Warning: includes spoilers for Superman: Son of Kal-El #1!
In a new preview for Superboy is getting an origin change when DC's new series hits store shelves. The series will retcon Jonathan Kent's comic origin, shifting his birthplace from the Batcave to the Fortress of Solitude. Although in both iterations, the future Superman is born in the midst of an ongoing cosmic battle.
Throughout the start of the issue, Superman will be fighting in space alongside the Justice League with heavy hitters like Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter. The planetary invaders that they fight are unimportant as, in this case, they only serve the purpose of distracting Superman from more pressing issues. With the Man of Steel being the hero that he is, of course, he will want to stop any incoming threat. However, the Justice League realizes that they can keep the invaders at bay and are adamant that Superman needs to return to the Fortress of Solitude.
In Superman: Son of Kal-El #1 by Tom Taylor, John Timms, and Gabe Eltaeb, Wonder Woman knows how important Jonathan's birth is. The preview shows Wonder Woman acting as a midwife and moral to Lois, whose husband is absent. It's not that Superman is actively trying to miss his child's birth, but that he cannot help but be a hero, perhaps to a fault. Batman, who is with Wonder Woman, calls Superman to urgently return to the Fortress, despite the fact that the invasion is ongoing. This is because Lois is giving birth or has given birth to their son, Jonathan Kent. It's unclear if Superman misses his birth or arrives just in time.
Wonder Woman comments on how the birth of Superman and Lois' child is the single most important event occurring. She is adamant that the invasion has nothing on how vital it is that Lois' child labor is successful. Wonder Woman even foreshadows that she thinks that he could be the world's greatest hero. This has turned out to be true given that Jonathan is set to become the new Superman.
Taylor's utilization of flashing back and exploring Jonathan's birth will serve as a refresher to show readers how far he has come. It's a clever and nostalgic narrative tactic that highlights how important Jonathan will be as Superman. He is taking over from his father, who is the universe's greatest hero, so he has a lot to live up to. But Superman is confident that he can do this and that the time is right to begin a new age of Superman. Superman: Son of Kal-El #1 releases on July 27.
