Warning: contains spoilers for Superman: Son of Kal-El #2!

DC's new Superman has a new spin on a classic intro - and his most recent issue makes it clear that the Man of Steel will tackle the issue of immigration in the United States. Jonathan Kent, the son of Clark Kent, is just beginning to become his own man and take over his father's legendary name. In Superman: Son of Kal-El #2, written by Tom Taylor with art by John Timms and colors by Gabe Eltaeb, Jon continues that journey and makes a bold move in front of immigrants, police, and the rest of the world.

Superman: Son of Kal-El has only just begun as a series and already the new Man of Steel has defined himself, for better and worse. He's already made a habit of defying authority (in a memorable moment in the first issue when he stood between a pyrokinetic metahuman and the military trying to kill him), fighting alongside first responders instead of doing their jobs for them, and confiding in those whom he trusts the most, like Damian Wayne. Jon also wants to live a normal life - but when his new secret identity is blown in seconds, he realizes he has to be Superman 24/7.

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When Superman hears news of a new emerging crisis - a small boat packed with immigrants fleeing from the island of Gamorra that no country will aid (lest they risk the wrath of the resource-rich nation) - he flies to the boat in minutes, saving passengers thrown overboard by the rough seas. In one motion, he lifts the boat out of the ocean and flies it all the way to Metropolis shores, causing curious onlookers to collectively shout "Look! Up in the sky! It's a...boat?" The moment is subtle but effective: the old "It's a bird, it's a plane!" refrain used to describe Superman, but now the citizens describe what he's carrying - namely, a boat full of refugees.

Superman-Kal-El-Boat

Lives are saved, but the crisis isn't over. As soon as Superman places the boat back in the water, the docks are swarmed by dozens of police officers, who demand the refugees leave all their belongings on the boat...and place their hands behind their backs as they are cuffed one by one. Superman uses his heat vision to blast the cuffs off one of the survivors and demands the police captain refrain from restraining the rest. Even so, the captain's reluctance to accept this is quite disheartening, especially to frequent DC Comics readers; overall, citizens in the DC universe are more accepting of heroes (and their requests) than their Marvel Universe counterparts.

Jonathan Kent is a Superman for the modern age. He's already hinted that climate change will be a large ongoing issue in his series, and now he's bound to tackle immigration as well. The meta-commentary on citizens reacting to the immigrants Superman is carrying as opposed to Superman himself says as much; Superman has never shied away from difficult political issues, and now neither will his son.

Next: The New Superman Confirms He's the Son of Two DC Heroes