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Superman: Son of Kal-El (Single Issues)

Superman: Son of Kal-El (2021-) #1

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Jonathan Kent has experienced a lot in his young life. He’s fought evil with Robin (Damian Wayne), traveled across galaxies with his Kryptonian grandfather, and lived in the future with the Legion of Super-Heroes, who were intent on training him for the day his father could no longer be Superman.

There is a hole in the Legion’s history that prevents Jon from knowing exactly when that will happen, but all signs point to it being very soon. It’s time for the son to wear the cape of his father and continue the never-ending battle as a symbol of hope for his home planet.

27 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2021

16 people are currently reading
205 people want to read

About the author

Tom Taylor

1,282 books1,055 followers
Once a professional juggler and fire eater, Tom Taylor is a #1 New York Times Bestselling, multi-award-winning comic book writer, playwright and screenwriter.

Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.

He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.

He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.

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5 stars
243 (45%)
4 stars
199 (37%)
3 stars
75 (14%)
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11 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
Profile Image for Nicolo.
3,502 reviews207 followers
November 6, 2021
I picked this book in the off chance it might be good, or at the very least entertaining. I was confident in the skills of the writer, Tom Taylor, to be able to write a decent arc or two of a legacy hero, which he did smashingly in All-New Wolverine, where he gave the mantle of Wolverine to Laura, the former X-23. I have no idea of the artist, John Timms, of his past work and I relied solely on the strength of his homage cover of the original Superman issue one comic book. The thing about moderate expectations was how easy they were to exceed. This was a solid first issue.

There is barely anything in this first issue, except for the promise of a first arc, but I like how Batman and Superman are friends, in two generations, too. I was not fond of Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, or of Injustice: Gods Among Us, of which Taylor wrote the comic. Perhaps, this is how he will make amends for an uncharacteristic Superman.
Profile Image for James DeSantis.
Author 17 books1,207 followers
August 6, 2021
A really solid first issue if not a bit safe. Nothing crazy happens. However wonderful convos between Damien and Jon and Jon's birth scene plus great art still make this a great read.
Profile Image for Chelsea &#x1f3f3;️‍&#x1f308;.
2,056 reviews6 followers
August 22, 2021
I loved this! I loved this take on Jon, even though I'm still unhappy they aged him up. His uncertainty makes sense and it's coupled with knowing his parents' expectations for him. It makes perfect sense that he'd go to Damian for advice. Also, he called Damian his "best friend" which was adorable! I love their conversation and knowing each other's flaws.
Profile Image for Stavroula.
157 reviews100 followers
August 1, 2021
"It's time for Superman to stop fighting the symptoms.
You're powerful enough to be the cure."
Profile Image for Dia.
74 reviews12 followers
August 2, 2021
Not a Superman fan. AT ALL... However, this was excellent.
Profile Image for Gilbert Moreno.
387 reviews2 followers
August 25, 2021
Art is pretty good as we see Jon narrate what happened the day of his birth. An attempted alien invasion as Superman helps Lois delivery Jon.

Jon helps California FF’ers fight the scorching fire and see that a person is at the center of it. This person’s anxiety was the spark of the fire, and Jon calms him down. He’s then taken by the military.

Jon goes to Damian for advice on whether he was right leaving him to the government. Damian says “hell no” and the two talk as Damian fights off ninjas. Cute to hear Jon call Damian his best friend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sid.
829 reviews86 followers
October 22, 2021
i never cared for clark kent's superman. i always thought he's the most boring hero there is. so imagine my surprise when i picked up superman comic. luckily it's about jon kent and just with this one issue he has won me over. i really really like that kid, and his and damian's friendship is so sweet, and he's just so cute and i can't wait to read more. i still don't give a shit about clark kent tho.
Profile Image for Craig Schorling.
2,413 reviews11 followers
May 14, 2022
This was a very good first issue and it felt like a great introduction to a new series for a newer reader. It introduced the characters well and everything felt explained. I chuckled during the fight with the ninjas. Very excited to see how this develops.
Profile Image for Robbs.
87 reviews
February 10, 2023
[3.5/5]
Solid first issue. I like how Jon feels like he should do more because he's gifted with these powers. Also, props to Tom Taylor for having Jon have a conversation with Damien.
Profile Image for Shaun Stanley.
1,317 reviews
August 7, 2021
Superman: Son of Kal-El #1 is written by Tom Taylor with art by John Timms.

