DC's new Superman comes out as bisexual

Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 variant cover

(Image credit: DC)

DC has announced that the newly-dubbed Superman, Jon Kent, is bisexual. The publisher states that his sexuality will be revealed in November 16's Superman: Son of Kal-El #5.

Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 primary cover (Image credit: John Timms/Gabe Eltaeb (DC))

"I've always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I'm very grateful DC and Warner Bros. share this idea," Superman: Son of Kal-el writer Tom Taylor says in the announcement. "Superman's symbol has always stood for hope, for truth, and for justice. Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics."

Originally introduced in 2015's Convergence: Superman #2, Jon Kent has taken up the mantle as Superman after his father, the original Superman, decides to focus on extraterrestrial events such as the recent Warworld saga in Action Comics. Jon's sexuality has been teased in previous issues of Superman, Son of Kal-El - with an attraction to a fellow reporter named Jay Nakamura strongly hinted at in recent months.

According to DC, Kent and Nakamura get romantic in Superman: Son of Kal-El #5.

"We couldn't be prouder to tell this important story from Tom Taylor and John Timms," says DC CCO/publisher Jim Lee. "We talk a lot about the power of the DC Multiverse in our storytelling and this is another incredible example. We can have Jon Kent exploring his identity in the comics as well as Jon Kent learning the secrets of his family on TV on Superman & Lois. They coexist in their own worlds and times, and our fans get to enjoy both simultaneously."

The timing of DC's announcement isn't coincidental - not only is October 11 National Coming Out Day, but Taylor has said leaks were making it so the news was going to be known by the general public sooner than later.

The timing also works to potentially stoke pre-orders for this issue, Superman: Son of Kal-El #5. The deadline for comic book retailers to finalize their order copies of Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 is October 17 - six days from now. DC appears to be anticipating increased interest and giving readers and retailers time to adjust their orders prior it setting the issue's initial print run.

The confirmation of Jon's sexual identity shortly follows another teen DC hero, Robin (Tim Drake), who came out as queer in August's Batman: Urban Legends #6.

Superman: Son of Kal-El #4 goes on sale on October 19, with Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 scheduled for November 16.

Superman joins a long line of iconic LGBTQIA+ superheroes in comic books.

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)