Jonathan Kent (Superboy)

Jon Kent is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Dan Jurgens, the son of Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane, he first appeared in '' Convergence: Superman'' #2 (July 2015). Jon is the newest character in the DC Universe to assume the superhero persona of Superboy. As Superboy and Robin, Jon and Damian Wayne appeared in several Super Sons comic book series featuring their shared adventures. Jon later takes on the superman mantle and stars in the comic series ''Superman: Son of Kal-El''. The character was revealed to be bisexual in 2021 by DC Comics.

Jordan Elsass played the character in the CW television series ''Superman & Lois'' for the first two seasons, with Michael Bishop as Jon from season three. Alex Garfin portrays Jon's twin brother Jordan in the series. Jack Dylan Grazer voiced the character in Warner Bros. animated film '' Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons'' (2022).

Publication history

The character was created by writer/artist Dan Jurgens and first appeared in DC's " Convergence" event in the miniseries '' Convergence: Superman'' #2 (July 2015). Half Kryptonian and half-human, Jon is the biological son of post-Crisis Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane and the couple's child in DC Comics canon. His parents named him in honor of his grandfathers, Jonathan Kent and Samuel Lane. On the character, Dan Jurgens said: "The way I describe him is that he looks like Clark but has Lois' spitfire attitude and inquisitiveness." Jurgens also explains: "Lots of people might expect Jon to be something like his dad’s younger self, but it would be a bit of a mistake. His parents are not Jonathan and Martha Kent. It’s Lois and Clark. They’re different people with different ways of parenting."

Following "Convergence", he appeared in the eight-issue comic book series '' Superman: Lois and Clark'' as a child who begins to develop superpowers of his own. In the DC Rebirth (a continuity established by DC's company-wide relaunch of its comics books in 2016), Jon appears with his parents in '' Action Comics'' and ''Superman'' when his father becomes the new Superman in DC Comics. Jon's origins are retconned in the story arc "Superman Reborn". In the four-part story, two different versions of Superman and Lois Lane (the New 52 and Post-Crisis) are merged into one complete version, creating a new DC Universe and a new origin story for Jon.

Jon is the most recent character in DC Comics to assume the mantle of Superboy. He was officially introduced as Superboy in ''Superman'' vol. 4 #6 (Nov. 2016). He co-stars with Damian Wayne in the Super Sons comic books as Superboy and Robin. In 2019, the character joined the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st century in the comic book series ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Ryan Sook.

In 2021, Jon began starring as the protagonist in the comic book series ''Superman: Son of Kal-El'', which replaced the ''Superman'' monthly title. The series features Jon protecting the Earth as the new Man of Steel in the DC Universe.

In October 2021, DC Comics revealed that the character is bisexual and began a romantic relationship with a male friend, Jay Nakamura, a superhero and an online activist. On the creative decision, series writer Tom Taylor said: "It's not a gimmick. When I was offered this job, I thought, 'Well, if we're going to have a new Superman for the DC Universe, it feels like a missed opportunity to have another straight white savior.' So, well, this isn't everything to do with them. And there's a reason this is, this is coming in issue five and not issue one. We didn't want this to be 'DC Comics creates new queer Superman,' we want this to be 'Superman finds himself, becomes Superman and then comes out.' And I think that's a really important distinction there." Taylor also stated: "I've always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I'm very grateful DC and Warner Bros. share this idea. Superman's symbol has always stood for hope, for truth and for justice. Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics."

Age and appearance

Like his father, Superman, Jon has a civilian disguise, which includes a pair of glasses and a baseball cap. He first appeared in his Superboy attire in ''Superman'' vol. 4 #2 (Sept. 2016). His Superboy outfit consists of red sneakers, blue jeans, zippered jacket with the "S-shield", and a cape attached to the back.

