Warning! Spoilers ahead for Superman #32!
In Superman #32, Superman admits that his son, Jonathan Kent aka Superboy, is and will always be a greater hero than he is. This comes after a long run of issues teasing that Superboy will take on the Superman mantle soon. Bit by bit, Jonathan has proven that he is ready to become something greater. It's been emphasized and shown through Superman's perspective as he watches the way that Jonathan moves as a hero.
In recent issues of Action Comics, Superboy has proven to be less heroic, thanks to his extreme fear of losing his father. Although his dread of losing Superman is present, in Superman's recent issues he has shown otherwise. Jonathan is a great hero and is well-equipped to battle the cosmic beings that Superman fights. Superboy has many qualities that he shares with Superman, but there are some things that make him excel. He has showcased a better, more nuanced control of his powers, which comes into play in this issue when he is able to use his heat vision in ways that Superman can't.
In Superman #32 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Scott Goolewski, and Gabe Eltaeb, Superboy defeats Superman's oldest enemy, the Shadowbreed. He does this by letting out a burst of ultraviolet heat vision. This is something that even Superman can't even do, but Superboy can and he does so. Superboy gets to become Superman for a minute as an entire civilization looks up to him as a savior, similar to how Superman is regarded as Earth's champion and protector. Superman reveals that future heroes will look up to Jonathan as the hero that people will measure themselves up to.
In Superman's narration, he mentions how Jonathan was tested in ways that Clark wouldn't have been able to handle at his age. He reflects on how Jonathan has persisted through everything and come back as the "compassionate, selfless, outgoing, happy kid" that he was when he left for the future. At every step, Superboy has impressed Superman. The resilience that Jonathan has shown throughout his journeys defies anything that Clark has seen before. Right after this, Superman addresses Jonathan's doubts about being as great as him. He states that he should never regard himself as just "the son of Superman," but as a great superhero in his own right.
Superman's closing words are inspiring as DC Comics gets ready to shift to a new phase of Superman stories. Soon, Superman: Son of Kal-El will be replacing the current Superman series. Jonathan will make the leap to becoming Superman as Clark realizes that now is the time to pass on the mantle. Additionally, Superman states that he aspires to be more like Jonathan. Superman's words mean big things as it implies that Superboy is already a better hero than him. Find out if he lives up to his father's legacy as Superman: Son of Kal-El #1 releases on July 13.
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June 30, 2021 at 12:14AM