Jonathan Kent worries if he has what it takes to live up to his father and mother's legacy as he takes up the mantle of Superman.

This first issue is basically setting up the premise of the book and what's to come. This book is in great hands and I hope it really builds up Jonathan Kent as a big player in the DC universe for years to come. I do worry if there are slow burning plans to make Jonathan evil and battle his father. Everything keeps mentioning how he could be more powerful than Clark and he has such huge shoes to fill that it seems like it is setting up an eventual turn. I really hope that isn't the case.
875 reviews18 followers
October 16, 2021
5 star story with hideous figurative art

I was as surprised as anyone, at least in my generation, that DC was allowing the new Superman to come out as bi-sexual. Having read the first three issues, I’m even more impressed. Not only is Kal-El’s son bisexual, his first love interest is solidly framed as a continuation of The Canon: Jay Nakamura is a fierce reporter who secretly hosts The Truth, a webcast that reveals corruption and stands up for those who are marginalized. Lois Lane will be proud.

Even the cover of issue #1 is a visual homage to the Superman of comics’ Golden Age. One would think DC is really serious about moving into the 21st century, especially given the gorgeous origin story for the new Aqualad in “You Brought Me the Ocean,” where the young Jackson Hyde, an African-American teen, comes out as gay. Jackson now has his own limited run series, apparently showing how he becomes the new Aquaman.

The key, of course, is “limited run series,” and that’s what we’re getting for the new Superman. We know from past years that there’s not much in the Superman Canon that is sacred. DC has plenty of outs in its multiverse, plus they can simply kill Jay off so Jon Kent can live a life of heteronormative bliss once the fad for inclusion wanes. They’ve even thrown a bone to Old School conservatives by having Jon paraphrase George W. Bush in issue #3. DC might seem progressive, but corporations change their spots all the time. They’re financial, not moral, institutions, even with a solid 60 year history of cultural critique and progressive ideas between the two major producers, DC and Marvel. For decades, both companies voluntarily towed the Orwellian Comics Code line in the name of profit, despite seeming to side with liberal ideas.

As for the story, thus far, it’s well done. We move smoothly from Jon Kent’s birth through his first attempt at a normal life as a college kid, and finally through the mysterious departure of Kal-El (I imagine Kal-El’s leaving is explained elsewhere, in another series). Before that happens, Jon comes firmly down on the side of refugees and helps his Dad stave off a catastrophe. Super-villains who seem more like befuddled everyday people start popping up, hinting at an as-yet undiscovered Machiavellian evil plot. Jay Nakamura’s character is introduced and is quickly positioned to meet the Kent family.

But then there’s the art. More specifically, the figurative art. The background art is typically quite good; there are scenes of wildfires that are visually stunning, and, while the perspective used for buildings (eg the Kent family home) sometimes looks more like a flat stage props, it’s pretty solid. But the figures? Hideous.

Every generation is entitled to its own range of aesthetic innovations. Personally, I try to embrace, or at least appreciate, all styles. But John Timm’s drawings are simply bizarre.

He knows anatomy - he exaggerates the brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus in his forearms, for instance, but they’re in the right place. But the vastus lateralis and medialis in the upper legs seem to have contracted a bad case of Futurism (an Italian Art movement, ironically with ties to Fascism) - they pop in or out like they’re made of silly putty. The rectus femoris seems more like those blobs in lava lamps: it shifts shape and sometimes seems to break in two - that is, when you can find it.

