Originally published on Patreon
The latest issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El is part of the 'Kal-El Reutrns' banner (part 2 to be exact), but still kind of does it's own thing, and doesn't forget which Superman this series is actually about.
The book begins with a flashback to when Jon was a kid, and his super hearing kicked in for the first time. Clark helps him through it, using his own experiences to guide his son. He tells him to focus on a single sound, to use it to help lock out all the others. Jon chooses the heartbeat of his father, who's holding him in that moment.
This isn't just a throwaway flashback though, as back in the present we learn that Jon listens out for that heartbeat each day his father is away, hoping desperately to hear it again.
We get to watch Jon as he goes through his daily routine as Superman. He visits two children's hospitals a day, taking sick kids out for a fly (damn if that isn't just awesome Superman), he checks in with the people he loves (his boyfriend and best friend), he replants trees, helps with natural disasters, and saves people in danger. These pages show the true kindness that lives inside Jon, of the values he inherited from his father, and shows why Superman (either one of them) is one of the best people around. I think it also acts as a perfect counter to anyone who thinks that Superman is too cheesy, or needs to be dark and edgy to be cool. No, he's already the greatest, and things like this are why.
We get some hints at some of the other stuff that's relating to the rest of this story arc, such as an almost break out that goes wrong but was aiming to free Metallo; and a missing piece of Lex-Corp tech that sees Jon going to visit Lex. I kind of love the relationship that Jon and Lex have, and I think it's great the way Jon really doesn't seem to give a fuck about pissing Lex off.
The best part of the issue, however, is when Jon hears the sound he's been waiting months to hear, that faint heartbeat. Flying as fast as he can, making a sonic boom as he goes, he flies into the arms of his father. It's a wonderful touching moment, and those folks online who complained about this in preview images are absolutely the worst kinds of people. It's a beautiful moment between father and son, and it's a wonderful bookend with how the book started.
It's a shame that the series will be coming to a close soon, even though Jon isn't going anywhere. It's been a great series, and Jon has more than proven that he's deserving of the name Superman.
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