When the new issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 is released on November 9, within its pages will be Jon Kent’s revelation that he identifies as bisexual.
The new Superman, who is the son of Clark Kent, will officially come out, confirming what fans have long suspected about the character’s sexuality. A future storyline also teases a romance with his new friend Jay Nakamura, marking the first queer romance for the DC superhero.
Jon took over the Superman mantle after his father Clark Kent left Earth in order to stop Mongul and free a group of enslaved people on Warworld, passing the torch to his son.
In the upcoming issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El #5, Jon’s friendship with Jay, a reporter with his own superpowers, will become a romantic relationship, with writer Tom Taylor explaining, “That means, of everyone in Jon’s life, Jay is the only person Jon doesn’t need to protect. It means their relationship is an equal one built on mutual support.”
In an interview with IGN, Taylor also revealed that he saw replacing Clark Kent as a big opportunity.
“I knew replacing Clark with another straight white saviour could be a real opportunity missed,” he said. “I’ve always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes. Today, Superman, the strongest superhero on the planet, is coming out.
“Superman’s symbol has always stood for hope, for truth and for justice,” he continued. “Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics.”
Just like his father before him, Jon Kent has fallen for a reporter 💙 Learn more about the story to come in SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL #5: https://t.co/bUQAsos68o #DCPride pic.twitter.com/wfQPc3CEVD
— Superman (@Superman) October 11, 2021
Superman’s revelation comes not long after another character in the DC Universe — Tim Drake aka Robin — who has a “lightbulb moment” in regards to his sexuality while fighting alongside his friend Bernard Dowd in Batman: Urban Legends #6.
In the graphic novel, Drake describes his feelings as “something out in the ether has been taunting you, teasing you.”
“Like you know you’re supposed to be on the same page as your brain but not everything made sense,” he muses. “People keep asking me what I want. But I couldn’t grasp it. Whatever it was. It always felt just out of reach. Until now. Until right now.”
Later, in a conversation with Bernard, he explains his feelings further, prompting his friend to officially ask him out on a date.
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