Warning: SPOILERS for Legion of Super-Heroes #5
As the world's first superhero Superman changed the face of modern myths, launching an age of heroes in both the DC Universe and the real world. But now, DC has revealed the one hero who follows his lead in the far-off future... to ultimately become "the one true Superman."
DC Comics recently threw fans a curveball or two, introducing what seemed to be the immortal, evolved Superman of tomorrow -- later revealed to be an impostor. But now that the Legion of Super-Heroes has returned the true future of the DC timeline has been confirmed, even if fans may scoff at the idea of anyone even matching the legacy of Kal-El, let alone exceeding it. But make no mistake: Clark Kent may live for centuries, but the hero known to the universe as 'Superman' a thousand years from now will not be the orphan boy sent from Krypton to Earth... but the son he raised to become an even greater hero than himself.
This bombshell revelation about Jonathan Kent -- son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, and current Superboy -- packs more than just shock value. In the latest storyline from writer Brian Michael Bendis, it was Jonathan who came up with the idea of the peaceful alliance known as the United Planets. A naive notion, perhaps, but when the Legion of Super-Heroes arrived to celebrate the moment their future was preserved, his place in cosmic history was set in stone.
Fans of time travel logic questioned the Legion's move, since it paradoxically convinced leaders to agree to the alliance (having their doubts erased by the irrefutable proof that it would, in fact, succeed). But that seemed to be Bendis' nod to the original Legion, who came back in time to meet young Clark, whose heroic example inspired their future mission. The homage continued when the Legion invited Jonathan to join them in the future being offered a glimpse of the future he would work to create, just like his father had. But things have gotten a lot more complicated since he arrived.
Superboy spent the first four issues refusing to watch the Legion's "orientation video" designed to bring him up to speed, but he finally concedes in Legion of Super-Heroes #5, and witnesses how the Legion first formed. Including the memory of Brainiac-5, shown only to him... explaining why Jon's importance isn't just due it who he is... but who he will become:
I believe it imperative to the health of the universe and our place in it... that not only do we bring this Legion of Super-Heroes together immediately... but the Legion needs to bring United Planets founder Jon Kent here to be part of it. He is the one to teach us everything we need to know to inspire a proper new age of heroes. We need to have him experience this future and all we have built. And we need to prepare him for his coming role as the one true Superman.
Needless to say, Superboy is more than a little stunned to discover the secret that's been kept from him all this time. It's bad enough to learn the future of all reality depends on you, but as he quietly responds, he has "never even thought about" taking up the name of his own father. And considering how much evidence exists to suggest Superman is basically immortal, fans will wonder what would have to take place for Jon Kent to accept the mantle. But it remains to be seen if that information will be offered to Jon, as well. Either way, the next issue of Legion of Super-Heroes can't get here soon enough. Luckily, readers can still catch up on the series now through digital platforms.
Legion of Super-Heroes #5 is available now from DC Comics and through comiXology.