Review: Adventures Of Superman Jon Kent #1

Adventures of Superman Jon Kent #1 came out this week, the first part of this mini-series which will send Jon out into the multiverse with a new set of powers. I am trying to come at this with a fresh and clean perspective. And overall I thought this issue grabbed my attention and wanted me to read more. So kudos to the team.

Writer Tom Taylor is at the helm again, guiding Jon into this next phase of character growth. I admit I didn't love the Son of Kal-El  title. Jon seemed like a background character when compared to Jay Nakamura. Jon seemed extremely passive in the book. It was a badge of honor for Taylor that Jon never threw a punch. The politics were ham-fisted and overly simplistic. So the 'powers that be' decided to end that title and bring us this.

And it looks like, perhaps, the idea is to distance Jon from all that. Jon will not only off-world, he'll be out of the universe. He is going into what looks like a very physical confrontation with Ultraman. It also looks like his power set will change to the Electric Blue Superman. I applaud it all. Jon has a history with Ultraman. There are a lot of supers out there now - Kara, Conner, Otho, Osul - so why not differentiate Jon. I am hopeful.

The art is by Clayton Henry who just brings a smooth, gorgeous line to the proceedings. His work continues to improve. While much of the book is conversational, the book is just wonderful to look at.

Is this a move to phase Jon out of the universe for good? We'll see. 

On to the book.

The book opens with the premise of the conflict.

Ultraman is hopping from universe to universe killing off the Superman of that world.  (Have we seen this plot before somewhere?? It seems familiar ... someone hunting Supermen.)

I do love that on every world, Superman's last word is ''Lois". nice touch.

Meanwhile on our world, Jon is enjoying the safety of his new secret identity.

But all isn't rosy. People know Superman and Jay Nakamura are boyfriends. So now, if they go out in public, Jay has to bundle up to hide who he is. Imagine the scandal of Jay 'cheating' on Superman with Jon. Or people discovering Jon is Superman.

Jon is more comfortable. Jay is less comfortable. 

I mean, for gosh sake Jon, put on some glasses.

Will this be a big enough problem to break the two up? Would DC have the guts to do that? 

The date is interrupted by a sudden swarm of satellites falling from orbit over the planet. 

Superman and Supergirl are conveniently off planet leaving Jon to intercede and mobilize.

In the midst of it, he feels that surge of blue electric energy again. It's only a matter of time.

I wonder if the explanation will simply be that an Terran/Kryptonian being processes sunlight differently. Hmmm ...

Throughout the rescue, Jon hears a voice with his super-hearing telling him that an assist is happening.

That help turns out to be Val-Zod, the Superman from Earth 2. Remember that title? I liked it at times.

No doubt thought, Val has a slick uniform and Henry draws him very well.

I also like that Jon literally says he won't fall into the trap of fighting the hero first. After all, Val helped with the satellites. No need to assume he's evil.

With a reference from Mr. Terrific (who spent some time on Earth 2), Val reveals why he is there. He knows about the Ultraman murderous rampage. Turns out that Ultraman somehow has an 'anti Kal-El' advantage, explaining why he can kill the Supermen so easily. So Val and his colleagues have been seeking non-Kals to help. 

One thing I have applauded Taylor for is his continued harkening back to the Ultraman torture. Whether here or in Nightwing, he has made sure to remind us that this happened and should impact Jon. It can't just be swept away.

That said, Jon was tortured for 6 years, comes out bright and sunny and optimistic and progressive. Poor Kara. Everyone wants her trauma to harden her and make her depressed and dark.

Val came to this Earth knowing Superman was off-planet, knowing Superman wouldn't let anyone else be put in peril, knowing Superman would die if he joined them. Other Kals have.

I wonder ... is it anti-Kal? Or anti-100% Kryptonians? Would Val have considered Kara as an ally if she were present??

There is an added bonus with Red Tornado being there. The Earth 2 Lois' persona was downloaded into the robot in that series. I hope we see more interactions between our Lois and the Tornado. Some grist there.

Overall this was a good hook for the series. The art is delicious. The quest is noble. I like the co-stars. And it feels like a fresh start for Jon. Here is hoping the series continues like this!

Overall grade: B+