Is the New Superman, the Son of the Original, Coming Out as Gay?

GayNrd Editors August 24, 2021

The short answer? Yes.

Jonathan Kent, the son of the original Superman, Kal-El/Clark Kent and Lois Lane, recently took over his father’s mantle in Superman: Son of Kal-El, last month.

Jonathan had previously gone by Superboy. Along with his best friend, Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce Wayne/Batman, the duo proved their mettle and even became members of the 32nd century superhero team the Legion of Superheroes.

Now according to artist Ethan Van Sciver, Clark Kent/Kal-El will die and Jonathan will come out as gay. Van Sciver revealed this during an interview with ComicArtistsPro Secrets on YouTube, saying, “I just found out, I got a little bit of a scoop about what DC’s plans are. Nobody knows this yet. It hasn’t been really announced, except by me.”

“The plan is that… Clark Kent is going bye-bye.”

According to Van Sciver, the character’s sexuality will be explored in the Superman: Son of Kal El book. The artist also claimed that the developments come as DC has had “problems maintaining” the trademark of Superman over the years due to him being “old.”

Above: Jonathan and Damian in Superman: Son of Kal-El #1.

“He’s an old character, and the family would desperately like money because their family, their ancestors who created Superman got completely fucked over. I mean Superman has made billions and billions and billions of dollars in revenue and those two boys who made up Superman got ‘bupkis’, they were Jewish so they got ‘bupkis’ they got nothing. Clark Kent I guess is going bye-bye and they are going to replace him with Jonathan Kent, and then they are going to announce that Jonathan Kent is gay. So Superman is effectively gay, everyone. He is gay.”

The state of DC Comics:
1. All experienced editorial talent fired.
2. Line slashed, cover price raised to $6 w/53 Batman titles and multiple variant covers
3. No more creator incentives. Big names flee to Substack or Image
4. Warren Ellis and Geoff Johns canceled as problematic.
— TRUSTED MEMBER OF THE MEDIA (@EthanVanSciver) August 18, 2021

Now it’s possible that Van Sciver may be wrong.

//This is wholesome. Superman coming out to the world by revealing his secret identity, inspired a young man to also come out to his family as a proud Gay.
Superman: Red & Blue #6. pic.twitter.com/Eh0eEFAulP
— ???????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ☼ ???????????????????????????????? (@iTheMan0fSteel) August 17, 2021

Just last week in Superman: Red & Blue #6: Superman, by revealing his secret identity, inspired a young man to come out to his family as proudly gay.

Jonathan Kent coming out as gay would be welcome as the legacy character would have historical gravitas. It also comes on the heels of Tim Drake, the third Robin, coming out as bisexual in last month’s Batman: Urban Legends #6.

Drake even went on a date.

Out magazine: Tim (who has dated women in previous comics, donning his full Robin attire) is on a mission to save his friend male friend Bernard who was kidnapped by the villainous Chaos Monster while the two were enjoying a dinner together out on the town. While being rescued, Bernard (unaware that Robin is actually Tim’s crimefighting alter ego) confesses to Robin that Tim is the reason that he realized his true self and that he wishes he could go back and finish his date with him. Fast forward to the post-rescue scene, where Bernard is now safe and sounds thanks to being rescued by Tim, and Tim decides to pay Bernard a visit. As expected, guts were spilled, new dates were planned, and all the feels were had. “Tim Drake…do you want to go on a date with me?” Bernard asks Tim as he stands at his front door.

“Yeah…yeah, I think I want that,” Tim replies back, reaching out his hand for Bernard to take.

Before I was a Green Arrow Stan I was a Robin Stan, I lived and breathed Tim Drake.
I’ve always loved the character and have been pushing for them to be bisexual for YEARS. And now I think is a good time to come out myself and say I’m also bisexual. pic.twitter.com/vGCFw6BUtI
— Ollie???? (@NegativeArrow_) August 10, 2021

It’s a sweet and heartfelt moment that we wish we could see more of in mainstream media, and of course, fans were elated at this kind of intimacy and love between two male characters.

Jonathan coming out would dovetail with a poignant moment in last weeks’ Nightwing #83, where Clark/Kal-El tells Dick Grayson/Nightwing that he might “have to go away for awhile” and that a lot of responsibility will fall to his son Jonathan. “It would mean a lot if you could give him some guidance and some friendship.”