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Superman: Son of Kal-El (Single Issues)
Superman: Son of Kal-El (2021-) #4
Kal-El has left, and the weight of the world now rests on his son's shoulders. Powerful forces have been threatened by Jon Kent's first leaps in his father's boots. It's hard to hurt a man of steel, but his loved ones make a much easier target.Jon's world is about to come crashing down.
25 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2021
8 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Tom Taylor
1,282 books1,056 followersOnce 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 13, 2021
First - I don't know about the leaks for #5, so I have no idea what's coming (and don't want to know).
I'm enjoying this series more than I expected to. It's a coming of age for Jon with the added twist of coming into his own as the new Superman while dealing with the problems his father left behind by revealing his identity. Of course, that compounds the consequences he's created for himself. The dynamic between him and the Gamorra president is reminiscent of Clark's with Luthor, but with global eyes. It also reminds me of a time when Superman interfered in another country, against advice - maybe Batman? (I have a vague recollection of him saying, "Clark, no"), and became a target, but I can't remember...arg! Migraine brain - was it a canonical story or something like DCeased or Red Son? This is going to drive me Bizonkers until I remember it! Either way, I'm very curious to see where Jon's journey goes, BUT, he's a far cry from replacing his dad.
I'm enjoying this series more than I expected to. It's a coming of age for Jon with the added twist of coming into his own as the new Superman while dealing with the problems his father left behind by revealing his identity. Of course, that compounds the consequences he's created for himself. The dynamic between him and the Gamorra president is reminiscent of Clark's with Luthor, but with global eyes. It also reminds me of a time when Superman interfered in another country, against advice - maybe Batman? (I have a vague recollection of him saying, "Clark, no"), and became a target, but I can't remember...arg! Migraine brain - was it a canonical story or something like DCeased or Red Son? This is going to drive me Bizonkers until I remember it! Either way, I'm very curious to see where Jon's journey goes, BUT, he's a far cry from replacing his dad.
October 25, 2021
So by now the world has read all about the leaked plot details of Issue #5 and sales for this series have gone off the hook!
But what of Issue #1 to #4.
Nothing particularly revolutionary ...and for all the new books and series this one isn't even a top pick, although it is good and with the big twist in issue #5 and writer Tom Taylor's desire to focus on more real world problems I expect this series could be really great and different.
But what of Issue #1 to #4.
Nothing particularly revolutionary ...and for all the new books and series this one isn't even a top pick, although it is good and with the big twist in issue #5 and writer Tom Taylor's desire to focus on more real world problems I expect this series could be really great and different.
October 26, 2021
Maybe 3.5 stars but rounding it up seems too generous. Things escalate pretty quickly on a few levels after Superman Sr.'s departure. But too much is going on in this issue for my liking. Some moments are great (like Jon and Wally and Jon and Lois) while others feel rushed and underdone (revelations about Jay). The best thing for me about this issue is that we finally see the fallibility of Jon. Young, inexperienced, idealistic to a fault. He was beginning to come off as too perfect.
October 29, 2021
Taylor reintroduces the Aerie and Wink from his Suicide Squad 12-issue run. They are from Gamorra (there was some origin story in Suicide Squad) and the villain in this Superman Son of Kal-El seems to be the President of Gamorra, so it checks.
It was an interesting issue, dymanic and moving forward.
It was an interesting issue, dymanic and moving forward.
October 28, 2021
Why is DC lampooning Superman? More hideous and ugly art, story ok
Wow. I didn’t think the art could get worse, but it has.
Could DC be purposefully undermining this series by selecting artists that degrade it with their work? The storyline and writing seem to be standard comic fare, but the art - both by (shudder) Timms and (shudder x 2) Di Nicuolo - seems to be pure camp.
The art is clearly not taking the story seriously. Worse, it’s as if the artist is trying to lampoon a Superman caricature. Body parts too often look like squiggly shapes, something the artist doodled on a napkin while drunk, and sometimes their location in space is indecipherable (in a scene with Jon’s mother, Lois Lane, Jon’s hand in the foreground looks more like a growth coming out of his mom’s shoulder in the background). Moreover, the faces are simply grotesque in this context, more like what you’d find in the Sunday funnies than anything else.
I might finish this series, but then that’s it. Don’t market a series by announcing a major change to the canon and then give me vaudevillian shtick as art.
Wow. I didn’t think the art could get worse, but it has.
Could DC be purposefully undermining this series by selecting artists that degrade it with their work? The storyline and writing seem to be standard comic fare, but the art - both by (shudder) Timms and (shudder x 2) Di Nicuolo - seems to be pure camp.
The art is clearly not taking the story seriously. Worse, it’s as if the artist is trying to lampoon a Superman caricature. Body parts too often look like squiggly shapes, something the artist doodled on a napkin while drunk, and sometimes their location in space is indecipherable (in a scene with Jon’s mother, Lois Lane, Jon’s hand in the foreground looks more like a growth coming out of his mom’s shoulder in the background). Moreover, the faces are simply grotesque in this context, more like what you’d find in the Sunday funnies than anything else.
I might finish this series, but then that’s it. Don’t market a series by announcing a major change to the canon and then give me vaudevillian shtick as art.
November 9, 2021
Great, almost perfect, issue. The only reason I can't give this a 5 is because of the art; a lot of times it's fine, but God, the faces especially are ugly as hell, so much so that I wasn't as immersed as I was in the last issue, or even the 2 before it.
May 15, 2022
This continues to be compelling stuff. The scenarios that Jon finds himself in are what I like in a Superman story. Superman fighting ideals and thinking is when the character shines. I am not the biggest fan of some of the character art but the story more that makes up for that.
June 6, 2023
Jon's introspection is great. Everything else is fine, but a little expository.
I also feel a little unhappy about the sudden influx of superpowered individuals. Like... things are starting to feel a little too X-Men.
I like X-Men, but leave X-Men to the X-Men.
I also feel a little unhappy about the sudden influx of superpowered individuals. Like... things are starting to feel a little too X-Men.
I like X-Men, but leave X-Men to the X-Men.
October 30, 2021
4'5 stars!
November 16, 2021
LOVED.
February 15, 2022
Proportional Response
February 15, 2022
Not my favorite so far. Don't love the new art style. It still was good.
March 27, 2022
Art style kinda looking funky, but interesting development.
April 17, 2022
I love this series.
November 28, 2022
(Read online version, 2022.
April 28, 2025
Why they change the drawings?
June 2, 2025
Things getting real.
December 8, 2021
Not a huge fan of the art style change because I absolutely LOVE the art in the previous issues but the story is still perfect
October 25, 2021
Was a cool issue getting to see Jon with the Justice League. I really enjoyed those moments and the moment at the end where Jon let this new villain know what's up but rushing in? Not so smart. Things will get interesting from here on out.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews