Warning: contains spoilers for Superman: Son of Kal-El #12!
DC's new Superman is about to face the most important challenge of his entire career - and an enemy that has yet to be defeated by the Man of Steel. Superman's boyfriend is a popular character among DC fans, but in the DC Universe proper, most of the public have no idea that Superman is dating anyone, let alone a man. But after he publicly reveals himself, Superman must face homophobia in the aftermath of Superman: Son of Kal-El #12 - and hopefully eliminate hate and bigotry in the DC Universe forever.
Superman's identity as Jonathan Kent - Clark Kent's son - is public knowledge after Jonathan publicly revealed himself to stop a gunman from murdering dozens of students at a school. By contrast, Jay Nakamura has managed to maintain a relatively low profile throughout writer Tom Taylor's Superman run; as a journalist who investigates powerful people, Nakamura often wears a mask while on the job. He even gave Superman a mask of his own, but Superman understood the value of not wearing a mask in his line of work, and the necessity of wearing on in Jay's.
In Superman: Son of Kal-El #12, written by Tom Taylor with art by Cian Tormey and Ruairi Coleman, Superman and Jay unravel a conspiracy involving President Bendix, the evil ruler of the island nation of Gamorra. The two interview a United States senator who purportedly had a hand in the attack on the Kent farm that nearly killed Superman's parents. When the senator is revealed as a monster controlled by Bendix (thanks to Superman's faithful dog Krypto), Jay uses his powers to defeat the entity. Unfortunately, his mask is left behind in the process.
Outside of a few people within the superhero community, no one knows that Superman is dating Jay Nakamura. With his identity publicly revealed (within the US Capitol building, no less), it won't be long before Superman and Jay's relationship is discovered. How will the DC Universe citizens react to Earth's most powerful and well-known hero dating a man? While the world is far more progressive and accepting of different sexual identities than it used to be, there is still considerable progress to be made; this Superman has already been framed for murder, and though he is clearly innocent, people will believe what they want to believe...and powerful men like President Bendix and Lex Luthor can twist the narrative further against Superman if they weaponize hatred and bigotry.
Lois Lane and Damian Wayne may approve of Superman and his boyfriend's relationship, but if the DC Universe is anything like our own, not everyone will be so accepting. Homophobia and hatred for the "other" is a worldwide problem that Superman cannot solve with his physical strength alone, but the character is also known for his ability to talk to others and find common ground. It appears the true villain of this Superman isn't the hate-filled President Bendix, but hate itself.