A seemingly insignificant moment in the most recent issue of Superman: Son of Kal-El has some fans wondering if DC’s new Superman would make even more drastic changes to the character’s traditional clothing.
Today’s Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 concludes with Jonathan Kent, son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane but now the acting Superman in DC’s main publishing line, removing his cape and giving it to his boyfriend, vowing to return for it before dashing into action. While the action may be as simple and symbolic as “I’m leaving something significant with you so you know I’m coming back,” there’s a bit more to it.
Bleeding Cool, who called attention to the change this morning, had seen the issue early, and teased a change to Superman’s look. This is also a version of Superman for whom the cape may not have the same emotional weight it does for most people.
Crisis-level events and merging timelines notwithstanding, Jonathan Kent’s childhood as we have seen it was mostly on a farm, where his father was secretly a hero who wore a version of the costume that did not feature a cape.
Jon’s Superman costume is based on his Super-Sons outfit, in which he donned a zip-up hoodie with his logo on it and red shoulders tied to a cape.
Without the cape, the outfit keeps the red shoulders and appears to be an updated version of Conner Kent’s Superman suit, worn after he shed his ’90s leather jacket but before he streamlined his costume down to just a t-shirt and trousers. Conner is now dressed in a variant of the costume, but the jacket has returned as well.
What do you think about Superman ditching the cape? and what are your thoughts about supermans boyfriend? Comment below!
