OUT MAGAZINE
The DC Universe just got a little gayer.
Today DC announced that Jon Kent, the superpowered son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane will be coming out as bisexual in the new issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El #5, coming out on November 9.
"Just like his father before him, Jon Kent has fallen for a reporter," a description of the issue reads. "After initially striking up a friendship with reporter Jay Nakamura, he and Jon become romantically involved in the pages of Superman: Son of Kal-El #5."
The description of the issue also says that "Following a scene where Superman (Jon Kent) mentally and physically burns out from trying to save everyone that he can, Jay is there to care for the Man of Steel." Awwwww!!!!
DC Comics
The issue is written by Tom Taylor with art by John Timms, and both of them are happy to be part of a storyline that pushes issues further like this.
"I've always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I'm very grateful DC and Warner Bros. share this idea," Taylor said in a statement. "Superman's symbol has always stood for hope, for truth and for justice. Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics."
"Over the years in this industry, it probably won't surprise you to hear I've had queer characters and storylines rejected. I felt like I was letting down people I loved every time this happened," Taylor told IGN. "But we are in a very different and much more welcome place today than we were ten, or even five years ago. When I was asked if I wanted to write a new Superman with a new #1 for the DC Universe, I knew replacing Clark with another straight white savior could be a real opportunity missed. I've always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes. Today, Superman, the strongest superhero on the planet, is coming out."
Artist John Timms was also excited to get to work on the issue. "I'm incredibly honored to be working beside Tom on the Superman: Son of Kal-El series showing Jon Kent tackling his complex modern life, while also saving the world from its greatest threats, villains and menaces," he said.
Both Taylor and Timms are no strangers to working with beloved queer, DC Comics characters, namely popular antihero and bisexual icon Harley Quinn. Taylor has written Harley in the pages of the Injustice: Gods Among Us series that ran from 2013-2016, and Timms has drawn her regularly in her eponymous monthly comic series.
This news of Jon Kent's coming out comes on the heels of another second-generation superhero bursting out of the closet. In an August issue of the comic book Batman: Urban Legends, Batman's sidekick Robin (Tim Drake) came out as bisexual and went on his first date with another boy.
Now that we have both a bisexual Robin and a bisexual Son of Superman, all we need is for Wonder Woman's protege Wonder Girl to come out!
Marvel is also expanding its queer representation, by introducing its first gay superhero, Phastos, into the upcoming film The Eternals. Brian Tyree Henry is playing the character, who has both a husband and a son in the movie. We even got to see a glimpse of them in the latest trailer for the film.
The Eternals debuts in theaters on November 5.
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