WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Young Justice #3 by Brian Michael Bendis, Patrick Gleason, Viktor Bogdanovic, Jonathan Glapion, Alejandro Sanchez, Chris Sotomayer, Hi-Fi, Carlos M. Mangual and Josh Reed, on sale now.
For the first time in years, the heroes of Young Justice are back. The super group that led to a new generation of Teen Titans was missing through the New 52 and Rebirth years. Now, Brian Michael Bendis and Patrick Gleason have brought Tim, Bart, Cassie and Conner back together, but not everything is exactly how we left them.
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As previously revealed, Tim Drake has given up his Red Robin identity and is now simply Robin again. Bart Allen has returned from the Speed Force, and he's going by Impulse again. Cassie Sandsmark is Wonder Girl still, but now Zeus is her grandfather and she has a legacy to live up to. Young Justice #3 finally reveals whatever happened to Superboy, and the changes made to his status quo are quite a doozy.
Where Has Conner Kent Been All This Time?
Pulled into Gemworld last issue, the newly reformed Young Justice became separated in this strange land. While Robin, Wonder Girl, Jinny Hex and Teen Lantern meet with Princess Amethyst and fight Dark Opal, Impulse ends up on a farm outside the city. There he comes face to face with an old friend, Superboy Conner Kent.
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A lot of popular characters went missing during the New 52, and an unlucky few were changed beyond recognition. The adoptive cousin of Clark Kent was replaced by the angsty clone of Superman. He was no longer Conner Kent, just Kon-El, the clone that no one liked. Thankfully, it seems that unpopular depiction of him is no longer in continuity, as Superboy himself fills us in on where he has been all this time.
Apparently at some point, Conner was living and going to school in Smallville, just like he had been doing prior to the DCU reboot. He decided that he was done trying to fit in among humans and wanted to live a little, bringing back his classic leather jacket look. At some point he broke into a secret government facility -- just because he could -- and was accidentally transported to Gemworld. He's been there ever since.
Wait a Minute, Superboy Has a WHAT now?
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He started a new life here and took on the role of a farmer, just like he learned from his adoptive family. However, it seems that Conner's life has become a lot different since the last time he was on Earth. It is revealed that he is now happily married, and the couple seem to have a child of their own. That's right, Conner is a little older than he used to be, but he's still a young husband and father.
Despite the answers we get in this issue, we are still left with a few more questions that will hopefully be sorted out before too long. Who is Conner's wife, and where did she come from? Could this child really be the son of Superboy, or is everything not what it seems? We also need to know what all this means for the DC Universe's overarching continuity.
Nothing is mentioned about Conner Kent's relationship with Superman, but based on his backstory, it would still seem like he has a relationship with the Kents. If Superboy is still the clone of Superman, and he grew up in Smallville, it's worth asking what this means for Ma and Pa Kent, or how Clark has not gone looking for his cousin all this time.
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We also have to wonder if this is truly the end of Conner and Cassie's romantic relationship. The two have always been connected, but now that they are both back and seemingly recognizable again, Superboy now has a wife and child. The two have not been seen together yet, so it's possible that there are some leftover feelings here, but unless something drastic happens, it seems like they will just be friends from now on. We should learn more when they all reunite.