Jon Kent may not have as much experience with his powers as his father, but he's brought out the deadliest potential of one of Superman's most devastating abilities. Super Sons #11 showcases a certain power that could do more damage than Clark ever imagined.
Fans of the Man of Steel know that the yellow rays of the sun bring out a wide range of powers in Clark Kent thanks to his Kryptonian physiology. They may also be aware of his most iconic abilities such as his freeze breath or superstrength. But fewer may be familiar with Superman's Solar Flare power, an extension of the hero's heat vision. When pushing his powers to their limits, Clark can release all the solar energy stored up in his cells, causing a powerful explosion. Unfortunately, such a display leaves Clark virtually powerless until he absorbs more solar radiation, a process that's taken as long as 24 hours.
But as explosive as Clark's Solar Flare is, his son's is far more dangerous. In Super Sons #11 by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, and Ryan Benjamin, Jon Kent assists the Titans in taking down a crew of baddies, only to be reprimanded by his friend Damian Wayne for interfering with the team’s business. Unbeknownst to the team, a time-displaced version of Tim Drake has come from the future to stop Jon before he can cause the destruction of millions in the future. Drake uses a mysterious substance to contain Superboy, sending him into a panic. Jon’s emotions get the better of him, and he starts to glow red-hot. Superboy makes it outside just before he accidentally triggers his Solar Flare, but the wave of energy is so strong, it almost completely takes out the top floor of Titans Tower.
Why Jon's Solar Flare Is More Intense Than Superman's
While this demonstration of Jon Kent’s power is certainly something to see, the Solar Flare that Jon triggers in the future is even worse. According to the potential future Tim Drake, Jon’s Solar Flare accidentally takes out millions of innocent lives after Jon loses control of himself during an argument with Damian. The future Drake deems the devastation so bad, he opts to kill Jon in order to stop the event from coming to .
But why is it that Jon, a relatively young and inexperienced hero, able to cause so much devastation compared to his father? Apparently the secret lies in Jon's half-human-heritage. Because Superman is a full-blooded Kryptonian, he holds a greater degree of control of his radioactive blasts. But Jon is part human. In addition to his abilities being tied to his emotional state, he is less able to control them when they build to extremely powerful levels. This power can do far greater damage than Clark, but it’s a much riskier gambit due to the destruction it can bring. Though his father is more powerful in some regards, Jon has a much more devastating Solar Flare than Superman’s ever shown.
