After 7 Years, DC Finally Gives Superman’s Son a Superhero Name (And It’s Perfect)

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It’s been a while since Jon Kent, Superman’s son, matured, but he’s finally settled into a fitting identity. Many DC fans remember the introduction of Jon during the Rebirth era as a highlight. He was a great addition to the Superman story, and people loved seeing Superman as a father. However, shortly after fans connected with the young hero, he went on a space adventure that caused him to return as a teenager.

Jon quickly stepped into his father’s role as Superman when the original was away. But after Superman returned from freeing Warworld, Jon struggled to find his footing. Despite DC’s efforts, readers didn’t fully embrace him as Superman – it’s difficult to replace a legend! They even tried calling him Super Son, but it didn’t quite fit. It seemed Jon was destined to always be seen as second best, however, a new identity has allowed him to finally start forging his own path.

Goodbye Superman, Hello Tomorrow Man!

In issue #11 of Superman Unlimited, by Dan Slott and team, Jon Kent finds himself in a difficult situation. He’s up against Master Txyz, a powerful enemy from the dimension of time. To avoid being defeated by Jon in the future, Txyz pulls him forward several hundred years to a future Smallville. Txyz tries to break Jon’s spirit by revealing the entire history of the DC Universe and how it all ends, but Jon stays strong, determined to make the most of every moment as the next Superman.

Txyz shifts tactics, attempting to unsettle Jon by revealing details from his past – specifically, his more relaxed time as Superboy and the difficulties he’s experienced since becoming an adult Superman. Txyz emphasizes that while Superman’s legacy endures across timelines, Jon, particularly as Superman, is often overlooked. This leaves Jon feeling lost and questioning his purpose, which Txyz seizes on to launch a full-scale attack, summoning dinosaurs, fighter planes, and even future soldiers in an attempt to defeat his long-standing enemy.

Even after everything Txyz has put him through, Jon isn’t giving up. He dramatically throws off his Superman suit, declaring that if he can’t be a hero known to history, he’ll forge his own path. He then takes armor and clothing from future soldiers, ready to face whatever comes next. Jon tells Txyz he enjoyed being Superman, but because of their conflict, he’s determined to become something greater, reinventing himself as Tomorrow Man. Interestingly, in this moment, Jon already looks exactly as he will when he ultimately triumphs over Txyz.

Tomorrow Man is the Right Direction for Jon

I’ll be honest, I’ve been pretty concerned about Jon Kent lately. For a while, it felt like DC was just making him a younger copy of his dad, Clark – even having him work at the Daily Planet as Superman! But this new issue really hits the nail on the head. It says what a lot of us fans have been thinking for ages: Jon hasn’t been getting the focus he deserves in the DC Universe, and he’s capable of so much more. And I’m really excited about him taking on the name of Tomorrow Man – it feels like a totally fresh start for the character.

While Superboy showed what Jon could become, Tomorrow Man represents him finally reaching his full potential. Taking on that identity shows he’s making his own choices, something we haven’t seen from Jon in a long time. I really like Jon, but lately he’s often just gone along with what others wanted – whether it was his grandfather taking him to space or his father wanting him to be Superman. Now, for the first time in years, Jon feels like he’s truly in control, and that’s great to see.

I realize Tomorrow Man is still fundamentally Jon Kent – it’s mostly a new name and costume. As someone who’s been losing hope in Jon’s character arc, I’m really happy to see this change. It’s unclear if this Tomorrow Man persona will last – he’s also joining the New Titans with his original appearance. However, I truly hope this new direction sticks, as Jon desperately needs a fresh start and a new chapter in his story.

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2026-03-18 21:44