On designing Jon's Superboy costume, artist Jorge Jimenez said: "I started trying out some of the more classic designs as a mini homage to the classic Superman, but the guys at DC wanted to experiment with something more casual, as those are the designs that have been working better recently. We are also looking at an incomplete "Superboy;" he's not super yet, so it's reasonable to say that if he's only half super, that he should have clothing that's half super. So we started to play around with clothing that I see as popular right now with teenagers. For example, tight ripped jeans, at least in Spain, are very popular right now and I think they give a lot of mobility to the character when I draw him on the page. I've also used a popular shoe design. I must mention that I like putting effort into what I wear personally, so this way I was able to add a bit of myself to the character. The short length of the cape gives it a younger look, and the zipped hoodie... I did that thinking they might make a real version for people to wear. I also think that this aesthetic could make a connection with the younger readers."

It was stated that Jon is ten years old in ''Superman'' vol. 4 #9 (Dec. 2016). During the 2019 story arc "The Unity Saga: The House of El", Jon was aged up to seventeen years old and given a new Superboy Kryptonian suit of armor.

Fictional character biography

''Convergence''

In the 2015 DC Comics " Convergence" storyline, Brainiac gains access to Vanishing Point, which allows him to gain the ability to look back into the histories of the DC Universe. He collects cities and inhabitants from various timelines that have ended, trapping them in domes on a planet outside of time and space. When the '' Flashpoint'' resets the DC continuity, Superman and Lois from the Post-Crisis continuity have been trapped on the planet Telos in Gotham City, with the city transported there by Brainiac and sealed under a large dome. The couple is trapped in the city for almost nine months, and as Superman's powers are suppressed during this time, he and Lois conceive a child. During the event, Superman manages to get Lois out of danger and into safety and helps her with the birth of their son Jonathan, after she was kidnapped by a mentally unstable Flashpoint Superman. At the end of the Convergence story arc Superman, Lois, and their son Jon travel across time and dimensions along with Parallax, the Pre-Crisis versions of Supergirl and the Flash, where they can prevent the events of '' Crisis on Infinite Earths'' and save the original Multiverse. Afterward, with their world no longer existing, Brainiac offers to send Superman and Lois to a universe of their choosing.

''Superman: Lois and Clark''

In the series '' Superman: Lois and Clark'', after Convergence, the Kent family arrive during the beginning of the New 52. Superman and his family live in secrecy for many years. Moving to California and adopting new identities, taking the surname "White" (a tribute to Perry White) and keeping a low profile, they stay out of the lives of this world's superheroes, with Lois becoming an anonymous author, while Superman continues his superhero duty quietly behind the scenes. Jon grows up in a normal life with his parents and is unaware of their real identities and secret activities. He begins noticing contradictions in his parents' stories and begins to suspect that his parents are more than they claim. Jon is eventually shown starting to develop superpowers of his own similar to those of his father, Superman. After he and his mother were kidnapped and almost killed by Intergang, his parents finally reveal their true origin to him.

DC Rebirth

In June 2016, DC Comics relaunched its entire line of comic books series with DC Rebirth. DC once again re-established the Post-Crisis Superman as the Superman in DC Comics, along with his wife, Lois Lane, and their son Jonathan.

In the "Son of Superman" story arc, the Kent family relocate from California to a farm in Hamilton County. At the farm, Jon tries to save the family cat from a hawk but accidentally kills both animals. Clark decides to take Jon on a mission. Arriving in the Arctic together, with his father's encouragement, Jon successfully helps Superman rescue a submarine attacked by an Enteroctopus. Afterward, father and son have a long conversation about superhero responsibilities and that soon Jon will have to embrace the superhero mantle himself.

Back at home, Jon falls off a tree and becomes unconscious. Clark and Lois decide to take him to the Fortress of Solitude. At the Fortress, the Kent family is met by the Eradicator, who informs Superman that he is one of a series of robots created by General Zod to seek out and arrest Kryptonian criminals; extract their life force and transfer them to a Phantom Zone projector, where they will await trial with their bodies placed in cryo-chambers. The Eradicator witnessed the destruction of Krypton. Part of his protocol is finding Kryptonian survivors, he eventually found Superman in the Earth solar system, including his son. The Eradicator tells Superman he can rebuild Krypton, but because his son is half human, his human genome will have to be eradicated for Krypton to stay true and pure. He attempts to ingest Jon, Superman fights the Eradicator. After some reassurance from his mother (that he has the best of both worlds and has the ability to do great things), Jon joins his father in the fight against the Eradicator. With the combined forces of Superman and son, the Eradicator's outer shell is shattered, releasing the Kryptonian souls he has captured and causing a massive explosion in the Fortress.

