Superman: Son of Kal-El, Vol. 2: The Rising

Superman: Son of Kal-El

by Tom Taylor, Ciam Tormey (Penciller), Bruno Redondo (Artist)

Jonathan Kent is planet earth’s new Man of Steel! Between fighting a dictatorship in a foreign nation and battling giant sea creatures it can be overwhelming. Will he follow in his father’s footsteps or forge his own path?

With Clark Kent off-world, Jonathan Kent has stepped into the role of Superman to defend Earth. Alongside his boyfriend, Jay Nakamura, Jon continues his stand against the dictator of Gamorra, Henry Bendix, who plots to take control of all superheroes. As Bendix seeks out an alliance with Lex Luthor, Superman teams up with Aquaman and Nightwing. With every adventure, Jon will define what it means to be the Man of Steel.

Collects Superman: Son of Kal-El #7-10, Nightwing #89, and Superman: Son of Kal-El 2021 Annual #1!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superman, Superheroes, Comic Book, Young Adult

168 pages, Hardcover

First published November 29, 2022

About the author

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.

Reviews

[A.J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jesus Christ this was so damn bad. Those MLK TV specials I watched in elementary school had more political bite than anything in this entire joke of a series. It’s just, as many people have stated many times before, Tom Taylor constantly prioritizing cheap emotional moments with fanfic levels of payoff over any story and plot-driven conflicts. And guess what? It’s stupid as fuck. The art is also genuine fucking trash.

I only caught up on this because PKJ’s Action Comics run was just announced to be crossing over with this title after Warworld wraps, so I felt like I had to read this. And I wish I hadn’t. I mean I’m still reading the crossover issues because I’m a sucker for pain, but ughhhh. I was going to read this whole run once it wrapped and try to give it another chance then, which I felt was a good idea after how much I disliked the first volume, but I honestly don’t know if I will be doing that anytime soon after reading this second volume. There just isn’t anything here that I like. It’s all so goddamn bland.

I like how Jon is supposed to be this “progressive” Superman (as if Clark wasn’t already that for decades, but okay) and he hasn’t done jackshit in 12 issues besides protest climate change (so brave!). I guess he also beat Lex Luthor at chess, so whoopee-fucking-doo, Superman is now super smart! Oh, and it doesn’t help Tom Taylor genuinely fucking sucks at writing in-continuity books. The dude should just stick to Elseworlds. He’s also terrible at writing anything political into his books, and should seriously just stop, he will never be like Dwayne McDuffie, or hell, even Mark Russell.

I have no problems with comics ever getting political. Like comics always have been “woke”, even if man babies like to decry otherwise. I have never had a problem whatsoever when they do touch on social issues (Read any Milestone comics from the ‘90s for some of the best “woke" comics ever), but it has to feel natural in the context of the story. The problem with this book, and all of Taylor’s work for that matter, is that all of Taylor’s situations and dialogue feel so fucking artificial and fake. If you look at the work of Russell and McDuffie, they are both way better at writing more realistic dialogue and situations in their work, even if they can sometimes be a bit over-the-top. And they also never felt like they were talking down to you, rather directly at you. Politics in comics are not bad by any means, but they are just not Taylor’s strong suit and it’s really starting to show.

I gave the last volume 2 stars because at least the relationship between Jon and Jay was cute, but Jay sadly has about as much personality as my door handle at this point. Jon deserves better at this point and frankly, so do Superman fans, hence why this is 1 star. I did admittedly like parts of the Nightwing and Aquaman crossovers in here, but it just isn’t enough to save this volume as a whole saying the art and writing both blow for the most part. I’m done with this title after the Warworld crossover with Action Comics and probably never going to come back unless I hear this run has completely turned itself around, which I seriously doubt it will since it’s apparently selling very well and gets consistently great reviews.

