Jon Kent aka the latest Superman is bisexual, DC Comics announced on Monday. The new identity of the son of original Superman Clark Kent and Lois Lane will be introduced in the upcoming comic book Superman: Son of Kal-El #5.
Written by Tom Taylor, the comic will hit the stands on November 9. In it, Jon Kent develops a bond with reporter Jay Nakamura. The cover has been sketched by John Timms.
“I’ve always said everyone needs heroes and everyone deserves to see themselves in their heroes and I’m very grateful DC and Warner Bros share this idea,” said Taylor. “Superman’s symbol has always stood for hope, for truth and for justice. Today, that symbol represents something more. Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics.”
Jon Kent debuted in the comic world with the 2015 series Convergence: Superman #2. However, his sexual identity was under wraps.
DC Chief Creative Officer and Publisher Jim Lee said that in the new series, Jon explores his identity as well as learns the secrets about his family.
He is the second major DC superhero to have a non-heterosexual identity.
Earlier in August, Tim Drake, who took on the identity of Robin, the sidekick to Batman, came out as a gay in Batman: Urban Legends #6. The three-part story is written by Meghan Fitzmartin, with art by Belen Ortega.
While Tim Drake aka Robin was first introduced in the comics in 1940 and rumours surrounding his sexuality had been doing the rounds for long, it was not until 2021 that the curtain on his identity was lifted.
With Jon Kent now joining Tim Drake as an openly non-heterosexual superhero, Silverscreen India brings to you five other famous superheroes from across Marvel and DC, who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Loki
Loki became Marvel’s first ever queer character after the superhero came out as a bisexual in Disney’s web series Loki. Known as the God of Mischief, Loki is the son of Odin and brother to Thor. In June, director Kate Herron confirmed the character’s sexuality after the release of the third episode of the series featuring Tom Hiddleston. Loki’s bisexuality comes out in selective comic books like Young Avengers and Loki: Agent of Asgard, although not in a specific manner. Marvel too does not specify Loki’s sexuality and leaves it open for readers to interpret. Loki is also usually termed gender-fluid. The gender-fluidity association may have something to do with his powers that include shape-shifting, hypnotizing, sorcery, and black magic.
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn, the DC super-villain and member of the Suicide Squad, has been bisexual for a while. Harleen Quinzel was a psychologist who fell for her subject, the Joker, and helped him escape the asylum. Her obsession with Joker inspired her to adopt a new identity, that of Harley Quinn, the Joker’s sidekick-slash-love interest. After they split, Quinn went her own way to become a part of teams like Suicide Squad and Gotham City Sirens. While Harley Quinn’s sexuality is not mentioned explicitly in either the comics or the films, in 2017, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner confirmed that she is bisexual, through Harley Quinn #25, where she and Poison Ivy share a comic book kiss. Moreover, the 2019 animated series Harley Quinn, that is available on DC Universe, fleshes out the relationship between the two. However, DC mentions that there is no coming-out story.
Batwoman
Kate Kane aka Batwoman has undergone several character transitions since her inception in the 1950s. While she initially started out as Batman’s love-interest, she was soon given an independent identity that rendered her a lesbian since day one. She is one of the few openly gay superheroes. Batwoman struggles for respect in her personal life as she protects all of Gotham City’s citizens, whether they respect her or not, as per DC. The television adaptation of the superhero sees Kate Kane’s successor, Ryan Wilder, take over the mantle of Batwoman. The third season of the HBO Max series will see a Black gay Batwoman, played by Javicia Leslie, thereby expanding DC’s blanket of inclusion.
Wonder Woman
Princess Diana aka Wonder Woman, like Harley Quinn, has been queer her whole life, but DC Comics has never made the character come out. Until 2016, when writer Greg Rucka, with the release of comics like Wonder Woman: Earth One and DC Comics Bomshells, confirmed the Amazonian’s sexuality. The very simple reason behind her sexuality, Rucka told Comicosity, is the place Themyscira. “It’s supposed to be paradise. You’re supposed to be able to live happily. You’re supposed to be able to have a fulfilling, romantic and sexual relationship. And the only options are women.” However, while her sexuality has been hinted at since her inception, the films have only portrayed Wonder Woman’s relationship with Steve Trevor, with hardly any queer traits.
Aqualad
Originally created in 2010 for the Young Justice television series, as the half-Atlantean Kaldur’ahm, Jackson Hyde in the comics instead grew up on land and did not explore his sexuality until his membership in the 2016 Teen Titans, as per DC Comics. Jackson’s animated counterpart followed suit in Season 3 of Young Justice, with a new boyfriend by his side. Aqualad is a hybrid who trains under Aquaman and features in the recent Aquaman, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick and drawn largely by Robson Rocha.
