The Justice League's Biggest Weakness is as Bad as Ever
Warning: contains spoilers for Superman: Son of Kal-El #4!
Each member of the Justice League has some sort of weakness, be it Kryptonite, fire, or the color yellow. Collectively, however, the League has another weakness: the seeming inability to protect their loved ones. Villains have taken advantage of this over the years, and in Superman: Son of Kal-El #4, on sale now in print and digital, readers see very little has been done to address this problem.
Secret identities are a fundamental part of superhero comics; nearly every character has, or had at one point, a secret identity. Some elect to go public, but this creates a potentially dangerous situation for everyone close to whoever unmasks. Perhaps no story better illustrated this than 2004’s Identity Crisis. Jean Loring, the former lover of the Atom, began lashing out at the families of Justice Leaguers, ultimately killing Sue Dibny and Jack Drake. Yet, in the years since, it is clear nothing has been done to bolster their defenses and help secure the safety of the League's loved ones, and Ma and Pa Kent learn this the hard way in Superman: Son of Kal-El #4, written by Tom Taylor, with art by Daniele Di Nicuolo, colors by Gabe Eltaeb and Hi-Fi and letters by Dave Sharpe.
Jon Kent and his lover Jay are visiting Ma and Pa Kent in Smallville. The four are enjoying a pleasant dinner, until Jon senses something approaching the house, and fast. Suddenly, Faultline falls through the ceiling, obliterating the house. Fortunately, thanks to Jon’s super speed, he was able to whisk Ma and Pa Kent to safety; Jay was unharmed thanks to his powers. The League then arrives on the scene, and Jon convinces them not to attack Faultline, and that she needs help. Jon notes that Ma and Pa Kent’s house was supposed to be under the protection of the Justice League, monitored at all times. However, Faultline was able to slip through whatever security measures were in place, and if Jon had not been present, Ma and Pa Kent would have died.
The attack on the Kents' house should serve as a wake-up call to Superman and the rest of the Justice League that their loved ones are still very much at risk. After losing Sue Dibny and Jack Drake, the League should have re-evaluated the protocols designed to protect their families, as Loring was able to slip right past every one of them in Identity Crisis. The Justice League has access to advanced technology, not only their own but from other worlds as well, which could help craft better security measures. In addition, the League has a number of members, such as Mister Terrific or Mister Miracle, on retainer, each of whom could lend their expertise to the matter.
After the dust from Faultline’s appearance settles, the Flash goes to introduce himself to Jon, almost telling Jon his name is Wally. Jon stops him, asking why he is revealing his secret identity. Perhaps the attack on his grandparents’ house has shown him the importance of safeguarding secret identities. Now it falls on the Justice League to work to better address their biggest weakness—protecting their loved ones.