As is, this series is a lazy mess that mainly appeals to Superfamily fans or teenagers who’ve never touched a Superman book before. Reading this shit was like watching the 2019 Twilight Zone all over again: just pure disappointment after I was so sure it would be amazing given who was involved with its creation. I would recommend reading the recent Warworld Saga in Action Comics for a good Superman story and reading this if you want the most vapid Superman book in the world.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some fun overlaps here between this series and TT's other DC flagship title, Nightwing.


Beautiful art and vibrant colours throughout.

Not the author's very best work but still better than the majority of Big Two comics out there at the moment, I will definitely stick with it, especially after that final panel!

[Warren Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superman, Son of Kal-El, aka the Son of Clark Kent, as a bisexual man, with a boyfriend--hallellujah!

Loved it!

[Machiavelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Taylor keeps building Jon Kent into his own Superman here, balancing heartfelt character beats with modern stakes. Jon’s compassion and sense of responsibility really shine, even as he struggles with the weight of the symbol he now carries. The art team delivers energy and clarity, keeping the story visually engaging. A solid continuation that makes me invested in seeing where Jon’s journey goes next.

[Trike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how Taylor makes this look so effortless. That’s a superpower all on its own. This moves right along, has numerous funny moments and just as many heartfelt ones, and he throws in twists just because he can. And every so often, just for fun, there’s a sight gag. How?!

Every character is spot-on. Jon Kent, the young Superman, is big-hearted and caring, yet unsure of himself. Lex Luthor is malevolent and brilliant. Lois Lane is tough as nails and has the street smarts to tie baddies up in intellectual knots. Nightwing is compassionate and an unstoppable martial artist. Batman is Batman.

Roughly half of this story comes from Superman: Son of Kal-El 2021 Annual #1, which felt complete when I read it way back in January, but seeing the crossover with Nightwing and the various team-ups not included there really opens up the story. Pure magic.

The art is clear and concise, and is remarkably consistent despite the fact 4 different pencillers and 7 inkers had their hands in it.

Great stuff start to finish.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

*read as individual issues*
Perfect book, no notes. Superman as aspirational hero

[Spens (Sphynx Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5

Kind of a weak follow-up to the first volume. I love learning more about the nuances of Superman's character though. Having also read Nightwing, it was also interesting to see how their stories intersect here.

[Alex Sarll]

The opening issue is lovely, updating Superman rescuing cats from trees by having Jon Kent rescue a polar bear from melting ice around the Fortress of Solitude. And then feeding her berries! But also approaching Luthor in a different fashion to his dad, seeing if he can't be taunted into dealing with climate change out of simple vainglory. The rest of the collection... it's a tough one. There are some lovely moments, often centred around transposing the problems our own world is facing into the DCU and seeing how they pan out in a version that also has mad science, magic and aliens in the mix. Except the DCU is - or at any rate was - supposed to have an Earth better than ours, as against Marvel's world outside your window. So really they should have already been able to put their heads together, make a few quick calls to the likes of Swamp Thing, and get all this sorted by teatime. But it would be exceptionally hard to tell that story and not have it feel off, so instead we get the current omnicrisis amplified. We've seen how ready most of the world is to fall for lies told to them by idiot man-babies - now imagine how bad it would be with someone who really was playing 5D chess looking to discredit the solutions and advance their own interests. At which stage you pretty much torch the sense of hope any Superman story worth the name should carry at its core. This never tips over into nastily grimdark, and Taylor has undoubtedly got himself into a smart person's problem, but I remain unconvinced that he'll be able to spring himself satisfactorily.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be the change you want to see made real...

Jon Kent has choices to make. Does he stick with 'The Truth' and shine a light on the injustices others don't? He has people to keep safe. So many people. His mother. His grandparents. His new boyfriend Jay Nakamura. Can he make a difference and keep them all protected?

With a little help from Nightwing, Jon can look into Henry Bendix. Everybody needs a mentor and what better one is there in the DCU?
-------------------------------
This is the next collection of a great ongoing series with Jonathan Kent, the son of Superman. He does things his father didn't (or couldn't). He's progressive. He's sincere. He's got a great story to tell...


Bonus: Of course Lois Lane knows everything...
Bonus Bonus: Krypto is always great to see. Best super-pet ever!

