In the wake of Dean Cain's scathing criticism toward the son of Superman: Son of Kal-El. Cain, 55, is best known for his work on the 90s television show Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which aired for four seasons on ABC. He recently took to Fox & Friends on Tuesday to air his grievances toward DC Comics's decision to have Jonathan Kent come out as bisexual.
In Superman: Son of Kal-El, Jonathan Kent is finding his place in the world as a person and as a hero. When Clark Kent departs the planet, Jonathan officially takes up his father's legendary name and begins a never-ending battle for "Truth, justice, and a better world." Jonathan faces natural disasters, supervillains, and the perils of everyday life as he attempts to balance it all - and in an issue (a teaser image of which was revealed on National Coming Out Day), he begins a relationship with reporter and fellow student, Jay Nakamura.
Responding to the reveal, Dean Cain accused DC Comics of "bandwagoning", saying “Robin just came out as bi — who’s really shocked about that one? The new Captain America is gay. My daughter in Supergirl, where I played the father, was gay. So I don’t think it’s bold or brave or some crazy new direction." He also asked if DC would tackle 'real issues', wondering “They’re talking about having him fight climate change and the deportation of refugees, and he’s dating a hacktivist — whatever a hactivist is. Why don’t they have him fight the injustices that created the refugees whose deportation he’s protesting? That would be brave, I’d read that." Superman writer Tom Taylor subsequently responded via Twitter:
Almost every previously-released issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El has answered Dean Cain's criticisms in some form. In the second issue, Superman saves a boat full of refugees from a storm and delivers the immigrants to Metropolis, only to be horrified when the police begin handcuffing every single one. Later in Son of Kal-El #4, the Kent house is destroyed by an explosion, and the culprit (unknown to Superman) hails from the Gamorran government - who wanted the United States to return the refugees to their shores. So dedicated was Superman to their cause that he was willingly handcuffed along with activists who protested the government's actions.
It appears Dean Cain is perfectly willing to criticize comics, but is not willing to read them. This is not the first time a Superman writer has responded to Cain when he expressed a viewpoint that was fundamentally wrong. It is slightly disheartening that one who portrayed Superman, champion of all humanity, would be so quick to judge and disparage.
