Who is Superman's Son, Jon Kent?

With the recent coming out of Superman's son, Jon Kent, as a Bi-Sexual, it seems the fandom are getting mixed reactions. There are a number of them who hates the thought that a "Superman" could come out as Bi-Sexual. That how could someone who is so masculine as Superman (Clark Kent/Kal El the Dad) father a son that turns out to be Bi-Sexual. Did Superman remiss his duty as a Father? Hence Jon not getting the proper guidance in eventually becoming straight like his Dad? If not, what were the circumstance or was there any signs that Jon would have a gender identity crisis? In writing this article, I want to stay away from any conspiracy theories about a certain agenda or any religious undertones and arguments. I just want to focus on the character development of Jon so people would know more about him. I've already said my piece in my Action Figure Planet Philippines Facebook page with regards to my sentiments about Jon's coming out which can be accessed here and my response to those who do not agree with my stand which can be found here. Now with that out of the way, let's trace Jon's origins.     

Jon was born in a world that was not quite here nor there.

Jon's first appearance in a comic book (Convergence: Superman no. 2) was when he was born in the Convergence world, a pocket reality in a DC Comics event book called Convergence where various multiverses collided. At that time, Superman was replaced by a younger Superman during DC's New 52 reboot. The old Superman (we call him the Post-Crisis Superman, as rebooted by John Byrne) appears once more to take part in this cataclysmic crossover event along with his wife Lois Lane after being temporarily wiped out from existence during the Flashpoint event. By this time, Lois is already pregnant and was about to give birth to Jon. As the two part issue ends, Lois finally gives birth to John (though this origin story was also rebooted in the succeeding years). But the final battle of the Convergence event would vaguely put Superman and Lois along with Jon to get stuck in limbo. As DC proceeded to continue with their New 52 continuity with the new Superman.

But as the years went by, it was suddenly revealed that Superman, Lois, and Jon were actually able to reach the New 52 continuity, albeit in hiding and enjoying family life while the new younger Superman continued with his adventures. In the 8 issue maxi-series Superman: Lois and Clark, the post-crisis Superman returned with his daring adventures as he rescues his family when Lois and Jon were kidnapped by Bruno Mannheim and Intergang. It was also on this storyline where an elemetary schooler Jon first discovered that his father was actually Superman and not long after, he also discovered that he had inherited his father's powers. Jon also during this time dealt with his parents' constant lying and pretending to be normal people when in fact his father is Superman. Though he eventually accepted this. We don't know what the cost of this to a kid being lied to. To be given another identity. And dealing with early tragedy. And then soon after faced another tragedy when he accidently killed his pet cat. For character development, is this an early sign of a kid facing some kind of Identity Crisis?

When the DC Universe Rebirth relaunch happened, Jon resumed his adventures with his Dad. And also found a kindred spirit in Batman's son Damian Wayne, having their own solo adventures as the Supersons. Jon would also come across The Eradicator, the designated protector and preservator of the Kryptonian race. Knowing that Jon is Half-Kryptonian and Half-Human, The Eradicator seeked to eradicate Jon's human genome. Only for Superman to intervene and save Jon. Thus teaching Jon (with his mother's help Lois Lane) a very valuable lesson that eventually, he would have to accept his "dual" identity as a Half-Kryptonian, Half-Human, who would eventually inherit the mantle of Superman. Being of two race, he'll have the potential to be the best of two worlds and is hoped to be destined to do great things.

An Origin is Retconned

Jon's origin however was retconned when he was kidnapped by Mr. Mxyzptlk and taken to the Fifth dimension. It is here where he was exposed to the other Superman and Lois reality, the one from The New 52 reality. Since in that reality, Superman and Lois never got married, Jon was disowned by his parents initially but eventually found a way to merge the essence of both the Supermans and the Lois of both worlds (his and New 52). Another traumatic experience for a young kid who at his young age had already dealt with various traumas and identity crisis. The merging would retcon Jon's story, with now being revealed that he was born shortly after Clark and Lois marriage before they both retired to start a family. He was also rejected by the Teen Titans, voting not to include him on the team except for Damian who gave him an affirmitive vote. With the new origin of Jon's beginnings established, things gets complicated when Jor El (Kal El's Father and Jon's Grandfather) offers to take Jon with him to help him discover his true "self" and "identity." Superman and Lois initially refuses to let Jor El take Jon but eventually gave in when Jon pleads to his parents. Sharing that he had been facing a traumatic experience so far. Seeing glimpses of the future where he turns him into a despot, and killing millions of people. Pleading for them to allow him to find "his" self and understand himself better. The trip however would not be as smooth sailing as it is, with Jon being separated from Jor El and ends up in Earth 3, the twisted Alternate Earth where an evil Superman exists, Crime Syndicate's Ultraman. Taken as a prisoner by Ultraman (who is actually an evil version of his father), Jon was severely beaten up and abused for years. Not only by Ultraman, but an evil version of his mother Lois a well, Crime Syndicate's Superwoman. Imagine the trauma that he had to deal. His own father (even if it is from another reality) beating him up, abusing him because he was "different". This happened for years. Jon was captured as a kid. Spent years in an abusive relationship with his alternate reality father. Only to escape in his adolescent years, until Jor El rescued him. And to make things worse, Jon was transported to the past, wherein in reality, he was only lost to Jor El for three weeks. Thus growing up to be a teenage kid once he returned to the current timeline of his Earth. 

A Bi-Sexual Superman

To recap, Jon was a young kid dealing with an identity crisis, trauma, rejection, tragedy, abuse, and other horrible things that you could think of that is too much to handle for him as a kid. And he dealt most of it without the guiding hands of his father, specially the formative years of his transition to pubescent. But before Jon would eventually embrace his sexuality. He had one more trip away from his parents. That was the time when he was recruited to join the Legion of Superheros, a team of Superheroes from the far flung future. And this happened just a few days from his return from that long abusive trip with Jor El. Being with a group of Superheroes that almost shares the same age as him, and to be truly accepted by his peers, Jon finally found a home. And he was actually attracted to Saturn Girl in the course of their adventures together. Though the relationship would not last beyond their first kiss. Jon would then return to the present times to continue his adventures with his Dad and begins to take the first step in his attempt to inherit the mantle of Superman of Earth. In the far flung future of the current DC Universe. In the DC Comics wide event called Future State, there was no hint of Jon's sexuality in all of the stories that he was involved in. He was however very close to the future Wonder Woman, Yara Flor. But in the current times, DC Comics had decided to make Jon a Bi-Sexual. Causing an instant outrage to most DC Fans. The more reasonable ones however were more acceptable to the development, as long as there was character development to justify the move. With that said, I am writing this blog entry to chart Jon Kent's story, his character arc and development, and all of the trauma that he had to suffer in his road to assume the mantle of Superman of Earth. But there's one common thread I could see in his story. And it would seem that Superman (Kal EL) seemed to be an absentee father. He was not as present as he should have been during Jon's formative years. With that said.

Does his story relate to the real world tragedies and trauma that the LGBTQ+ community had to deal with? You be the judge. As a longtime Superman fan, I always looked at Superman not as a symbol of masculinity. But as a SYMBOL of HOPE. HOPE that is for everyone and not for the exclusive few. HOPE that we all eventually find TRUE LOVE. And not just the workings and desires of the flesh. But to find SOLACE in LOVE that can only come from one SAVIOR. No not the Kal EL Superman, but that guy that Superman has always been projected as an allegory of.... JESUS CHRIST!