[emma 🤦😓 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I’ve never really been a big fan of Superman’s son, despite loving his father. But this comic absolutely SOLD me on Jon Kent. He’s so funny and smart and silly, he’s like all the best parts of Clark but he’s also his own character too. The art is gorgeous too, and the plot is really intriguing. I tend to find most versions of Lex rather disappointing, but this version really sold the charismatic yet arrogant genius to me

[Joseph Domingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really liking the way Tom Taylor incorporates the DC universe into his books. I think having nightwing as Jon’s mentor makes sense, and I like seeing him go thru life learning how to be a superhero.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
The series is not as good as Taylor's Nightwing but still very good. And of course I loved the Nightwing crossover.

[Sebastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tak jak nigdy jakoś specjalnie nie przepadałem za Supermanem, to ta seria póki co bardzo pozytywnie mnie zaskoczyła, i podoba mi się jak mało co. Wraz z nowym Supermanem twórcy starają się również wskazywać na inne problemy ze światem - zagorżeniem nie są tylko bandyci, złoczyńcy, kosmici, ale też nasza ingerencja w świat, która powoli wpływa na faunę i florę dookoła nas. Pojawia się wątek z globalnym ociepleniem, i wcale nie przeszkodziło to w dalszym rozwoju historii w kierunku, który wielu fanów pewnie przyjmuje z dużym entuzjazmem. Czekam na 3 tom wydany w Polsce.
Jestem bardzo na tak!

[Daniel Bosé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una etapa un poco tranquila de Son of Kal-El pero que tiene su chispa. Me gustó ver más de la gente alrededor de Jon, así como la manera de mostrar los contrastes que tiene Jon con la forma de ver y trabajar de Clark.
Quiero destacar el pequeño momento que tiene Jon con su madre y lo sencillo pero sentimental que fue el momento.

Espero el siguiente volumen se elevé al nivel que creo que está historia puede llegar.

[Mariano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waaay better than volume 2. I think it found it's footing. Jon is a teenager and acts and feels like a teenager. I like Dick as a mentor too (at first I thought he was going to replace Damian as his friend). The focus on Jon trying to figure out how to do this thing while everyone else around him kind of already knows how this stuff works is pretty clever. This truly was a great era for Supes world

[Dash Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

My personal favorite of the run- especially stopping turning the leviathan around. I really enjoy the implementation and setup of lex as an evil investor figure, even when it comes at the expense of the de facto main villain of the arc.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying where they're taking Jon's story and that the fact that he's still a kid under so much pressure gets acknowledged and discussed.
We also get the Nightwing crossover and more Nightwing is always a plus in my book.
The art has some wonky moments, but nothing major. It's one of those books that has very obvious comic art that's neither great nor bad.

[Steve Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The continuing adventures of the Man of Steel. (Well, his son anyway). Yes, Superman and Lois finally got married and had a superbaby. Lex Luthor is still trying to outwit Superman and rule the world. (Will he never learn?)

It's a lot of fun. (But the best Superman was George Reeves!!!!

[Jesse A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a generally good title. It's got good art and I think it's overall well written. I think Taylor may have a growing issue with unearned emotion but we'll have to see if it becomes a detriment to the series.

[Rory Wilding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have always liked the character of Jon Kent during when he was Superboy during the Peter Tomasi/Patrick Gleason run on the main Superman title, his father Clark will always be my Superman. Which is why it was a surprise that Jon is worthy of his father’s mantle, during Tom Taylor’s run on the character. The first volume of Superman: Son of Kal-El proved that Jon doesn’t resort to violence – showing empathy for those who are misunderstood – but does fight for social justice.

Whilst his father is off-world going through his pulp sci-fi adventures (go read Philip Kennedy Johnson’s Action Comics run), Jon is looking for guidance as the weight of being Earth’s Superman can be heavy on his shoulders, not least with his ongoing conflict with Henry Bendix, the dictator of Gamorra who plans to take control of all superheroes. To make matters worse, Bendix is allying himself with Lex Luthor as set up at the end of the annual which opens this volume.

