Superman issue #9 Spoiler discussion

[Superlad93]

The crucible of Jonathan Samuel Kent.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I felt like this issue played ZERO games and very rightly makes you uncomfortable and genuinely scared for Jon's situation on Earth-3. It's a legitimate trial by fire, and a test of a the sort of immutable will that would make Hal blush and Clark and Lois proud. It's mythic in its conception: trapped in a volcano prison while the mad god captor bares their soul at our young protagonist's feet. It's like something out of a Greek myth. Like waiting for a dragon to go to sleep before you escape its cave.

Also the imagery of Jon coming out from the volcano, ending up naked, and having to heal being symbolic of a rebirth/crossing of a threshold isn't lost on me.

Speaking more in terms of Superman: it's a warped and cracked look at our Clark. And I noticed that Ultraman's issues were basically those of our Clark deals with. This ties directly back to last issue where Jon was talking about the pressures that came with being Superman's son, and how he couldn't fully talk to Clark about it because he still saw him as infallible. Know it or not, Jon just learned how human his dad was in that via Ultraman of all people. It reminded me of how Waid recontexulized all of Superman's classic hand-ups in Irredeemable, and by proxy you "got" Clark more thanks to that book. What's kind of most messed up is that Ultraman seemed to care for Jon, and just wanted to talk to someone who could maybe understand him (somewhat similar to Jor-El).

I tend not to say "badass" often, but Jon getting out of the trap was freakin badass, and was a great set of durability, healing, and solar reserve feats to boot (if you're keeping track of that stuff). The kids ingenuity and overall smarts on full display here.

Geez my heart legitimately broke for Clark and Lois having to hear this. But the kid is something to be proud of, man. If he was ever gonna turn evil it would've been here. And to think, the little dude thought he couldn't live up to his genes.

[qwertyuiop1998]

yeah,jon(or kryptonian,since ultraman also been pointed is more powerful than jon)was got an insane feat.but i also think ultraman reacting and interacting is intereting,i personally thinking ultraman has some father emotions toward to jon

[rpmaluki]

yeah,jon(or kryptonian,since ultraman also been pointed is more powerful than jon)was got an insane feat.but i also think ultraman reacting and interacting is intereting,i personally thinking ultraman has some father emotions toward to jon

I'm thinking the same. Who's to say he's not thinking this is the face of a son he could have, were he so inclined to procreate that is.

[manwhohaseverything]

Man!! This was an awesome issue. The first issue of bendis that sold me. Jon was pretty bad ass. Ultraman really reminded me of my father,before i was taken in by my aunt. The part that got me was, the part were jon said ultraman used to cry sometimes . It was weird and surprising reading about something that i can really empathise with so much in a comic book. This is what i wanted from this run regarding jon. I thought jor el was going to take the role. But bendis decided to use ultraman instead. Which works better in my opinion since ultraman looks exactly like Clark. Ultraman really seems interested in Jon. I wonder why? I would like to see more of jon and ultraman relation. I would love it if Bendis develops it. It was wicked. Being the son of superman isn't all that great. How many times does the kid have to tortured, sheesh! And now by guy wearing his father's face.

[theoneandonly]

Superwoman has already given birth to a baby with earth 3 Shazam who turned into darkseid. I don't think she is ready for another complicated pregnancy and birth.

[DragonPiece]

Good issue, I do feel like this story could have been stretched out more instead of being confined to just a arc, but I'm still enjoying it.

[manwhohaseverything]

Good issue, I do feel like this story could have been stretched out more instead of being confined to just a arc, but I'm still enjoying it.

Yeah! I would have loved that too. Heck! This should have been a book of its own.this is the first time Ultraman as a villain intrigued me.

[Sacred Knight]

I had figured it was either Ultraman or Superwoman that scars Jon. I had banked on the former but its going to be the latter. The kid probably gets that nasty lasso to the face or something. Look forward to seeing Lois's reaction that her double did that.

I know he was particularly depowered here because of no sun, but based off everything Bendis has done with him, I'm convinced his mindset on Jon is that he's going to be significantly less powerful than Superman. And that's such a better take than what Rebirth was originally doing. Less powerful, same heart. Works a lot better for me than the route of "he's important because he's going to be Superman x 10" or something.

Its really the first time I've ever enjoyed a dedicated Jon story.

[Konja7]

It is a pretty interesting issue.

The feelings of Ultraman towards Jon seem to be "complicated".

I know he was particularly depowered here because of no sun, but based off everything Bendis has done with him, I'm convinced his mindset on Jon is that he's going to be significantly less powerful than Superman. And that's such a better take than what Rebirth was originally doing. Less powerful, same heart. Works a lot better for me than the route of "he's important because he's going to be Superman x 10" or something.

I don't think Bendis plans Jon to be weaker. So far, it doesn't seem the case, he was vulnerable, because he was depowered.

I don't know why "Jon being weaker" would be better that "Jon has the potential to be stronger"

[Sacred Knight]

It looks it to me, especially with visions such as Jon losing an eye and an arm. Now, will those things actually happen? No, but stuff like that, him having a scar "reminding him of his human side", it all seems like into a window in how this particular writer is approaching the character. Him being depowered in this particular issue had a separate reason, I get that and already acknowledged it. I was just using it as an example of how the idea in practice works pretty well.