Superman and his family are teleported into a bar in Metropolis. The Kryptonian spirits decide to help Superman and allow themselves to be reabsorbed by the Eradicator, while Superman puts Lois and Jon inside a fully equipped submersible and escapes with his family to Batman's secret Batcave on the Moon. The Eradicator soon arrives in the Batcave and continues his battle with Superman. During the battle, the Eradicator absorbs Superman and begins to search for Jon in the cave. Lois finds and puts on Batman's Hellbat armor and battles the Eradicator with Jon joining the fight. Superman eventually escapes the Eradicator. The entire Kent family fight the Eradicator, who is finally destroyed. Later, after returning to the family farm, Clark gives Jon a pair of glasses and a hat as Jon's new civilian disguise. He takes Jon to the Watchtower and officially introduces him as Superboy to the Justice League.

Jon's origins are retconned in the four-part story "Superman Reborn". Jon is kidnapped by Mr. Mxyzptlk and taken to the Fifth Dimension. As Superman and Lois race to his rescue, Jon encounters the spirits of the deceased New 52 versions of Superman and Lois and begs them to help. Taking their power in his hands, Jon attacks Mxyzptlk and accidentally transforms his parents into their New 52 counterparts. Though they no longer remember him, Jon manages to get them to remember who they truly are and their love for each other. The two versions of Superman and Lois merge, forming a new, complete version of Superman and Lois and rewriting the DC Universe's history. In this new reality, Clark and Lois conceived Jon shortly after they got married after the death of Superman. Lois ran afoul of a ring of arms smugglers who blew up the Kents' apartment in an attempt on her life. Fearing for Lois's life, the couple left Metropolis, and Lois gave birth to Jon in the Fortress of Solitude. Clark and Lois then took sabbaticals and moved to California to raise Jon. They eventually moved to Hamilton County and went back to work at the ''Daily Planet''.

When Jon's grandfather Jor-El visited the Kent family, he offers to take Jon on a trip to better educate him about the known universe. Lois and Clark initially refuse, but Jon reveals his fears and insecurities to his parents, and this could be an opportunity to understand himself better. Lois agrees to go with them. While Lois soon returned to Earth, Jon and Jor-El traveled through space for some time until their ship suddenly fell into a black hole. Jon found himself on Earth-3, where he was quickly taken prisoner by Ultraman. After being imprisoned in a volcano for years, Jon was eventually rescued by Jor-El and sent back to Earth, finding that while years have passed for him, only a few weeks have passed on Earth since he left.

Super Sons

Jon and Damian Wayne, the son of Batman, are a dynamic duo in the " Super Sons" comic book series: ''Super Sons'', the 12-issue miniseries ''Adventures of the Super Sons'', and the digital-first series ''Challenge of the Super Sons''. The duo first met in the ''Superman'' two-part story "In the Name of the Father" and was described as a prologue to the ''Super Sons'' series.

"In the Name of the Father", when Christmas break starts, Jon explores the Dead Man's Swamp. He encounters Maya Ducard and Goliath (sent by Damian to spy on Superboy) and is taken to Gotham City sedated and restricted by Damian, who distrusts him. Batman finds them and orders Damian to release Superboy before an enraged Superman arrives. After a brief confrontation, Batman takes them to the Batcave and runs a diagnosis on Jon's DNA for further analysis. Jon tries to befriend Damian but Damian taunts him for incinerating the family cat, instigating a fight between them that destroys the genetics lab. Batman and Superman send them to a mountain boot camp where Jon and Damian have to face several tests and challenges. After some initial conflict, the duo eventually learns to work together.