No matter whoever Superman is, Lex Luthor will always have an antagonistic presence and Tom Taylor is having a blast writing how egocentric Luthor can be, as if he treats his rivalry with Supes as a game, even if it could cause harm to others. Given the longevity that character has over the decades, Luthor is the more compelling villain compared to Bendix, who seems like a cross between Lex and Brainiac, in terms of appearance. Bendix’s latest plot is The Rising, a human-formed super-powered drone squad that he can remote-control, and they are very much the threats that Jon faces throughout this volume.

The Rising doesn’t pose a physical threat to Jon and one of them humorously headbutts him, and thus gets knocked out. The most interesting stuff is the internal conflict that Jon goes through, such as how he can’t always save everyone, which is always a classic Superman turmoil. There is always the worry of how the public will perceive himself that is not always kind, as Bendix manipulates the media for his evil doing. However, Jon is not alone and has allies that will help him through the trouble, whether it is Jackson Hyde/Aquaman helping out with a giant aquatic creature, or his mother Lois helping her son, personally and publicly. That said, as much as I love that Jon is a bisexual character, I do feel that his boyfriend Jay doesn’t carry much emotional weight, unlike others to assist Jon.

This brings me onto Dick Grayson as Tom Taylor writes a two-issue crossover with Nightwing and Son of Kal-El. Without his father to give him advice, Dick teams up with the young Supes to help out what struggles he’s going through. Along with Bruno Redondo’s art proving plenty of kinetic action set-pieces to showcase Grayson’s acrobatics, Taylor writes such heartwarming moments between the two costumed heroes and even has fun with Batman during a touching flashback. As much as I am enjoying this particular title, what Taylor and Redondo is doing on Nightwing is more exciting, as this crossover confirms.

With Cian Tormey doing most of his art, he balances the action and drama really well. While Taylor seems to be writing filler when it comes to the exterior conflicts like Bendix, the domesticity of our titular hero continues the strongest aspect of the series where characters can open up about their emotions.

[Ritsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Christian Zamora-Dahmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I enjoyed this book, but after a few days, I do have a hard time remembering what this was all about--
Jon is definitely an enjoyable character, and kids do need a high profile LGBTQ+ character, that's for sure.
But just like with Nightwing, it feels as if the story is stalling a bit.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gamorra Island story starts to ramp up and of course Lex Luthor gets involved and is Luthoring to his heart’s content, annoying Jon Kent, just as much as he did his father. One thing I appreciate about this series so far is how it doesn’t forget how big of a deal it is that Superman revealed his secret identity back in Bendis’s run and how that would negatively affect his family’s safety. It’s a constant, overhanging issue here, with real consequences. I’m hoping that this Weak Gamorra plot and the Jay Nakamura character actually goes somewhere interesting.

[Memphis Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Taylor does not miss! I laughed, I cried, I never knew what was going to happen (in a good way), I was surprised, I liked the characters, dialogue, art, colors, relationships, story, villains, everything.

Can’t wait for Vol. 3!

[Minnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass ich meine Liebe zu Superhelden Comics entdecken würde - und das auch noch DC! Dieser Band war wieder echt stark und besonders Nightwings Auftritt mochte ich echt gerne (und lässt mich überlegen, ob ich seine Comics auch lesen soll 🙈)

[Victoria Hawco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would die for Lois Lane.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

love

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

“I speed-read all the books on chess in the library in seven minutes and used it all to beat you, Lex Luthor, even though I never went to high school, but enough about that”—thanks, I hate it.

I am a completionist and I want to give stories a fair shake. Well, consider myself shooketh with annoyance.

I admit I did engage with the kaiju battle more than I thought I would. It’s nice to see the cast of superheroes cooperate rather than be sequestered off into their series silos. This is where I felt my eyes glued to every panel to see how Jon and Jackson worked together to both help the people and the creature while having to dodge blows from the Gamorra Corps. That’s just about where all of my enjoyment went.

