Warning! Preview pages ahead for Secret Six #3!Jon Kent, Superman’s pride and joy, has just received a new moniker, and it’s proving just how badly the younger Man of Steel is faring these days. Just a few years ago, Jon was thriving as the DCU’s main Superman. But Jon’s lack of a stable identity is doing him serious harm.

It wasn’t that long ago that right to the Superman name. After the new Secret Six series’ referred to Jon as 'Super Son' and 'Superman Jr.', Jon’s now being called ‘Superman-Lite’. While funny, it’s just the latest example of how badly the younger Kryptonian is faring without a long-term superhero identity of his own.

Superman's Son is Now Being Called 'Superman-Lite'

Deadshot Just Gave Jon Kent the Cruelest New Moniker

In a preview for Secret Six #3 by Nicole Maines, Stephen Segovia, Rain Berdo, and Steve Wands, politicians gather on Capitol Hill to discuss a serious situation. In the wake of Absolute Power, one politician addresses the elephant in the room and questions how Amanda Waller was able to leverage so much military and naval power during her attack against the metahuman community. However, one senator downplays the investigation, saying that Waller will face justice. But the senator knows more than he lets on and heads out to a club, the hiding place of the spy organization, Checkmate.

Waller was actually covertly freed from prison in Secret Six #1!

The senator carries a chess piece with him and enters the club, where he’s told to hide the chess piece and to come meet with the ‘Bishop’. As the senator is escorted to his meeting, Deadshot, Catman, Black Alice, Dreamer, Jay Nakamura, and Jon Kent are all sneaking into the club via the sewer system. Catman informs the team that the organization Checkmate is trying to reacquire power and information by spying on Washington, D.C.’s most corrupt individuals. However, the one person taking issue with the team’s plan is Superman’s son.

...calling Jon ‘Superman-Lite’...

Jon takes issue with the plan, knowing that anyone they find with information on Amanda Waller is likely going to be harmed by Deadshot. Before Jon can lecture Deadshot, the mercenary stops him, calling Jon ‘Superman-Lite’ and giving him a play-by-play of what will happen if they go the traditional ‘hero’ route. Deadshot claims that any operative will immediately run and Checkmate will go dark entirely, resulting in Waller being moved yet again. Deadshot also points out that if Waller is moved, she’s very likely to be killed.

Superman's Son Has Been Having a Rough Few Years

From Losing His Childhood to Losing His Name

Jon Kent was loved by many when he first debuted right before the DC Rebirth era began and it didn’t take long for him to become a fan favorite. For a good handful of years, readers loved seeing him meet new friends in the DC Universe, learn about his Kryptonian heritage from his father, and just having a blast discovering all the cool things he could do. However, almost as quickly as he debuted, DC’s newest Superboy outgrew his title when he went into space with Jor-El and returned almost fully grown.

Jon shocked his family and readers in Superman #7 when he came back almost an adult!

Unfortunately, there wasn't much that could be done to return him to his old self, so the grown Jon stuck around. However, his new size did come in handy when his dad had to leave Earth to liberate Warworld from the intergalactic despot Mongul. Clark left the Superman role to Jon, who wasn’t exactly sure if he was ready to fill his dad’s bright red boots. However, he did a great job and kept the planet safe until his dad came back, giving the Earth not one, but two Supermen.

...instead of Superman, Jon was called ‘Super Son’.

While Jon has shared the Superman role with his dad for the last three or so years, things seemed to be shifting for the younger Kryptonian. A solicitation for the second issue of Secret Six referred to all the team by their alter egos and instead of Superman, Jon was called ‘Super Son’. And the comic itself took a few opportunities to refer to Jon by derisive nicknames such as 'Superman Jr.' and 'Superteen'. Jon still uses the name Superman, but it’s getting harder to take him seriously as one.

Jon Kent Needs a New Name ASAP

It's the Only Way He'll Step Out of Superman's Shadow

It’s honestly wild looking back and seeing the trajectory that Jon has been on in the last decade. At one point, he seemed like he was poised to be the next great legacy character and push the Superman mythos into a bold era. But snap decisions and an inability to find a proper place for him have done a major disservice to this character. Yes, he’s got his own series again, but even then, he can help but be the subject of potshots that remind everyone of his complex and unfortunate path.

He deserves more than to share an identity with his father, if only to spare him of jokes at his expense like ‘Superman Jr.’.

There are a lot of things Jon could use right now, but more than anything else, what he needs is an identity. He deserves more than to share an identity with his father, if only to spare him of jokes at his expense like ‘Superman Jr.’. Sadly, he can’t go back to Superboy since Conner Kent reclaimed his old identity. But there’s still the option of giving him a moniker that’s 100% his. It’s not much, but it’d be a step towards helping Superman’s son thrive instead of flounder.

Jon isn’t a bad character, he’s just had a rough go of things. It’s hard to say if he’ll ever be able to recapture the fandom he attracted when he first debuted, but allowing him to move in his own direction is a good start. Jon deserves to be his own hero and not be constantly compared to his father with nicknames mocking him. While the jury’s out on what he should be called instead of Superman, everyone knows Jon’s never going to truly thrive until he gets a new identity.

Secret Six #3 is available on May 7th from DC Comics.