Superman & Lois has reflected many of the changes in modern Superman comics, all while giving them a particular spin. One way in which the show has done so is in giving Lois and Clark two sons, only one of which inherits his father's powers. In the show, this is Jordan Kent, who the series may be getting ready to take on a heroic mantle of his own.
Though he doesn't quite wear a costume yet, it's clear that a future as a version of Superboy may be in store for Jordan. Clearly struggling to come into his own compared to his father, Jordan would seem an unlikely candidate to replace Superman one day. Nevertheless, it's his personal history and his willingness to be a hero that give him the most potential to be one. There's also the way in which his character mirrors the various Superboys from the comics. Here's how this character development crucible will likely see Jordan become a hero by emulating the path of similar Kryptonians.
Jordan Kent Is Completely Different from the Superboy of the Comics
In the most recent comic books, the role of Superman's son isn't occupied by Jordan Kent, but rather his TV show brother Jon Kent. Jon Kent is Lois and Clark's only child in the comics, and his upbringing is much different. Almost always aware that his father is Superman, Jon's childhood is artificially ended when he's taken away from his parents home by his grandfather Jor-El and returns as a teenager. In Superman & Lois, Jordan doesn't find out his father is Superman until he is himself a teen, with the Kent family moving to Smallville after the death of Martha Kent. Unlike Jon, Jordan has social anxiety and barely relates to his father, whom he grows up feeling somewhat distant from. Even as he begins developing his powers, they're initially weak, making Jordan even more unsure of himself.
After joining the football team and finding more confidence in himself, Jordan begins to come into his own. When his powers become stronger, he acts as a vigilante in his briefly absent father's stead. This doesn't always work in his favor, however, as he sometimes makes things worse than intended. An example of this would be his heat vision causing a crane to fall apart, with Superman having to step in and fix the problem. Nevertheless, the Jordan tries his best to act as a hero and protect others, regardless of the personal danger to himself. This sets him up perfectly to become Superman & Lois' "Superboy," even if he's a bit different from how he's interpreted in the source material.
Jordan Becoming Superboy on Superman & Lois Makes Sense
Having already used his burgeoning powers to act on his own, it would seem that Jordan Kent is being primed to become Superboy on Superman & Lois. In many ways, his life is a mirror of different versions of Clark Kent from the comics. The social anxiety somewhat mirrors the socially awkward characterization that Clark uses as a disguise in the Golden Age and Silver Age comics, as well as the Christopher Reeve Superman movies.
Likewise, the fact that Jordan's powers still aren't 100% as a teenager is much like both the post-Crisis on Infinite Earths version of Superman and the TV series Smallville. Even his being a football star mirrors the former, with Clark's high school athleticism being something that writer/artist John Byrne introduced to separate his rebooted Superman continuity from what had come before. Given that "Superboy" was originally just a young version of Superman, this furthers the idea that Jordan is perfect to take on the identity.
There's also the aspect of Jordan being unsure of how he can measure up to the legacy of his father and how he sometimes doesn't fit in with his peers. This mirrors the Conner Kent/Kon-El Superboy, namely the version that Geoff Johns wrote in the pages of Teen Titans. There, Conner was much moodier than his 1990s incarnation. When his ties to Lex Luthor are revealed, he has doubts as whether he truly is a good person. By incorporating all these disparate elements, it's clear that Jordan Kent can grow to become the Superboy of the Superman & Lois universe. Of course, he needs to get a better grip on his powers before that happens, but when he does, he'll have led a life that ensures his compassion and protection for all life, especially those who are sometimes overlooked.
Superman & Lois returns April 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.