Warning! Spoilers ahead for Action Comics #1087!DC Comics is officially refuting a divisiveSnyderversemoment with a new look atSuperman’spast. The 2013movieMan of Steelisremembered for a lot of things, but one thing that sticks out all these years later is a surprisingly controversial moment with Clark’s pa at the center of it.
The film painted Jonathan Kent as a complex and unsure about his son showing his true self to the world. So much so that he even questioned if it was right for Clark to save a bus of kids from drowning. But now DC Comics is taking a look back into Superman’s pastand rejecting the Snyderverse’scontroversial moment.
Superman’s Pa Always Supported His Son Using His Powers
DC Comics Zigs Where the Snyderverse Zagged
InAction Comics #1087by Mark Waid, Skylar Patridge, Metropolis is bringing back its Expo of Tomorrow and no one’s more excited than Clark, who thinks back to the first time he visited the expo when he was 15. Excitedas the young Superman is, he’s on thin ice with his parents for wearing his costume underneath his clothes.
Jonathan talks with his son, saying they know he’s excited to share his powers with the world, but they have to be careful about when Clark reveals himself. Jonathan gets through to Clark and the family has a nice day in the city, at least until it’s ruined by a villain who calls himself Raze, who begins attacking the expo.
…they have to be careful about when Clark reveals himself.
As his name implies, Raze begins destroying the expo, ranting about how the future is one filled with violence and destruction. Clark stands by, not wanting to disobey his parents. Buthe looks to Jonathan, who gives his son the okay and tells Clark to make him proud. Clark ditches his clothes and makes his first major debut as Superboy.
The Snyderverse’s Jonathan Wanted Clark to Hide
He Was Even Willing to Die to Make Sure His Son Was Safe
The DCEU (or the Snyderverse as it’s often referred to) debuted withMan of Steel, which spent a lot of time focusing on Clark’s upbringing with the Kents. Jonathan is portrayed as a good man who loved his son, but who deeply feared how it would change the world. Instead of encouraging Clark’s abilities, Jonathan insisted he hide them.
Instead of encouraging Clark’s abilities, Jonathan insisted he hide them.
In one of the film’s most controversial moments, Jonathan chewed out Clark for using his powers to save a bus of children. WhenClark asked if he was supposed to let them die, his father briefly contemplated that possibility. Jonathan’s primary concern was Clark, and Jonathan didn’t even let Clark save him from a tornado to keep Clark’s secret safe.
While many fans defended Jonathan’s portrayal inMan of Steel, believing it to be more ‘real’ and nuanced, others were vehemently opposed to it. The comic versions of the Kents have generally supported Clark being a hero to the world, and while they worried like any parents, they never believed that anyone should have to die to protect Superman’s secret.
DC Comics Reaffirm That the Kents Always Supported Clark’s Heroism
The Prime DCU and Snyderverse have different incarnations of Superman and fans are free to like either interpretation better. But while the Snyderverse opted for a non-traditional take on the Kents, the DCU Kents have always wanted their son to be the hero he was born to be. They had fears, too,but they knew Superman was destined for greatness.
Both versions of Jonathan have love for Clark. But where the Snyderverse’s Pa thought he was doing the right thing by telling Clark to stay hidden, the comics’ version knew that hiding wasn’t an option for someone like Clark. The DCU neededSupermanand, unlike theSnyderverse’stake, the comics’ version opted to support his journey from the get-go.
