Superman Unlimited #14: Ultraboy

Jon Kent is Metropolis’s favorite nepo baby superhero. After being launched into space for years at a young age, he returned to Earth a teenager and took up the mantle of Superman. But when the time demon Master Txyz brings back a young multiverse version of Jon to Metropolis, it’s up to the Superboys to pick up the pieces. Superman Unlimited #14 continues the exciting Reign of the Superboys event for DC. Master Txyz has brought a younger version of Jon Kent to Metropolis, and the Jon Kent we know and love has become Tomorrow Man. But this younger version of Jon seems different. He doesn’t know the usual Superman rogues, kryptonite does not affect him, and he has some anger issues. Is this the real version of Superboy? Or someone more sinister? Find out in this exciting new issue with incredible cameos from the Super Family and Bat Family!

This issue is incredibly fun and feels like the perfect imaginative addition to the Superman Unlimited series. If you have been reading my reviews, you know that Jon Kent is my favorite character ever. I have been waiting for him to take the spotlight, and he finally is. This issue is an interesting exploration of Jon Kent’s trauma and his ability to understand who he is. It’s interesting to see the way he goes about mentoring his younger self. Slott seems to be setting up some really interesting assessments of Jon’s character, and this feels like a major evolution for Superman. I like the way that Jon is able to understand that the trauma he has experienced did not shape him, and recognizes that the younger version of himself is strange. He is able to compare the good in himself with the good in Superboy. I’m excited for what seems to be a big summer event for Jon Kent! I am hoping it means he gets his own series again. While I am thrilled with this issue and the spotlight on Jon, I feel like some of the choices made came from a heavy hand from editorial. It feels like DC is trying to fix a mistake it made years ago by aging Jon up. They are also trying to revoke the title of Superman from him to avoid confusion. While I’m not thrilled with these choices, I don’t blame Slott, and I think he did some clever ways of telling this story. If this event continues or leads to a regular Superboys series, it would be interesting to see the exploration of Jon’s trauma from his time in space and how he connects to his younger self. The twist in this issue is fun, and the perfect way to tie in old themes and friendly faces. There is likely a metaphor about Jon’s queerness, but editorial will likely use it as a way to retcon his bisexuality.  Just let Jon be Superman! Other than that, this is a perfect issue and really digs into why Jon Kent is one of the best superheroes in the game.

Visually, the book is stunning. One of my favorite artists, Lucas Meyer, returns to the book to bring incredible visions of the future.  I got the chance to meet Meyer at New York Comic Con, and he is just as pleasant in person as he is on the page. Meyer develops dynamic panel layouts and action sequences. The design of Tomorrow Man’s suit is astounding and feels fresh yet familiar. I like the way the suit incorporates Superman’s color palette with a more utilitarian uniform like Batman. Jon Kent also deserves some much-needed praise as he looks adorable in his new “secret identity”.  Meyer delivers a stunning visual palette, clean, kinetic linework paired with bold colors that leap off the page.