continues to beg assigned leader Donna to let him go out to play, and the kids are left to their own devices. Fairplay soon finds work for their idle hands.

Soon, everyone is on Earth, and while they don’t find Granny Goodness, they do find trouble.

Four Female Furies, three brainwashed heroines – and the Apokolips quartet is determined to recapture Fairplay, their ‘brother”, so he can resume lessons with Granny.

Happily, the cavalry arrive, Superboy having persuaded Batgirl Cassandra Cain to give him a hand.

Firstly, should a superhero need persuading to go on a search and rescue mission? Secondly, dumbing down Jon for the sake of a gag is lazy. Still, Jeremy Adams knows how to write a fun romp, with individuated characters on a definite throughline to adventure. It’s always fun to see Granny Goodness – yes, she does show up – and her minions, and I’m glad to see Lost Children The Boom and Quiz Kid again, while Fairplay, a mini-Mr Terrific via Apokolips, has loads of potential. For one thing, his version of his Dad’s T-spheres seem to be ornate Mother Boxes, making for great visuals.

Is, ‘she’s nuts’ an explanation for why Granny Goodness wants to take over a world Darkseid has already claimed?

One thing that’s definitely missing is a brief line telling us when and how Stargirl, Thunderstrike and Yara Flor were taken and brainwashed by Granny Goodness – it’s not like these three are lightweights. Also, Jon tunes into his electric blue powers at one point, but they’re neither acknowledged nor explained – Adams and editors Marquis Draper and Brittany Holzherr should remember that not everyone follows every comic.

Things I did like included Cheshire Cat’s confidence and smarts, The Boom’s mild mocking of Jon wanting people to call him ‘Superman’ and a cameo by three of the better characters from Titans Academy. There’s also a very nice moment of bonding for three of the young heroes.

After lots of fighting, the kids foil Granny’s plans with the help of an unannounced fan favourite. Given this 30pp one-off has the feeling of a pilot, I expect they’ll be front and centre when Jon, The Boom, Quiz Kid and co come up with an actual team name. Any suggestions?

Travis Mercer’s slick stylings make this a visual treat, with his Granny Goodness and Fairplay especially sharp. And I love that panel of Batgirl and Jon arriving, a new version of the classic World’s Finest team. The emotions match up with the script perfectly, with Judy Garrick’s steel and Fairplay’s dismay perfect. The storytelling is great too, aided by the excellent colours of Andrew Dalhouse; just look at this panel, for instance.

As for those nifty letters, credit Dave Sharpe.

Bruno Redondo’s cover illo exudes cool attitude, and I like the production design, especially the logo, which looks like it’s rotating.

While the title, The Kids Are All Fight, is cringeworthy, the comic is better than all right, it’s pretty good, a solid slice of superheroics that won’t change the world but will go down nicely with your supper.