1 Heartwarming Superman Scene Confirms Clark's Son Is His Perfect Replacement

Warning: DC Pride 2024 #1!

Summary Jon Kent earns the right to be Superman by comforting others in need like his father, embodying key Superman qualities.

Compassion and empathy set Superman apart from other superheroes, inspiring Jon Kent to carry on the legacy.

Being Superman isn't about strength, but about showing empathy and compassion in moments of need, traits Jon Kent displays.

After one touching scene, Jon Kent earns the right to be the successor to the Superman name more than he ever has before. Jon Kent adopting the name Superman from his father and using it alongside his father, Clark, has been a point of contention for some readers. It was especially controversial after Jon came out as bisexual in 2021.

Anyone still wondering if Jon Kent is deserving of the Superman mantle needs to look no further than the story "Bros Down in A-Town," by Jarrett Williams, DJ Kirkland, and Lucas Gattoni, from DC Pride 2024 #1. When Jon's new friend, the Ray, is feeling self-conscious about not being as confident as his friends, a conversation with Jon about their coming out experiences proves to be the kind of moment of comfort that Superman was made for.

Committing to one of Superman's key qualities is reason enough why Jon Kent deserves to carry the legacy. There's no better job for Superman than talking to others one-on-one, especially when they're in need of comfort.

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Comforting Others Is an Important Part of the Superman Mythos

Why Jon Kent Deserves the Name Superman

Being able to comfort others in need is one of the most important qualities that Superman has to offer. Comfort doesn't necessarily mean saving citizens from a meteor or a similar astronomical threat. If that were the case, Superman wouldn't be any different from any other superhero. What separates Superman from other heroes is the moral code he carries into every adventure that can inspire others to strive to be better than they are. The moral code he carries is what makes Superman the standard of superheroism.

Someone so godlike could theoretically point their nose down at the average human, but instead of judging, Superman goes out of his way to look them eye-to-eye and relate.

Being Superman isn't about how hard one can hit; it's about displaying empathy and compassion when the moment demands it. These words apply to Jon Kent as much as they do to Clark, as evident by how Jon offers such empathy to Ray in a moment that demands it. Jon Kent has been written consistently as a moral compass in his own right in multiple instances. Compassion was always the original Superman's best trait (sometimes to his detriment), and seeing Jon being written to display that trait so masterfully shows how he's doing his namesake proud.

What Separates Superman's Empathy from Other Heroes

And What Jon Kent Brings to the Table

Keep in mind, this doesn't mean other superheroes don't carry empathy. Most do, but what separates Superman's empathy from others is where that empathy is coming from. Clark's Superman, for all the power he wields, is considered DC's strongest character, and it's not even close. Someone so godlike could theoretically point their nose down at the average human. But instead of judging, Superman goes out of his way to look them eye-to-eye and relate. By doing the same as heir to the Superman name, Jon reiterates how he's earned the right to be the new Man of Steel.

DC Pride 2024 #1 is available now from DC Comics.

DC PRIDE 2024 #1 Writer: Al Ewing, Ngozi Ukazu, Gretchen Felker-Martin, Jamila Rowser, Jarrett Williams, Nicole Maines, Calvin Kasulke, Melissa Marr, Phil Jimenez

Artist: Stephen Byrne, Ngozi Ukazu, Claire Roe, ONeillJones, D. J. Kirkland, Jordan Gibson, Len Gogou, Jenn St. Onge, Giulio Macaione

Colorist: Tríona Farrell, Marissa Louise, Jeremy Lawson

Letterer: Aditya Bidikar, Lucas Gattoni, Jodie Troutman, Ariana Maher, Morgan Martinez, Frank Cvetkovic

Cover Artist: Kevin Wada