While DC Comics is firing on all cylinders in almost every regard right now, there's a big problem and his name is, or rather was, Superboy. It seems like only yesterday that Jon Kent made a major decision that would forever change how fans perceive him.

It's not often that a new character debuts and becomes a fan-favorite, but that's exactly what happened during the Rebirth era of DC Comics when Superman introduced his and Lois Lane's son, Jon, to the world. But while everyone loved reading Jon's adventures, one controversial creative choice would end up creating a major headache for the character, and DC Comics as a whole, for years.

Jon Kent's New 'Super Son' Name Made Sense When He Was a Kid

Superman's Son Was Full of Potential During the Rebirth Era

Comic book art: Superboy Jon Kent Hugging His Dog

For those who missed it, Jon Kent is no longer Superman. He’s still an active hero, but as he sets out on a new adventure in Secret Six, solicitations have dubbed the character ‘Super Son’ instead of his current moniker. It’s understandable, given that there’s a Superman movie coming out in a few short months and DC Comics likely doesn’t want another Man of Steel distracting from Clark. While Jon getting a new name isn’t exactly a problem, ‘Super Son’ kind of rings a bit hollow for a hero who’s lived a full life in such a short time.

Secret Six #1 is on sale now from DC Comics!

The issue is that a name like Super Son just made a lot more sense back when that’s all fans knew about him during the Rebirth era. DC opted to go the other direction, making Jon the newest Superboy, which was all well and good. Granted, Super Sons was used as the name of the comic that starred Jon and his best buddy Damian. But if there ever was a time for Jon to go by Super Son, it would have been the mid ‘10s when people were still discovering who he was beyond just being Superman’s pride and joy.

Aging Superboy Up Hurt Jon Kent Considerably

From Superboy to Superman Way Too Fast

There’s not a Superman fan who doesn’t being absolutely blindsided by the decision to age Jon Kent up. Once the Rebirth era ended, Superman’s father Jor-El appeared, offering to take Jon Kent into space to train him and teach him about his heritage. As shocking as that was, it was even more surprising that Superman let his son go. Jon went with Jor-El, but during the adventure, he was kidnapped by Ultraman and imprisoned on Earth-3. By the time Jon managed to escape, Superboy was practically a full-grown adult capable of replacing his father as the Man of Steel.

...the rapid effort to make Jon the new Man of Steel was a turn-off for many.

Which is exactly what happened, by the way. After a group of Phaelosians, aliens similar to Kryptonians, escaped from Warworld, Superman left to liberate the species the despot Mongul had imprisoned on his planet. In his stead, Clark left it up to Jon to protect the planet as the Earth’s Superman. While becoming Superman one day was almost certainly in his future, the rapid effort to make Jon the new Man of Steel was a turn-off for many. What should have been a great moment for Superman’s son was sullied because people were still angry at such a perplexing decision.

Despite the Odds, Jon Kent Worked Hard as Superman

He Proved He Was Just as Capable As His Father

Superman Jon Kent and The Justice League Unlimited Comic Art

It might not have been many fans’ first choice, but despite people’s misgivings towards Jon’s arc, he worked his ass off while he was Superman. Even when Superman returned, his father was impressed by how well his son did and the two decided to share the mantle. No matter what came Jon’s way, whether it be the forces of the Dark Army during Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths or the invasion of shape-shifting spores during Titans: Beast World, the junior hero showed time and time again that he wasn’t just another Man of Steel, he was a true Superman.

Jon's adventures as the Man of Steel can be seen in Superman: Son of Kal-El (2021)!

While Jon proved himself a competent Superman, as early as last year, DC Comics appeared to be getting ready to give him a new title. During Absolute Power, he was mind-controlled and turned into a bio-organic weapon, a development explored in Absolute Power: Super Son. Jon was freed from Amanda Waller and the Brainiac Queen’s control, but the trauma he experienced during Absolute Power compounded his unresolved trauma from being kidnapped. Jon is still trying to work through his issues, something currently being examined in Secret Six, the same series that is setting him up with the Super Son name.

Jon Can't Be Superman Or Superboy...So is Super Son the Only Option?

With Conner Kent Around Jon Has No Other Hero Mantles to Pull From

In a perfect world, Jon could have just gone back to his old Superboy identity. At least, he would have if Conner Kent wasn’t using it. But let’s face it, Jon just got done sharing a superhero name. He deserves more than having to share another. But this gets to the core of Jon’s problem. He’s been pushed around in so many different directions, he’s barely had time to keep an identity long enough for any of them to make an impact. Jon’s roughly a decade old, but he’s barely been able to keep a name longer than five years.

...Jon remains a problem DC is still trying to solve.

Could Super Son work as an identity? It’s not impossible. But in order to make it or any name really stick, the former Superboy needs consistency. He can’t have a proper hero name if he’s constantly being put into different situations that require different naming conventions. Ideally, he’d never have never been aged up, and he’d still be entertaining fans as Superboy. But history went in a different direction and now Jon remains a problem DC is still trying to solve. Super Son could be a solution, but given Jon’s chaotic life, it could end up being just another stopgap.

Jon Can Work if DC Finds the Best Direction for Him

A Good Identity Can Emerge Once He Finds His Place

Jon Kent Looking Contemplatively DC

DC is doing a lot of great things right now with its All In initiative and Absolute line. Jon just stands out from everything the publisher is doing right because of how chaotic things have been with him in the past several years. Hopefully, his new chapter as Super Son helps him find the clarity he needs and helps him figure out where he belongs in the DC Universe. He may not be Superboy anymore, but Jon Kent can be something better once he determines where he needs to be.