And I find it better because its a significant difference between father and son, without relying on the cheap trope of having to compare something as better than Superman to make it interesting. That happens with a lot of characters when DC tries to put them over, and it falls flat for me. And I won't lie, there IS a competitiveness factor with me. I'm primarily a fan of Superman. I don't need supporting characters being touted as being better than him in his own books, even if its just potential. It irks me. He's top dog and always should be in his extended family of characters. That's just period end of story for me, always.

[Yoda]

Was not what I expected but it was a pretty good chapter in these flashbacks. The Ultraman stuff was interesting, he's always come off more pathetic than scary or threatening to me and that really came through here. Particularly with the fake tough guy accent and all that. I wonder if the attachment (warped as it was) to Jon was based in part on the fact that all the times he's thought he had a kid, it ends up as Owlman's or someone. The volcano scenes and escape were pretty great. The page of just Ultraman was probably my favorite the way it was set up with the boxes down the middle.

But I was a little disappointed we didn't see where Jor El ended up and I hope he plays into the next part of things. Because we still have seen nothing close to "Grandpa's crazy!" yet.

And I hope we do see who is sending these visions of the Legion attacking to Clark and Zod in this arc. Dreamer maybe? Or Saturn Girl, though she's tied up over in Doomsday Clock.

Lois' facial expression after Clark tells her "We have this" was kinda odd to me. Not sure what Reis was going for there. It looked off given the conversation they were having.

Good issue, I do feel like this story could have been stretched out more instead of being confined to just a arc, but I'm still enjoying it.

Jon's adventures on Earth 3 would have been awesome. I still think that there's a Jon Kent: Lost in Space series in the pipe for Wonder Comics. There is just too much that they are leaving to our imaginations here. It's the second time Jon's talked about all the people they saved and helped off panel. This whole arc is like an outline for his own series. Particularly where DC seems interested in building out a Superfamily of books.

[Konja7]

It looks it to me, especially with visions such as Jon losing an eye and an arm. Now, will those things actually happen? No, but stuff like that, him having a scar "reminding him of his human side", it all seems like into a window in how this particular writer is approaching the character. Him being depowered in this particular issue had a separate reason, I get that and already acknowledged it. I was just using it as an example of how the idea in practice works pretty well.

And I find it better because its a significant difference between father and son, without relying on the cheap trope of having to compare something as better than Superman to make it interesting. That happens with a lot of characters when DC tries to put them over, and it falls flat for me. And I won't lie, there IS a competitiveness factor with me. I'm primarily a fan of Superman. I don't need supporting characters being touted as being better than him in his own books, even if its just potential. It irks me. He's top dog and always should be in his extended family of characters. That's just period end of story for me, always.

The scar will likely happen in the depowered times, so it wouldn't a "reminding of his human side" (in my case, I hope the scar disappear at some point).

Of course, I don't know Bendis plan, but I don't think his idea is that Jon woud be weaker that a full kryptonian. So far, the story hasn't implied this (in the "possible" future, his sister is totally fine).


Regarding the competitive factor, Superman will always be the top dog. Even if they mantain Jon with "potential to be stronger", he would never reach that point.

[Sacred Knight]

The reminding of his human side thing was an actual quote from the original design sketch, so its definitely something on their minds, to some degree, in regards to how he's characterized going forward.

Lois' facial expression after Clark tells her "We have this" was kinda odd to me. Not sure what Reis was going for there. It looked off given the conversation they were having.

Yeah it almost felt like a panel was missing or something.

I wonder if we'll see Alexander, and maybe he helps Jon get home or something. I know he wasn't good under Johns' pen but Bendis is obviously ignoring everything Trinity War/Forever Evil/Darkseid War outside of the designs, so maybe he goes back to the pre-Crisis set-up that Alexander is also reversed and is a good guy.

[manwhohaseverything]

I don't think Bendis's intention is to make jon weaker. He is trying to make jon into an optimistic tough guy. Getting hurt doesn't make someone weak. I think jon would be more hardcore than Clark. Jon would be superman version of captain America .

Jon had always gotten hurt before. His potential is still there. Jon won't be like Clark. His powers will behave differently because he is half human and natural born hybrid. Anyone should have the potential to beat superman. That is the whole point of the character. He is supposed to be the guy to beat. Everybody should competing with the guy including his support. Beat him only when it is hard earned.
That includes guys like flash, lex.. Etc
Personally, i liked the old fluctuating power level thing. I love it that Jon can get hurt. What is point of a fist fight, if nobody is getting hurt? So, jon having to deal with bruises and broken bones is a-okay with me.

[Kon93]

does bendis always write every character in a "bro" way, and like they need Adderall?

other than that, and bendiss patented "tell u, not show u" type of storytelling, it was a good issue.

I think his "mama from another universe" is gonna scar her boy lol.


oh and if DC wants Jon to be weaker than superman that's fine, it will make him tougher, cause he has to be. not to mention there is another hybrid who is already got the "potentially more powerful" thing on lock down