The following contains spoilers for Superman: Kal-El Returns Special #1, on sale now from DC Comics.
Lex Luthor has outsmarted Jon Kent, making Earth's young Superman look like a reckless public menace.
Written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated by Jack Herbert, the short story "Distractions" in Superman: Kal-El Returns Special #1 shows Superman Jon Kent running around as a hero while his parents have a second honeymoon to themselves. The issue revolves around Superman Clark Kent's return to Earth after being away for so long in Action Comics' "Warworld Saga," so he and his wife Lois Lane are celebrating their reunion. While they are happily away, Jon calls them to say he is about to put Luthor behind bars after supposedly uncovering the villain's latest scheme, but he was fed false intel that winds up making Jon look bad to the world.
Thinking he is about to witness criminal activity, Jon breaks down the door of one of Luthor's warehouses, only to find that Lex is hosting a televised opening for what will become a living facility for the homeless, an initiative sponsored by LexCorp Charities. Lex treats Jon amicably in that moment, but later shares video of Jon's forced entry with news outlets and badmouths him, saying, "This video's proof that Super Brat destroys anything he doesn't like. Today, it's me. Tomorrow, it will be you."
While Clark has been offworld, Jon's work as Superman has been explored by the Superman: Son of Kal-El series, soon to end with Issue #18. In the title, Jon first interacts with Lex in Superman: Son of Kal-El 2021 Annual #1, agreeing to play a game of chess with Lex (something his father refused to do) and later beating the villain. This prompts Lex to work with Gamorran President Henry Bendix and his schemes against Jon, but their business relationship ends with Lex appearing to kill Bendix and promising that he will take advantage of Jon's willingness to sacrifice himself in the future.
Where Superman Is Heading in the Future of DC Comics
Though Jon fails to imprison Lex in Kal-El Returns Special, he won't have to wait much longer for this goal to be achieved. The anniversary issue Action Comics #1050 is set to shake up the world of Superman, restoring the secret identities of Clark and Jon Kent, and also placing Lex back in prison. This is where Lex will be when DC's new Superman series launches in February, written by Joshua Williamson and illustrated by Jamal Campbell.
Superman: Kal-El Returns Special #1 features three stories other than "Distractions," including "The Concert That Ate Gotham" by writer Mark Waid and artist Clayton Henry, "A Friend, In Need!" by writer Sina Grace and artist Dean Haspiel and "Home" by writer Alex Segura and artist Fico Ossio. The issue's stories feature colors by Marcelo Maiolo, Trish Mulvihill, Alex Guimarães and Lee Loughridge, letters by Dave Sharpe and main cover art by Dan Mora. Variant cover artwork is done by Travis Moore, Tamra Bonvillain, Mario Foccillo, Prasad Rao, Mora and Tomeu Morey. The issue is now on sale from DC Comics.
Source: DC Comics