The Justice League Need Superman’s Son (But Not for His Powers)
Warning! Spoilers for Superman: Son of Kal-El #4 ahead!
DC's latest initiative, Infinite Frontier, sees a very different Justice League fighting for the world, but the team assembled by Green Arrow and Black Canary is clearly missing a moral compass since Clark Kent left Earth, a space that could be filled by the new Superman, Jonathan Kent. In Superman: Son of Kal-El #4, Jonathan once again proves to be a selfless, compassionate superhero when engaging a post-human with the Justice League, showing that he has more to offer than just brute strength.
For the latest iteration of the Justice League, Green Arrow made the decision to open up membership to "alternative voices," which led to Black Adam and Hippolyta joining the League, both of whom are centuries-old warriors with a tyrannical bent to their "justice." With Clark gone, kicked out of the Justice League, and off to fight Mongul on Warworld, the team has lost the member whose invulnerability and good heart allow them to opt for de-escalation as a first choice. Jonathan Kent has shown repeatedly since the start of Superman: Son of Kal-El that he is following in his father's footsteps, and not just in terms of their powers.
Throughout the new series, Superman has been fighting the rise in post-human incidents around the world, and in Superman: Son of Kal-El #4, written by Tom Taylor with art by Daniele Di Nicuolo, he has to once again face off against an uncontrollable Faultline. When the Justice League also engages, the aggressive Hippolyta and carefree Flash are seemingly only making the situation worse. It is not until Jon intervenes through a de-escalation tactic, leaning on his kindness and compassion, that the crisis resolves. Previously, Superman has de-escalated a post-human pyrokinetic by hugging him, allied himself with the Gamorran refugees, and committed to fighting back against climate destruction with other fellow superheroes.
The Justice League is in desperate need of a moral compass on their team, and it seems like Jonathan Kent would fit perfectly into that heart-shaped hole. While the Justice League is filled with deadly warriors, hyper-intelligent humans, and one very paranoid detective, they are clearly lacking a "heart" on their team. Similarly, Superman has been facing a lot of his current battles alone, and joining the Justice League would offer him much-needed support in his future adventures.
The world's new Superman would obviously be a huge asset to the Justice League on account of his powers alone, but it's what's inside his heart and mind that would truly make him an invaluable addition. Superman: Son of Kal-El continues to illuminate how Jonathan Kent was clearly the best choice to be the next Superman, following in the footsteps of his father to be a symbol not just of strength and power, but also for humility, kindness, and compassion.