After due consideration, I’m positive he uses baker’s dough to model the faces. You can sculpt a vague, face-like form in baker’s dough, and even get the broad Clark Kent chin if you’re rolling out French bread (the pointy end of a baguette is called “le quignon,” and it looks remarkable like Timms’ chins).  But it doesn’t hold its shape for long, and neither do Timms’ faces. Sometimes Jay has a twink-like cuteness, and other times his forehead sticks out like Eddie Munster. Jon’s heroic face squishes at odd and inconsistent places. The sternocleidomastoid muscle leading to a spot just behind the jaw has a life of its own, seemingly disinterested in any rational connection to the clavicle; it prefers to wander around the shoulder girdle looking for home.

Too bad they didn’t grab Gabriel Picolo for this series. If DC’s resolve about Jon’s sexuality is as amorphous as Timms’ artwork, don’t hold your breath. 

Profile Image for Jim.
30 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2021
This for all 3 Issues.

First book started off ok, a little slow but its an intro and Orgin so understandable. 2nd Issue Jon Saves a boat and stops a school shooting and meets his so called love interest Jay. 3rd book he saves about 500 people from a building and joins a protest. Thats about it they tease some destruction for the next issue.

This is my problem with a lot of modern comics. Nothing happens. We got Superman's son and the best we can get is a protest and love story? The life of Captain Marvel had the same problem, it felt like a soap opera and nothing exciting happens in those 5 books, Danvers is rectoned as Kree and her mother dies. Rob Liefeld said people shouldn't be exited for modern X-men comics because nothing happens hes right.
Taylor Wrote a Decent Nightwing, IDK what went wrong here. My advice is make comics fun and have adventures, don't make a comic based off a social media feed. Taylor is lucky this series is getting all kinds of press, I don't see the quailty improving.


I did like the scenes with Clark, cool to see him being a dad. The art at least looked great.

PS - Why do Gay characters have anime hair colors just to show they are gay? Northstar, Midnighter and Apollo are gay characters and look masculine. Even Hulking and Wiccan don't look weird. Like How Not Starfire sterotypes all goths are ugly. I would have the decency to make LGBTQ characters in my book series look appealing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Gore.
243 reviews3 followers
November 26, 2021
Not bad, but not that great either.

I also want to put in my two cents about something that isn't really tied to the story: while I do understand the colorist wanting to walk out because of how comic has become so "woke", the slogan "Truth, Justice, and Change the World" is something of Jon's, not Clark Kent. See, Superman (the original), really only centered around the United States and its audience was mainly (if only) Americans. A lot has come since the 1930s, and these DC comic heroes are now appreciated all around the world. Now that I read this slogan with its context, I can see this slogan being more fitting. Because Jon doesn't want to only protect The United States, he wants to protect the whole world.
366 reviews8 followers
July 29, 2021
It is a slow start. Nothing bad but nothing really happens. 1/4 flashback on Jonh's birth, 2/4 putting down a forest wildfire and 1/4 introspective discussion with Damian (this happens while Damian is taking part in a tournament in his own ongoing serie). It hints that John will defend justice in a way closer to Lois Lane (societal /environmental issues, corruption, etc.), for which she always rejected Superman's help, so I am curious to see how it goes when this new Superman follows this path. It is written by Tom Taylor but this first issue was really conventional.
Profile Image for Ondřej Halíř.
389 reviews18 followers
October 22, 2021
Supermanova série kolem které je boom protože je John Kent bi. Nejenže se v jisté české komiksové skupině řeší že se do komiksu budou tahat věci ve stylu protesty proti změnám klima a další témata, která v tomto komiksu můžou působit jako pěst na oko. Jenže první sešit, byl fakt dobrej.

Jon tu tak přemýšlí co je zač, zda dělá dobrá rozhodnutí a tak nějak se snaží zjistit jak se popasovat s tím být Supermanem. Navíc díky Taylorovi, který umí psát jsou tu dialogy vtipné, zajímavé a dávají smysl. Takže první sešit i na to že byl prostě kurevsky krátkej, mě nalákal na další dění v sérii.
Profile Image for Aidan.
248 reviews4 followers
April 14, 2022
Just started reading this, thanks to the newly available @dccomics Infinite App (available in New Zealand from March). @tomtaylormade has hit it out of the park again, crafting a story that sees Clark's son take on the mantle of Superman but a WHOLE new series of responsibilities.

