Warning: contains spoilers for Superman: Son of Kal-El #1!
The new Superman enters the debate between the Marvel and DC comic universes - and in certainly one respect, one world comes out on top. Jonathan Kent, the son of Clark Kent, is taking over the mantle of his legendary father in his own series, and he's already made unique choices that set him apart from the first Superman. Now in Superman: Son of Kal-El #2, written by Tom Taylor with art by John Timms and colors by Gabe Eltaeb, Jonathan proves a marked difference between the Marvel and DC universe - the citizens.
Joanthan Kent's first day as Superman was quite eventful: he flew inside the heart of a California wildfire, rescued civilians and firefighters trapped in the blaze, and saved the unwitting man responsible - a pyrokinetic metahuman - from a squad of soldiers who wanted to kill him. Jon wants to use his unique abilities to fight for, as he puts it, "Truth, justice, and a better world." But unlike his father, Jon is a much younger man who wants to live a normal life with friends and school - which is why he starts his first day of college classes as Finn Connors, his new secret identity. Unfortunately, it doesn't last long.
Jonathan Kent arrives to school (in a Jeep, much to his dismay; he can't very well fly in front of others) and quickly meets dozens of new potential friends. This excitement is short-lived; an armed student turns his gun on the crowd and opens fire. Without hesitating, Jon uses his super-speed to fly in the path of each bullet, saving the other students and eventually tackling the gunman to the ground. The crowd, realizing "Finn Connors" is actually Jonathan Kent, thanks him profusely, praising him and asking questions. Not only did Jonathan reveal his true self to the citizens, but the citizens revealed their true selves to the reader....and their reaction to seeing a hero is quite different from that of the Marvel universe citizens.
One of the major differences between the Marvel and DC universes is the way the public view their heroes. The citizens of the DC universe are much more appreciative of their costumed protectors: Superman is always a welcomed sight by the police, and the Flash even has his own museum in Central City. By contrast, Marvel citizens often hate their superheroes, believing they cause more damage than they prevent. Spider-Man is perhaps the best example: he's almost always chased by police and viewed with suspicion by New Yorkers, no matter how many people he saves. When Peter Parker unmasked during the Civil War event, several of his friends turned on him, and J. Jonah Jameson even sued Parker for fraud. But upon seeing Jonathan Kent in their midst, the citizens of the DC universe applaud rather than antagonize.
This is not an ironclad rule; there are plenty of DC citizens that are notably critical of Batman, to cite one example. Nevertheless, Superman shows that overall, the so-called ordinary people of the DC universe welcome their heroes with open arms. Considering Superman: Son of Kal-El #2 also deals with immigration into the United States, this is an important distinction; in terms of open-minded citizens, Superman shows that the DC Universe beats Marvel by a wide margin.