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Warning! Spoilers ahead for Shazam! #20!DC Comics has a real problem when it comes to figuring out what to do with Superman’s son, Jonathan Kent. It seems only like yesterday that the once-Superboy grew up in an instant to the shock of fans everywhere. But a return to Jon’s childhood highlights a real issue facing Superman’s offspring.
In Shazam! #20 by Sina Grace and Dan McDaid, Jon Kent is in the wrong place at the wrong time when he flies over Philadelphia just as Billy Batson calls down the Living Lightning to transform into the Captain. The magic force that turns Billy into his counterpart has, strangely enough, turned Jon back into hisyounger Superboy form.
Jon stays with the Shazam Family until they can figure out a way to get him back to normal. But it isn’t until Jon’s boyfriend Jay Nakamura visits and suggests Jon say “Shazam!“, which does return Jon to his adult form.
Jon Kent Becomes Superboy Once Again
Is DC Comics Ever Going to Move On from the Super Sons Era?
Jon’s time as Superboy during the Rebirth era was a huge hit among fans. From seeing his adventures with his dad to watching him get into hijinx with Robin in Super Sons, Jon was a breath of fresh air for many. However, Jon’s time as Superboy was short-lived, as he was taken into space to be trained by his grandfather, Jor-El, where Jon was eventually kidnapped and imprisoned in a volcano on Earth-3 for years. Jon made his way back to the Prime DC Universe, but by the time he returned, Jon was old enough to be a new Superman.
To be fair, this issue does its best to say that Jon’s Superboy era is over. The problem is that DC Comics continues to revisit this concept long after the decision to age up Jon. A younger Jon appeared in Action Comics “Lois and Clark: Doom Rising” and a time-displaced version of the Super Sons even appeared in The Flash #797. DC Comics has made it clear that Jon is not going to be de-aged, yet the publisher keeps revisiting his Superboy era in various stories. Ultimately, it’s doing a disservice to both Superman’s son and the readers.
DC Needs to Stop Revisiting the Superboy Era for Fans to Move On
Going Back Keeps Bringing Up the Decision to Age Jon in the First Place
To be fair, DC has made some positive steps with Jon’s character, especially in Absolute Power: Super Son, which finally acknowledged the trauma Jon has been through in the last several years. However, fans are going to have a tough time accepting all the progress Jon is making if stories keep reminding readers of the decision to have Jon aged up in the first place. All it does is remind them of the fun fans had during the Rebirth era and the shock that came with Superboy losing his childhood in such a tragic way.
This issue does seem to come off as a final goodbye to Jon’s Superboy and that’s great if DC actually sticks with it. Jon’s been through a lot and letting him deal with his trauma and healing will take him in a direction that fans might like. But if DC keeps reminding readers of Jon’s heyday as Superboy, it’s going to be a lot more difficult for them to accept the progress that Superman’s son is trying to make.
Shazam! #20 is available now from DC Comics.
“}]] The age issue with Superman’s son, Jon. Read More