Jon Kent’s Superman Era: Bold, Bisexual, and Completely Divisive

From Becoming a Bisexual Icon to Canonizing One of DC’s Darkest Elseworlds

DC aging up Jon Kent wasn’t the end the controversy surrounding the character. In 2021, Jon officially took on the Superman mantle in Superman: Son of Kal-El during DC’s Future State. This decision split fans, with some embracing the passing of the torch, while others insisted that Clark Kent remained the only true Superman worthy of the title.

This series also featured Jon coming out as bisexual in issue #5 and beginning a relationship with reporter Jay Nakamura. While the development was praised for its representation and sincerity, some fans felt disappointed. Many had hoped that Kon-El would receive this kind of representation, which could have made the fan-favorite pairing of Kon-El and Tim Drake a real possibility in canon.

Jon Kent’s time as Superman became even more significant during Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent (2023), in which he traveled the multiverse and entered the Injustice universe. There, he faced a tyrannical version of Superman, effectively confirming Injustice: Gods Among Us as part of DC’s multiverse and making one of the most famous Elseworlds stories canon.

While Jon’s legacy includes fan-favorite highlights like Super Sons and increased representation within the DC Universe, it is hard to ignore the volume of controversy that surrounds his run. This includes everything from his abrupt aging to the debate over his worthiness as Superman, which continues even now that Clark Kent has returned in full form.