The following contains major spoilers for Superman: Son of Kal-El #17, available now from DC Comics.
Jon Kent comes out to his father in Superman: Son of Kal-El #17 and receives nothing but love and understanding from the original Man of Steel.
The heartfelt moment occurs as Jon recovers in the Justice League Infirmary after a fight. His mother, Lois Lane, and his father, Superman, are both there to support him, and eventually Jon's boyfriend Jay Nakamura arrives as well. After putting off talking to his father about his bisexuality for the entire issue, Jon finally asks for a moment of privacy with his dad.
Jon tells his father that he was enjoying their reunion, which began in Action Comics #1047 at the start of the "Kal-El Returns" story arc, which has thus far detailed Superman's return to Earth from Warworld. After admitting that part of him resented his father for embarking on a mission to free Warworld from Mongul's clutches without him, Jon reflects on his new relationship with Jay. "I wasn't worried you'd literally fly away from me at super-speed," he says. "But if I saw the wrong look on your face -- doubt, disapproval, disappointment -- even for a fraction of a second, then that would be...distance between us."
Luckily, Superman takes his son in his arms, calling him a "miracle" that he will always support no matter what. "Who you love is the last thing that could change that," Superman says. "Anyone who makes your life better will always be a hero in my eyes." Unbeknownst to Jon, Clark reached out to his own adoptive father, Pa Kent, earlier in the issue to ask for advice on speaking with his son. Clark expressed dismay at the idea that Jon would ever think he wouldn't approve of the relationship, and Pa Kent told him that, unfortunately, many fathers fail to unconditionally love their sons due to prejudice, fear or their own unresolved traumas.
Jon and Jay's Relationship
Jon and Jay -- a fellow superpowered teen who goes by the name Gossamer -- first confessed their feelings for each other in Superman: Son of Kal-El #5. At the time of the reveal, series writer Tom Taylor described Jon's bisexuality as an important step for representation in not only the DC Universe, but comic books in general. "I've always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I’m very grateful DC and Warner Bros. share this idea. Superman's symbol has always stood for hope, for truth and for justice," Taylor said. "Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics."
Superman: Son of Kal-El #17 features a script by Taylor, art by Cian Tormey and Ruairí Coleman, color by Romulo Fajardo Jr., letters by Dave Sharpe, a main cover by Travis Moore & Tamra Bonvillain, and variant covers by John Giang, Jeff Dekal, and Steven & Lily Butler. The issue is on sale now from DC Comics.
Source: DC