Like a lot of young people, he looks impatiently at a world full of refugees and facing climate catastrophe and asks why a hero with god-like powers doesn't try to shift the needle. It's a good question, and one I look forward to seeing answered.
Profile Image for Clay Bartel.
558 reviews
August 4, 2021
I'm on bored with Jon, but all that happens in this issue is, we recap Jon's birth day. He puts out a mysterious fire. He chats with Robin.

Who know maybe this serious will go gang busters but while this isn't a bad issue, its a very slow start and I can't say I'm rushing to the comic shop for issue #2...

May just wait for volume 1 trade to explore this series.

Loved the art and his suit looks awesome
Profile Image for Mariel.
286 reviews18 followers
February 5, 2022
Ahora le estoy dando relectura para ponerme al corriente y como siempre, me encanta el inicio pero mi gran “pero” es que se nota muchísimo la voz de Taylor en todos los personajes.

Me encanta Jon. Me encanta Lois. Sobre todo, adoré la interacción entre Jon y Damian. Es el inicio de los eventos de Future State y no comulgo con las decisiones de Jon como Superman, pero a ver cómo Taylor les crea su base.
Profile Image for Kastie Pavlik.
Author 6 books44 followers
October 24, 2021
Great start to the series. Love the art except for a few wonky side profiles. The pacing is good to start Jon's story. It gives the highlights we need and skips what we know. My only issue is that Damian looks aged up, so they don't look accurate in their panels together. I don't like that they aren't the same age anymore, but they are always cute together.
Profile Image for Emma.
140 reviews
November 6, 2021
I picked this book in the off chance (I mainly stick to Marvel comics) and was pleasantly surprised! Time flew by as I read it! I have a lot of faith in Tom Taylor because I loved is X-23 and All-New Wolverine lines. I also enjoyed how Batman and Superman are friends, in two generations, too.

Seemed like a great entry point for some of us who are new to DC comics...
Profile Image for jude.
179 reviews17 followers
November 9, 2021
As much as I liked this, and I really did! I’m still not used to seeing Jonathan Kent older. I still don’t understand why they had to age up Jon. I wanted to see him grow up alongside Damian like in Super sons, but I guess that won’t be the case. I really like this series, but in terms of continuity it’s throwing me off.
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,178 reviews19 followers
June 1, 2022
Superman has left earth and he’s put his son Jon in charge. Now Jon is Superman and he’s doing a great job, but he’s made the wrong enemy in president Bendix of Gamorra, by helping escaped Gamorran refugees. Also Jon/Superman has made a new adorable friend,Jay who is Gamorran and knows first hand that President Bendix is evil.
Profile Image for Kat.
386 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2021
Jon is just a cinnamon roll. Why is it that I like Jon and Conner more than Clark? I love the interaction between Jon and Damien. I have all of the Challenge of the Supersons that are out right now...time to actually read them.
Profile Image for Devin Wilson.
647 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2023
I just started watching Smallville and I've intended to generally get more familiar with Superman, but I don't want to have competing iterations of Clark Kent in my head.

So this series seems super promising. Especially if the off-putting art style changes eventually.
Profile Image for Kezia.
206 reviews4 followers
July 28, 2021
Super sons content? Lois Lane love? Okay I'm listening
Profile Image for Catherine  Mustread.
3,055 reviews97 followers
August 7, 2021
Super Sons!

Son of Superman and Lois Lane meets up with son of Batman to fight and protect good over evil. They have different strengths but the bad guys seem very powerful. Another recommendation of my grandson who says there are only a few in this genre suitable for a person of my “sensitivities."
Profile Image for Jan van Es.
343 reviews2 followers
August 24, 2021
What an incredible start! Always loved Jon and now I'm so excited to read his adventures as Superman.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews

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