SPOILER ALERT: The next column incorporates spoilers from this week’s Superman: Son of Kal-El #18. We recommend studying it after you’ve got completed with the problem.
It’s the vacation season—a time for snow, buying, carols, cookies, ugly sweaters, even uglier site visitors, eggnog, festive lights and gathering with household. It’s this final one I’ve discovered myself serious about currently as increasingly of my social circle begins heading dwelling to see siblings and oldsters. Hopefully, regardless of the place you discover yourselves, you’ll quickly be following go well with. Our households might drive us nuts occasionally, however the holidays are inclined to have a approach of creating that appear unimportant and smoothing over no matter grievances might have come up over the 12 months. It’s a time of pleasure and togetherness. Of remembering those that are most vital in your life.
For Jon Kent and Lois Lane, the reunion with their lacking beloved one—Kal-El—got here a number of months in the past. However I’ve to surprise…what if Kal-El hadn’t returned this 12 months? What if his mission on Warworld lasted just a bit longer. What would which have meant to his households?
Oh sure, Superman has a couple of household.
Clearly, there’s his organic household of Lois and Jon. I’d think about they really feel lots like several household feels who’s lacking a core member. In Superman: Son of Kal-El #16, Lois laments not having Clark round to heat up her espresso when it will get chilly. Happily, as he’s been doing lots currently, her son fills in for his father, warming it up for her. Talking of Jon, he talks constantly about how he misses his dad and questions his capacity to take over for him as Superman. Jon’s executed an exceptional job, however these are clearly some large footwear to fill and contemplating all the things else that’s occurring within the DC Universe in the mean time, the comparisons between Jon and his father occur fairly ceaselessly, together with from those who Jon probably respects. (You’ve all been studying Darkish Disaster on Infinite Earths, proper?)
Happily, the strain isn’t all on Jon, as he’s not the one individual with Kryptonian heritage nonetheless on Earth. There’s additionally Kara and Conner, whom together with the human members of the Superman Household—John Henry Irons, Natasha Irons and Kong Kenan—have tried assist fill the void left by Kal-El’s absence. (Okay, technically, Nat’s been with him on Warworld, however her uncle’s been serving to from Earth.) All of them are competent, gifted heroes who’re able to nice issues. They will greater than make up for Superman’s absence, particularly after they work collectively. However being part of the Superman Household when the unique Man of Metal is lacking needs to be unusual. Folks outline them by their relationship to Superman. Who’re they when he’s not round? It’s like being a member of Queen after Freddy Mercury handed or The Doorways after dropping Jim Morrison—you are nonetheless a member of the band, however does the band nonetheless matter?
Then there’s the Justice League. The Justice League isn’t outlined by its relationship to Superman, and in reality, there have been occasions when Kal-El wasn’t part of it. However Superman being off world for thus lengthy nonetheless has an impact. All the present members of the League have a relationship with him. All of them take into account Kal-El a good friend—a part of their superhero household. So sure, they will function successfully and garner intergalactic respect with out him, however on a person stage, they’ve obtained to be frightened. They know higher than anybody the risks of what they do, which suggests they’re going to be most clear-eyed about the opportunity of Kal-El by no means returning dwelling. That’s some fairly critical emotional weight to hold as they’re placing their very own lives on the road.
Superman has different households as properly. He has his work household on the Every day Planet, his Smallville household, together with his mother and father, his Warworld household—heck, I’d even argue that the world at massive is one in every of his households. He’s a hero to us all, which suggests all of us have a relationship with him. In every case, his absence goes to be felt and go away his household feeling incomplete. And when an incomplete household lacks hope, then unhealthy issues can occur.
For instance, have a look at Luis Rojas—or Purple Sin, as he’s taken to calling himself. Luis’s mother and father died in a LexCorp explosion they usually’re not coming again. His grief is actual and it’s clear that on this week’s Superman: Son of Kal-El #18, Jon Kent really feels for him, regardless of Luis’ hatred of him and his father. I’d think about this has lots to do with the truth that Jon’s father appeared misplaced till only in the near past, however the distinction is that Jon’s dad got here again. That’s not potential with Luis, and in selecting to deal with anger, blame and hatred fairly than permitting himself to grieve their loss, Luis has left himself open to being exploited by a really immoral new father determine—Lex Luthor.
All of us want household. With out it, we really feel alone and incomplete. The Superman tales we’ve gotten this 12 months have been an excellent reminder of that. I feel we are able to all rejoice Kal-El’s return to his household as we come along with all of ours this vacation season. But when I can say one last item as I wrap up this 12 months’s remaining Tremendous Right here For… column, it’s to take a web page from Jon Kent and take into consideration these folks we all know who can’t be with household proper now and who is likely to be unhappy or offended about it. If you happen to can attain out to these folks, be there for them and remind them that they’re not alone, please try this. I do know it’s not at all times straightforward, however selflessness by no means is. In any other case, everybody can be a superhero.
There are many Lex Luthors on this planet. This vacation season, we want extra Jon Kents.
Tim Beedle covers films, TV and comics for DCComics.com, writes our month-to-month Superman column, “Tremendous Right here For…”, and is a daily contributor to the Sofa Membership, our recurring tv column. Observe him on Twitter at @Tim_Beedle.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed on this column are solely these of Tim Beedle and don’t essentially replicate these of DC Leisure or Warner Bros.
