Warning: contains spoilers for Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1 and Superman: Worlds of War #1!
When it comes to Superman there’s no shortage of inspiring and uplifting stories scattered about his decades-long tenure as the Man of Tomorrow. Now his son, with Jonathan Kent, is protecting Metropolis as the new Superman, those stories have found a fresh host to grow with, a situation that sees Supergirl also take part in the makings of what will undoubtedly be an exciting new direction for the character.
But one thing Supergirl hasn’t successfully mastered (outside of being the universe's most powerful being) is something that Jon’s father instilled in him over the years, something that Supergirl must have missed the memo on entirely. And knowing Superman to be the shining beacon of hope and strength that the world looks up to, this vital lesson is one of the most important ones Clark has given, and for good reason.
Touched on in both the first issue of Future State: Superman of Metropolis by Sean Lewis and John Timms, and the premiere issue of Future State: Superman: Worlds of War by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Mikel Janin, both Supermen are dealing with their own unique problems light-years away from one another, yet are bound by a similar “work ethic” stemming from Clark’s teachings. With Jon’s story dealing with his and Supergirl’s attempts at beating back the pseudo-Brainiac villain, Brian Cells, from making Jon’s mistake of shrinking the city of Metropolis into an even bigger problem, planets away the original Superman fights for his life in an alien coliseum on the vicious world of Warworld, as followers of Superman recount their stories of Big Blue and how he once saved each of their lives.
And it’s here, in the intersection of these vastly different stories that the lesson instilled into Jon by his father shows its full breadth. When trying to explain to Supergirl why Jon did what he did to Metropolis, he makes a comment about how, after he and Supergirl saved citizens from a fire only days before, she “flew off before comforting any of the people we saved.” Sticking around to speak with and give solace to the people on the ground, Jon realizes that his job isn’t done “just because the fire is out,” a fact that would never have been brought to his attention if he hadn’t taken the time to try and console those he fights for day in and day out.
Similarly, a story shared about the original Superman tells a tale of a time when he, after scooping up the storyteller and finishing the fight with him under his arm, took the time to comfort the boy after such a harrowing encounter. Saying “What I remember is him talking to me for a really long time after. He had this really calm, quiet voice…kept me from freaking out while he looked for my dad,” the boy’s story connects the one simple yet infinitely vital lesson Clark has passed onto Jon, but apparently not Supergirl: take the little moments to make sure the people you’re protecting know that they mean more to you than the actual act of saving them.
So while the original Superman might not be around as much in this mysterious Future State timeline, Jonathan carries on his legacy with lessons learned from a man who knows why the small moments after the dust settles are the most imperative. And although Jon is still feeling out his role as the Man of Today, his care for the people he protects is something that – like his father – will never waver. Supergirl should take note.