The Superman: Son of Kal-El 2021 Annual marks the first time Jonathan Kent as Superman will be coming face-to-face with Lex Luthor. In addition to showing Jonathan going up against his father's most iconic villain, the annual issue will also feature Jonathan getting a message from an ominously described "dark presence," as well as a trip to the Fortress of Solitude.
Earlier this year, Jonathan Kent's origin story was retconned in Superman: Son of Kal-El #1, the series that chronicles Jon taking up the title of Superman after his father leaves the planet to attend to matters on Warworld. This version of Superboy was originally created back in 2015 by Dan Jurgens (Superman), and first appeared in Convergence: Superman #2. His origin was later updated in Son of Kal-El by Tom Taylor (Injustice), John Timms (Harley Quinn), and Gabe Eltaeb (Aquaman). Now, Taylor will be returning to Metropolis to write the annual issue that sees Lex Luthor coming back to his notorious stomping grounds as well.
The official preview from DC Comics revealed four black-and-white preview pages. The pages feature not just Superman and Lex Luthor but also the likes of Lois Lane and Batman. The artists for the annual are Steve Pugh (Animal Man) and Clayton Henry (Archer and Armstrong). This press release also shows off the main cover for Superman: Son of Kal-El 2021 Annual by Timms and the variant by Pugh.
When talking about the annual, Taylor specifically focuses on Superman and Lex Luthor, saying: “It's a conflict we know so well. But this isn't Lex Luthor's famed nemesis. This is a new Superman and a new dynamic, and that's where the fun begins. Lex Luthor is used to having his way, but Jon Kent plays by different rules. Old power clashes with new for the soul of Metropolis.” This is still early in Jon's career as Superman, so it will be interesting to see how he reacts to his father's deadliest enemy. They'll certainly have a different dynamic if Taylor's quote and Jonathan's reversals to Clark's controversial decisions are anything to go by.
In the short time that Jonathan Kent has held the mantle of Superman, he has already made big waves. The revelation that he is bisexual, his stand against climate change, and his altering of the classic "Truth, Justice and the American Way" motto are just a few of the ways that Jon is distinguishing himself from his father. This annual should also help newcomers get an overview of Jonathan Kent's life as Superman and beyond. Readers can see the meeting of the new Superman and Lex Luthor on November 30th when Superman: Son of Kal-El 2021 Annual hits comic book stands.
Source: DC Comics