This month marks ten years sinceSuperman’s son, Jonathan Kent, was introduced to the DC Universe, and what a wild decade it’s been. In just ten years, Jon has managed to rack up more shocking storylines, bold reinventions, and headline-making controversy than most legacy characters do in a lifetime.
Jon has had an exceptionally eventful run in the DC Universe, especially considering he has only officially been part of its stories for ten years. That’s just a blip compared to icons like Superman, Batman, and others who have had more than 80 years of storytelling behind them.
In that short time, Jon was born, became Superboy, joined the Super Sons, aged up into a young adult, became Superboy again, and eventually took over his father’s mantle as Superman. He also came out as bisexual, crossed into theInjustice: Gods Among Usuniverse(making it canon), andstill holds the Superman title, despite some fans preferring that title to be reserved solelyfor Clark.
The Early (& Best) Years of Jon Kent, Explained
Superboy: From His Birth to His IconicSuper SonsRun
With so much packed into just one decade, Jon Kent makes history on this anniversary by racking up more shocking storylines and controversy than perhaps any long-standing character ever. While this may not be a positive accomplishment, it is certainly noteworthy. As a result, it’s only fitting to revisit thekey events that have shaped Jon’s unforgettable and unpredictable first decadein DC Comics.
Jon had an exceptionally unique introduction to the main DC Universe,first appearing in Dan Jurgens’Convergence: Superman#2 (2015).He was born in an alternate timeline during the“Convergence”event and was soon brought into the main continuity duringDC Rebirth. From there, Jon officially became the son of Lois Lane and Clark Kent, setting the stage for a new legacy.
Jon took on the mantle of Superboy duringSuperman: Rebirth(2016), after showing early signs of Kryptonian powers while still dealing with the emotional vulnerabilities of childhood. He was what modern slang might call a“summer child,”someone pure and full of heart. Despite his unusual entry into the DCU, Jon quickly became a fan favorite for his kindness and sincerity.
Jon continued to win fans over inPeter J. Tomasi’sSuper Sons(2017), whereSuperboy teamed up with Robin Damian Wayne.This brought together the biological sons of Batman and Superman in one of DC’s most beloved and sorely missed partnerships. Sadly, the series only lasted a year before controversy struck and Jon’s story took a sharp and unexpected turn.
The Unity Saga: The House of El- Jon Kent’s Most Controversial Storyline
DC Aged Up Jon Kent Too Fast, And Fans Still Miss What Could Have Been
Jon’s story took an exceptionally controversial turn in 2019 during"The Unity Saga: The House of El"storyline, wherehe was kidnapped and aged up during a space adventure with his grandfatherJor-El. During their journey, Jon’s ship was caught in a black hole and crash-landed on Earth-3, setting the stage for one of the most divisive chapters in his history.
On Earth-3,Jon was captured by Ultraman, a twisted and evil version of his father, and imprisoned inside a volcano. He remained there for years, experiencing time at a different rate than the main DC timeline.By the time Jon was finally rescued, he had aged to 17 years old,a dramatic change that sparked heated debate among longtime fans.
The aging up of Jon proved controversial for several reasons. It skipped over vital character development, abruptly ended the Super Sons' dynamic, and largely ignored the trauma Jon endured during captivity.Many fans saw this as the moment when DC began to lose its direction with the character,turning a once-promising arc into a missed opportunity for growth.
Following this change, a now-teenageJon reestablished himself as Superboy inLegion of Super-Heroes(2019–2021), where he was sent to the 31st century to join a team of futuristic heroes. There, he was treated with great respect as the heir to Superman, signaling a new tone and direction for his stories as a young adult in a far future setting.
An Overview of Superman Jon Kent from 2021-2025
From Becoming a Bisexual Icon to Canonizing One of DC’s DarkestElseworlds
DC aging up Jon Kent wasn’t the end the controversy surrounding the character. In 2021,Jon officially took on the Superman mantleinSuperman: Son of Kal-Elduring DC’sFuture State. This decision split fans, with some embracing the passing of the torch, while others insisted thatClark Kent remained the only true Superman worthy of the title.
This series also featuredJon coming out as bisexualin issue #5 and beginning a relationship with reporter Jay Nakamura. While the development was praised for its representation and sincerity, some fans felt disappointed.Many had hoped that Kon-El would receive this kind of representation, which could have made the fan-favorite pairing of Kon-El and Tim Drake a real possibility in canon.
Jon Kent’s time as Superman became even more significant duringAdventures of Superman: Jon Kent(2023), in which he traveled the multiverse andentered theInjusticeuniverse. There, he faced a tyrannical version of Superman, effectivelyconfirmingInjustice: Gods Among Usas part of DC’s multiverseand making one of the most famousElseworldsstories canon.
While Jon’s legacy includes fan-favorite highlights like Super Sons and increased representation within the DC Universe, it is hard to ignore the volume of controversy that surrounds his run. This includes everything from his abrupt aging to the debate over his worthiness asSuperman, which continues even now that Clark Kent has returned in full form.
