Jonathan Kent To Remain Straight On Superman & Lois – At Least For Now

JB Augustine |

Nov 17, 2021

Though DC recently made Jonathan Kent bisexual in the pages of the new comic series, Superman: Son of Kal-El, replete with a male companion, the young half-Kryptonian’s sexuality is a a different story on Superman & Lois.

Played by Jordan Elsass, the Jon seen in The CW’s popular live-action superhero series is a standout football player at Smallville High who doesn’t even have powers. He also began the series in a relationship with a girl from back home, though the distance between Metropolis and Smallville eventually led her to call things off.

That doesn’t mean the door isn’t open for the show to reflect Son of Kal-El more but, for now, it looks like they are sticking with what some would call a “heteronormative” angle.

“That is the comic version of the character,” Elsass said to ComicBook.com regarding the difference in sexualities between his character and his comic book variant.

“This character is a different Earth, it’s a different version,” he continued. “There’s always that possibility, but it’s looking like Jonathan Kent this version is most likely straight. We don’t even know if he has powers at this point.”

This disparity between the page and TV begs the question: Is the move by DC to change Jonathan’s sexuality is part of an agenda? All things considered, it certainly looks that way.

Before the shocking revelation, the original plan was for Jon to have a relationship with Jenny Sparks – otherwise known as the Authority member Quantum – in a further attempt to tie his storyline in with his father’s adventures in Superman and The Authority.

That would’ve made sense if they intended on killing Clark, as is the teased purpose of the recently begun Warworld Saga, to make his son his permanent replacement on Earth.

Jon also comes with his own variant on his father’s classic motto, as previously reported here – a change we also learned will give DC something new to trademark.

DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee said in a statement that Jon’s slogan of “Truth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow” is the right call “to better reflect the storylines that we are telling across DC and to honor Superman’s incredible legacy of over 80 years of building a better world, Superman’s motto is evolving.”

Unsurprisingly, this change has not sat well with everyone, including the book’s own creative team.

As recently declared by Superman: Son of Kal-El colorist Gabe Eltaeb, the change in Superman’s motto has caused him to leave DC in disgust.

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According to Eltaeb, he even sealed his exit by texting Lee with his thoughts on how disrespectful the motto change was to America.

Eltaeb didn’t share Lee’s reply to his impassioned words, but he thinks the WildCATS creator might just be going along with DC’s agenda as the colorist believes Lee isn’t a radical Leftist.

What do you make of the the disparity in Jon’s sexuality between his television and comic book depictions? Let us know your thoughts on social media or in the comments down below!