''Legion of Super-Heroes''

Following the battle against Rogol Zaar, the last survivors of Krypton, the Houses of El and General Zod gathered all the alien political factions in the galaxy to brings an end to their destructive wars; and discuss an idea that could ensure lasting peace and safety for the people in the galaxy. When Jon suggests forming a United Planets, which can maintain peace and stability, much like the United Nations on Earth, the Legion of Super-Heroes appears from a time portal. They have come to the present to ask the creator of the United Planets, Jon Kent, to join the Legion in the 31st century. Initially hesitant, after consulting with Damian, Jon accepts the invitation and goes to the future with Saturn Girl. After spending some time in the 31st century in the ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' comic book series, Jon eventually returns to the present day in the ''Action Comics'' story arc "The House of Kent".

''Superman: Son of Kal-El''

Jon is the protagonist in the comic book ''Superman: Son of Kal-El'', which began publication in July 2021 and ended in December 2022, with 18 issues and one annual. Written by Tom Taylor and art by John Timms, the series features Jon taking over his father's mantle as Superman and being entrusted with the protection of Earth while his father (whose stories take place in '' Action Comics'') is away from Earth. The series premise has been described as "Truth, Justice, and a Better World."

In the series, Jon gives up his secret identity in order to save a group of college students from a school shooter. One of the students, Jay Nakamura, reveals to Jon that he covertly runs a news site known as The Truth which exposes secrets that the mainstream media will not report, including the plight of the refugees of Gamorra, an island nation under the dictatorship of their president, Henry Bendix. Jon becomes an ally of The Truth and begins to develop a relationship with Jay.

''Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent''

Jon will star in the upcoming six-issue miniseries, ''Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent'', written by Tom Taylor and art by Clayton Henry. The first issue is scheduled for release in March 2023.

Powers and abilities

The first superpower Jon developed was super hearing. Other powers, invulnerability and superhuman strength began to manifest when Jon and his mother were in mortal danger. Due to Jon's young age, his powers and control often fluctuate with his emotions. It is revealed in ''Superman'' vol. 4 #3, because of Jon's unique human and Kryptonian genomes, his powers are still developing and adapting, resulting in a lack of consistency in his invulnerability. And sometimes, he is vulnerable to injury and can still get hurt even if all of his other powers are active. Jon's power instability is later revealed to be the manipulation of Manchester Black. Jon's powers are restored to normal after Black is defeated. According to Batman, Jon's mixed biology could have the potential of him becoming more powerful than his father, Superman.

He is shown to have developed: heat vision in ''Superman'' vol. 4 #1, X-ray vision in ''Trinity'' vol. 2 #1, freezing breath in ''Superman'' vol. 4 #10, super speed and enhanced vision in ''Action Comics'' #966, super breath in ''Super Sons'' #4, flight in ''Superman'' vol. 4 #25 and super flare in ''Super Sons'' #11. Other powers include superhuman stamina, telescopic vision, microscopic vision, electro-magnetic spectrum vision and accelerated healing. Like his father, Jon is vulnerable to magic and kryptonite.

