Summary
Things are about to change forSuperman’sson as an upcoming one-shot explores the darkest days of Jon Kent’s life.Absolute Poweris almost here, and fans are getting a glimpse at the ghastly transformation ahead for the junior Man of Steel.
Amanda Waller has spent a considerable amount of time waiting in the shadows while planning to eliminate the world of metahumans.Absolute Powerwill seeher dark work come to fruition and have drastic effects on the greatest heroes of the DC Universe. A newAbsolute Powertie-in will explore Jon Kent’s radical change and what it means for his future.
September 18th, 2024
Nicole Maines and Sina Grace
John Timms and Travis Mercer
Variant Covers:
Lucio Parrillo and Reiko Murakami
Jonathan Kent has suffered more than most at the hand of the Trinity of Evil—but the son of Superman will summon the will to FIGHT BACK. In this special, over-sized edition ofAbsolute Power, we’ll travel to the depths of despair as one of the most powerful beings on planet Earth must reckon with his own past to save his future…and the road to recovery will pave the way for a critical new chapter in the journey of the Super Son. It’s a clash of power, a tale of self-discovery, and the start of a new dream inAbsolute Power: Super Son!
WithAbsolute Powerjust weeks away, DC has provided a look at what lies ahead in the event with a preview of titles related to the event due in September. While the main series and its various tie-ins will be on their third issue, DC Comics is releasing the new one-shot,Absolute Power: Super Son #1which putsSuperman’s son Jon Kentin the spotlight. However, this titlemakes it clear that the younger Superman has a difficult journey ahead of him inAbsolute Power.
The issue’s main cover by Timms shows the teen Superman as he appears to be in the process of being converted into a tech hybrid.
Absolute Power: Super Son #1is an oversized one-shot that comes from writers Nicole Maines (Suicide Squad: Dream Team) and Sina Grace (Superman: The Harvests of Youth) and artists John Timms and Travis Mercer. The solicited text reveals that it follows the events ofAbsolute Power’sfirst two issues and that Jon Kent has “suffered more than most at the hands of the Trinity of Evil”. But whilethis new story takes Superman’s son to the “depths of despair”, it’s also a “critiical new chapter in his heroic journey”.
The covers included with the solicitation provide a small, but horrifying glimpse at what’s in store for Jon Kent. The issue’s main cover by Timms shows the teen Superman as he appears to be in the process of being converted into a tech hybrid. Lucio Parrillo and Reiko Murakami also provide covers that show Jon in various stages of his new form. Murakami’s variant shows Jon looking mostly human, but Parrillo’s cover revealsthe potential end result of the younger Superman’s nightmare-fueled transformation into a cybernetic monstrosity.
Jon Kent’s Journey and Amanda Waller’s Rise to Power
Jon is Superman and Lois’ child who made his formal debut as Superboy during the DC Rebirth period. Jon is exactly like his father, a kindhearted soul who simply wants to use his powers for good. Jon served as the DC Universe’s Superboy for a good few years, but it was a title he’d outgrow surprisingly quickly. Jon left with his paternal grandfather Jor-El to master his powers, a journey that would end with him beingkidnapped by Ultraman on Earth-3 where Superboy was imprisoned for years.
Jon shocked his parents by returning home fully grown inSuperman #6 (2018)!
Jon made his way back to the Prime Earth where he was nearly grown. Not too long after that, his father left Earth on a mission to liberate Warworld from the despotic rule of Mongul. Superman left the Earth knowing it was in safe hands and officially passed the torch to Jon, giving the world a new Man of Steel. Jon took his duties seriously and rose to the occasion. When his father eventually returned from Warworld, Jon kept the title,giving the DC Universe two Supermen to safeguard it.
Unbeknownst to both Superman, however, Amanda Waller has been working tirelessly since the end of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths to rid the Earth of metahumans. She’s manipulated lives, made deals, and even arranged deaths in her mad quest for power, which Waller eventually received after becoming the head of a sinister new government department known as the Bureau of Sovereignty. After gaining nearly unilateral power,Waller began making her final moves like seeking out powerful people who can help her accomplish her goals, like the Brainiac Queen and Failsafe.
What’s Happening with Jon and What Does it Mean for His Future?
This development is sudden and unexpected, but it does potentially clarify a mystery presented on the cover ofAbsolute Power #2. The main cover shows Superman at the Fortress of Solitude by a shadowy, cybernetic figure and the solicited text revealed that a “shocker general” was leading Waller’s enforcers. While it was anyone’s guess as to who this mysterious figure was, it’s safe to guess that the figure throttling Superman is his own son.But why is Amanda Waller transforming the young Superman and not stealing his powerslike everyone else?
Jon might even develop new powers with his cybernetic augmentations.
One could assume that Jon is powerless, which would make it easier for Waller to transform him into the cybernetic being he looks like on theAbsolute Power: Super Soncovers. Given the technological powers of Waller’s Trinity of Evil associates, Brainiac Queen and Failsafe, they may be the ones responsible for giving Jon his new form.It’s still not clear why Waller would want to transform Jon Kent, though, by the sounds of the solicitation, this is going to have a huge impact on him.
The solicitation really emphasizes the trial Jon is about to go through and outright says this new one-shot will be informing the junior Superman’s future. It’s almost guaranteed he’ll overcome whatever hold the Trinity of Evil has on him, but it’s also not a stretch to think that Jon’s new cyborg form might stick around longer than fans think. Jon might even develop new powers with his cybernetic augmentations.It’s hard to say what’s about to happen to Superman’s son, but his life looks like it’s about to change for good.
What’s Next for DC’s Newest ‘Cyborg Superman’?
Things aren’t looking good for Jon Kent right now. But if fans can take one thing to heart, this radical transformation is called a chapter in Superman’s overall heroic journey. Could Jon be heading towards villainy? For a short period, it seems so. But DC Comics is making it clear that the newest Man of Tomorrow’s path is ultimately a heroic one. It might seem dire as Jon faces a shocking transformation, but no matter what happens toSuperman, he’ll find his way back to being a hero.
Absolute Power: Super Son #1is available on September 18th from DC Comics.
Superman
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