“The aliens are a threat, but I have the final solution” plot run by a corrupt dictator and/or businessman has been done so many times that I wonder who’s still left in power or anyone in the general populace with half a brain cell who still believes that. I’d believe it more if Gamorra were another rando corporation than apparently a whole ass country.

And I forgot to mention in my previous review, but as much as I tried to see it, I simply could not get into Jon and Jay together. As new friends, sure. As teammates working towards a common goal, definitely. And then maybe something could spark between them down the line. But I know insta-love when I see it and this relationship as it is now is about as interesting as blank white paper.

And please, do not get me started on the lip service paid to Jon’s desire to combat climate change. How does Bendix and the Gamorra Corps fit into that theme? Other than the kaiju being threatened by ocean deoxygenation, which felt more like an incidental one-time thing rather than a pattern of environmentally-destructive behavior. I’d rather read a whole volume of Jon saving polar bears the whole time (with Damian because I miss him and I miss them together). I saw the illustrations of Jon and Jay at the climate change protest and I was just baffled—this boy can fly, has heat vision and freezing breath, and yet, the best thing the writers can come up with for him to tackle climate change is to wave signs at a protest?

I’m usually not so harsh like this, but what have they done to my boy 😭

[Arianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jon fights a sea monster, and he has to prevent Gamorran fighters from angering the sea monster. The sea monster is angered anyway, and it generates a tsunami, but Jon makes the tsunami disappear so it doesn't matter.
Jon is accused of murder, but the accusation has no consequences on his life so it doesn't matter. Jon is teaming up with Nightwing, but there is no sense of danger, they are just fighting randos on a roof. Then, the epic final twist... Batman thinks Jon shouldn't trust the boyfriend he acquired like a week ago. I mean, how can Jon cope with that?

Other than this riveting action there are a lot of super important moments like:
- a boy playing with a polar bear
- a boy playing a game of chess
- a boy sulking because he misses his dad
- a boy eating a lollipop
- a boy reminiscing about his traumatic time being imprisoned in space with no way to escape and how in his desperation he fantasized about literally any hero coming to save him. Wow, what a cute and wholesome moment you guys.

I guess the thing that really pisses me off about Jon Kent is his characterization being complete nonsense. He has to carry the world on his shoulders while his father has abandoned him and many dark forces conspire to bring him down. He has unfathomable trauma from the time he spent in space. He has no personal life because, while he was in space, his father decided to publicly come out as Superman without asking for his input. He's a super genius who can defeat Luthor at chess by studying for 7 minutes. But he's also a golden retriever type of guy with no worries whatsoever who goes around collecting wholesome moments with his cute friends. It's... strange, uncanny. He feels less human than Clark despite being only 50% Kryptonian.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The streets of Gamorra need a hero, and only Jon Kent can do it! With boyfriend Jay Nakamura at his side, he sets out to free Gamorra from the tyranny of Henry Bendix the only way he knows how. Plus, a team-up with Nightwing, and a face-off with Lex Luthor himself!

Jon's second collection has some stellar stories in it. The first two issues with the giant monster attack have such a Superman resolution to things, it's truly beautiful to watch. The Nightwing crossover is fun, although it feels a little self-indulgent on Tom Taylor's part since he's writing both books (although, who else better is there to crossover with than yourself?), but the best part of the collection is undoubtably the annual, which sees Jon and Lex go head to head in a battle of words that will have you smiling from ear to ear. Lex is used to dealing with Clark, but Jon's a whole different animal, and it's so much fun to watch the two of them together.

New series artist Cian Tormey takes over for these issues, which Bruno Redondo (Nightwing's regular artist) handles the crossover issue. Meanwhile, Clayton Henry and Steve Pugh tag-team the annual.

With Son Of Kal-El's objective well and truly on the table, it's time to watch it play out. Jon's still a fun character, and it's nice to see him developing on his own away from Superman. Hopefully The Rising isn't followed by The Falling, because this book's too much fun to crash and burn just yet.