Other versions

* In the two-part story, '' Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?'' which told the final story of the Silver Age Superman. After his last battle, Superman removed his powers using gold kryptonite, he settled down and married Lois and lived an anonymous normal life under the alias, Jordan Elliot. He and Lois had a son named Jonathan, who inherited his father's superpowers.
* In the Elseworlds graphic novel ''Son of Superman'', Jon Kent is a 15-year-old boy who never knew his father Clark Kent or that he was the superhero, Superman, as his father disappeared before he was born. When a solar storm's radiation triggers his Kryptonian powers, he learns the truth about his father from his mother Lois Lane. Jon dons a costume inspired by his father's, and later successfully rescues his father from a secret facility where he is being held as a prisoner. Superman reunites with his family. When it's revealed that Lex Luthor was responsible for Superman's capture, Jon teams up with his father to stop Lex. After a prolonged battle, Lex is defeated. Superman decides to temporarily retire from being a superhero and focus more on his family. This leaves Jon to be the first of a new generation of superheroes.
* In the New 52 '' Batman Beyond'' book, Jon is the Superman of the future, who was put into captivity for study by Brother Eye with the rest of the future Justice League. It's unknown what happened to his father. Jon's costume and role are the same as his father's from his appearance in the '' Batman Beyond'' animated series, though Jon is younger than his father was in the cartoon.
* In the 2006 film '' Superman Returns'' after Superman returns to Earth after five years, he learns that Lois is engaged to Richard White (the nephew of editor-in-chief Perry White) and the two share a young son, Jason White. When the boy begins to exhibit superpowers, he is revealed to be the son of Superman.
* In John Byrne's Elseworlds comic book series '' Superman & Batman: Generations'', Superman and Lois have two children, Joel and Kara Kent. When Lois was pregnant with her son, Joel, Lex Luthor and the Joker exposed her to Gold Kryptonite radiation, causing Joel to be born without any of his father's powers. Their daughter Kara, began developing superpowers at age 6 and eventually took on the superhero identity of Supergirl. Joel gains powers from a formula created by Luthor, and is manipulated into killing his sister before dying from the formula's side effects, leaving his own son to be raised by Batman's son Bruce Wayne Jr.
* In the Elseworlds series '' JLA: Created Equal'', Adam Kent, the son of Lois and Superman, born shortly after a mysterious plague which nearly kills the entire male population. Adam possesses the same superpowers as his father Superman.
* Clark Kent Jr. first appeared in '' World's Finest'' #154 (Dec. 1965). The character has appeared in various stories in DC comics as the son of Superman and Lois Lane.
* Jon Lane Kent is the son of Superman and Lois Lane, born in an alternate New 52 future. Another version of Superboy and the genetic template for the New 52 version of the clone Superboy, Kon-El, Jon becomes both a deadly supervillain and briefly, just before his death, a superhero.
* Boyzarro, the son of Bizarro and Loiz is the mirror image of Superboy. He first appeared in the four-part story "Boyzarro Re-Death." After the destruction of Bizarro World, Boyzarro and other characters in the Bizarroverse, including Robzarro (the mirror image of Robin) relocated to Earth. The character was originally named Bizarro Boy, but creator Patrick Gleason changed his name due to fan suggestions on social media. This allowed for the Super Sons counterpart to later be named Bizarro Boyz.
* In the "Super Sons" three-part graphic novel series by Ridley Pearson and Ile Gonzalez, Jon Kent and Damian "Ian" Wayne have to work together to save their city from global climate disaster.
*On a genderswap Earth-11, Supergirl Laurel Kent is the daughter of Superwoman and journalist Louis Lane. The character first appeared in ''DC's Very Merry Multiverse'' (Dec. 2020). Supergirl, a member of the Teen Justice, stars in the miniseries ''Multiversity: Teen Justice''.
*In the ''DCeased'' comic book series set in an alternate Earth, a corrupted version of the Anti-Life Equation has infected most of Earth's inhabitants with a zombie-like virus. When Superman became infected with the virus, Jon became the new Superman. At the end of the first miniseries, the remaining heroes and civilians of Earth, including Jon and his mother Lois, relocate to a new planet. In the sequel series, Jon leads the New Justice League back to Earth to rescue Cyborg and to save the Anti-Living by searching for a cure.

In other media

Arrowverse

Born on Krypton's Argo City, Clark and Lois have a baby boy named Jonathan in the 2019 Arrowverse crossover event " Crisis on Infinite Earths". At the end of the world-shattering Crisis event, the couple now has two sons.

''Superman & Lois''

In the television series ''Superman & Lois'', Clark and Lois have twin sons, Jonathan and Jordan Kent. Alex Garfin plays Jordan. Jonathan was played by Jordan Elsass for the first two seasons, with Michael Bishop playing the character from season three.

Jonathan is described as modest and kind-hearted, while Jordan is wildly intelligent with social anxiety. The twins were named after Clark's adoptive and biological fathers, Jonathan Kent and Jor-El. At the start of the series, Jonathan and Jordan are 14-year-old teenagers in high school. After Clark's adoptive mother Martha dies, Clark and Lois move the family from Metropolis to Smallville, where the brothers learn that their father is Superman.

