DC Is Wasting Superman’s Best Characters in Decades

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Superman, debuting in 1938, is the original superhero and has been the face of DC Comics for generations. While he’s a compelling character, even Superman needs a strong supporting cast to stay fresh and engaging. Characters like Lois Lane and Perry White have always played important roles, offering connection and contrast. Recently, two new characters have emerged with the potential to revitalize Superman’s world and deliver what fans have been hoping for, but they haven’t yet received the attention they deserve.

Superman recently adopted two sons, Otho-Ra and Osul-Ra, after his battle with Mongul. These boys are Phaelosians – a group related to Kryptonians who were exiled long ago – so they share all of Superman’s powers. They were raised on the brutal world of Warworld, where gladiatorial combat is commonplace. Despite being Superman’s children, Otho and Osul are surprisingly overlooked in current Superman comics. This is frustrating to many fans, as they actually address a long-standing problem the DC fanbase has been hoping to see resolved.

All Three of Superman’s Children

Seeing Superman nurture Otho and Osul offers a sweet and heartwarming opportunity to show his caring side. Because the children are young, he can guide them in a unique way, helping them thrive. This is especially meaningful considering the difficult things they’ve already been through. DC fans have wanted to see Superman in this kind of nurturing role – particularly after Jon Kent suddenly became older – but there’s a catch.

When people think about Superman’s children, Jon Kent is usually the first name that comes up. As Superman’s oldest son, his introduction was a major shift for the character – the biggest change since the New 52 reboot, and arguably even bigger than the introduction of Superboy in the 1990s. Jon offered a new perspective on Superman and allowed fans to see both characters develop as they navigated their roles as father and son. However, this dynamic was abruptly disrupted when Jon was suddenly aged up from ten to seventeen, a move that proved extremely unpopular with fans and is considered one of the most criticized decisions in recent comic book history.

Paying for Jon’s Unfortunate Past

Despite being created to address the negative reaction to the aging-up of Jon Kent, the Super-Twins are largely overlooked. Fans strongly disliked the older Jon, and while some still request a reversal, it’s now considered too late. The Super-Twins were meant to provide the dynamic readers missed and allow Superman to be a father figure, but writers are currently prioritizing fixing issues with Jon’s character instead of developing the twins’ storyline.

The initial idea was for Jon Kent to become the sole Superman, but when that didn’t work out, he ended up losing the new identity he’d been given, much like he’d lost his original one. Jon is now searching for a new purpose and sense of self, while his twin sisters don’t have that same struggle. Otho and Osul are secure in who they are, but they often get overlooked by writers who are too focused on Jon’s problems, and because they aren’t as popular, they remain sidelined. This creates a frustrating cycle: the twins can’t gain popularity if they’re ignored, but they are ignored because Jon is more well-known. They actually offer the kind of Superman dynamic that fans have been requesting for a long time, but their potential is being squandered.

Otho and Osul are important characters with as much story potential as Jon. The dynamic between all three of them – Jon learning to be an older brother after growing up as an only child – could create compelling drama. These characters could really help each other grow, but they need to be included in the story to do so. I believe Otho and Osul deserve to have their stories told, and I’m determined to see that happen.

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2025-11-12 18:12