• Cover of Superman: Son of Kal-El #10
    Superman: Son of Kal-El #10
    Writer:
    Tom Taylor
    Artist:
    Cian Tormey
    Letterer:
    Dave Sharpe
    Cover Artist:
    Travis Moore, Tamra Bonvillain
    Publisher:
    DC Comics
    Price:
    3.99
    Release Date:
    2022-04-12
    Colorist:
    Federico Blee

Jon Kent has cemented himself as DC Comics' modern-day Superman, a compassionate hero like his father and a vocal advocate for socio-political change like his mother. Jon has reached that junction in his life where his actions are considered a nuisance by the powers that be, who want to destroy his public image more than anything else. In the previous issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El, Superman and Nightwing discovered that Lex Luthor, with the help of President Bendix of Gamorra, has been hunting down metahumans using superpowered hitmen, each implanted with a bomb in their head. When confronted, one of them disintegrates in a blinding flash, shocking Jon to his core. Written by Tom Taylor with artwork from Cian Tormey and Federico Blee, and letters from Dave Sharpe, the Superman: Son of Kal-El #10 continues the neverending battle between good and evil.

Superman: Son of Kal-El #10 brings a whole lot of trouble for the budding superhero as Luthor turns the world against Superman. In a press conference, Luthor launches a scathing attack against the young superhero, questioning his methods and intentions while releasing incriminating footage as proof. Meanwhile, Jon is in the midst of a rescue operation, but mistrust and fear grip the victims, making it harder for Jon to help. When all seems to be going against Jon, Lois Lane makes an appearance for him at the press conference, confronting Luthor head-on with a golden lasso in her hand.

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Lex Luthor frames Superman for murder in Superman: Son of Kal-El #10

Since taking on the mantle of Superman, Jon has dived deep into the Gamorran refugee crisis and uncovered secret conspiracies involving illegal human trafficking and experimentation. This has placed President Bendix in hot water and risks revealing his plans for starting an arms race using metahumans as controllable, expendable assets. A plot-driven story, Superman: Son of Kal-El #10 creates a strenuous new buildup as Bendix and his business partner Lex Luthor plot to discredit Superman and frame him for murder. Writer Tom Taylor weaves multiple narratives together, each showcasing the perspective of the characters as the events unfold to reach a suspenseful climax. Despite the air of distrust and fear, Superman does not stop being the icon of hope, helping people out in their time of distress. Displaying a strong cast of supporting characters, the issue exposes people's true colors when confronted with reality.

Artist Cian Tormey uses clean lines and detailed backgrounds to chronicle the events of Superman: Son of Kal-El #10, giving the artwork a stylized look. While Tormey had relinquished his duties to fellow artist Bruno Redondo in the previous issue, he is back to illustrate a pivotal moment in Jon's life. His framing of the characters in different shots and panels plays a key role in creating the framework of visual storytelling. Colorist Federico Blee's flashy colors and bright palette applies a glossy feel to the book. The warm color gradients add to the emotional bits in the story, as do the cooler tones, producing a colorful series of pages.

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Lois Lane saves the day in Superman: Son of Kal-El #10

Superman: Son of Kal-El #10 is a rite of passage for Jon Kent. It has become quite the superhero trope to wrongly accuse the protagonist of murder, which gives the climax of the issue an exciting twist. Jon is not alone in this fight as his mother, the world-renowned journalist Lois Lane, turns the tables on Luthor and proves how much of a badass mom she is. There are other highlights from the issue, including scenes where Jon finally comes out to his mother, and the two share a warm, bonding moment that leaves a sweet aftertaste. Like always, the situation takes a turn for the worse, ending Superman: Son of Kal-El #10 on a narrative hook and making it a memorable issue.