Only Jordan seems to have inherited their father's superpowers he has so far developed: heat vision, freezing breath, accelerated healing, superhuman strength, hearing, speed and durability and the ability to fly. Jordan can also survive without oxygen in the harsh vacuum of space with freezing temperatures and cosmic radiation without the need for protection.

In the Bizarro World, first featured in the episode "Bizarros in a Bizarro World", Superman's families are celebrities and a family of heroes. Jonathan has powers instead of Jordan and is known to the world as Jon-El, son of Kal-El, and saving the world with his father. His superhero outfit consists of a black leather jacket and boots, red pants and leather gloves, and a black t-shirt with the "S-shield", resembling the 90's Superboy. However, Jonathan eventually turns against his parents and allies with his uncle Tal-Rho and the cult leader Ally Allston in their effort to take over the world. Jonathan later travels to prime Earth to merge with his other self. After attacking Superman, his family and friends, Bizarro Jonathan is eventually beaten by Jordan. He later escapes prison with the help of Bizarro Lana but is sent back into government custody when Jordan and Natalie Irons defeat them.

In the Bizarro World, located in an inverse dimension, Jonathan's powers and weaknesses are different from Jordan's. While they have some similar powers, other powers and weaknesses are the complete opposite. Jonathan gains strength and powers from a red sun and kryptonite, while a yellow sun and X-kryptonite weaken him, and having freeze vision and fire breath instead of heat vision and freezing breath.

''Teen Titans Go!''

Jon has a cameo in the animated series ''Teen Titans Go!'' in the episode "Chicken in the Cradle".

''Young Justice''

Jon has appeared in the animated series ''Young Justice'' voiced by Grey Griffin. He first appears in the season 3 episode "Home Fires" when his mother Lois brings him to the home of Iris West for a playdate with the children of other superheroes. In the season 4 episode "I Know Why the Caged Cat Sings", Jon is at the Kent farm in Smallville for a family gathering while his parents explain the recent passing of Conner Kent. In the season 4 finale, Jon is delighted to learn that Conner is alive and serves as a ring-bearer at his wedding to Miss Martian. In the series, Jon's powers have begun awakening.

''Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons''

Jack Dylan Grazer voiced Jonathan Kent in the animated film '' Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons'' (2022). An 11-year-old Jon, the son of Superman, discovers he has superpowers and is thrust into the world of superheroes and supervillains and joins forces with Damian Wayne (Jack Griffo), the son of Batman, to save the planet by becoming the Super Sons they were destined to be.

Video games

* Jon Kent appears as a playable character in the ''DC Legends'' video game.
* Superboy appears as a playable character in '' Lego DC Super-Villains'', voiced by Yuri Lowenthal.
* Superboy Jon Kent is a playable character in the mobile video game ''DC Worlds Collide''.

Merchandising

* Jonathan Kent and his dog Krypto are featured in Kotobukiya ARTFX+ series.
* Superboy and Robin (Super Sons) are part of the DC Icons action figure lines.
*Prime 1 Studio released a Superboy & Robin statue from its DC Comics series.
*McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse line released an action figure based on the Future State Superman (Jon Kent).

Collected editions

References

External links

Jon Kent
at DC Comics

Jon Kent
at DC Database

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kent, Jon, DC Comics
Alternative versions of Superman
Characters created by Dan Jurgens
Comics characters introduced in 2015
DC Comics characters with accelerated healing
DC Comics characters with superhuman strength
DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds
DC Comics child superheroes
DC Comics extraterrestrial superheroes
DC Comics hybrids
DC Comics LGBT superheroes
DC Comics male superheroes
DC Comics superheroes
DC Comics sidekicks
Fictional bisexual males
Fictional characters with X-ray vision
Fictional characters with superhuman senses
Fictional characters with air or wind abilities
Fictional characters with ice or cold abilities
Fictional characters with fire or heat abilities
Fictional characters with nuclear or radiation abilities
Fictional characters with absorption or parasitic abilities
Fictional extraterrestrial–human hybrids in comics
Kryptonians
Superboy
Superman characters
Teenage superheroes