WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Action Comics #1035 and Superman: Son of Kal-El #3, on sale now from DC Comics.
Future State indicated that Kal-El had a dark destiny ahead of him, leaving Earth to be protected by his son Jon Kent as the new Superman while contending with the cosmic tyrant Mongul on the dictator’s fiery domain of Warworld. Future State revealed this confrontation did not go well for the Man of Steel, with the superhero bound in chains and leading a desperate resistance to topple Mongul’s regime. And despite all signs pointing towards this Future State foreshadowing coming true and Jon’s warnings of his father’s future based on information he gathered serving with the Legion of Super-Heroes, Superman decides to face his grim fate head-on for the greater good.
Ever since the start of the Infinite Frontier era, Superman has had a particularly rough go of things, with his powers gradually diminishing after being exposed to an extra-dimensional rift. This decline has coincided with Jon Kent becoming more creative with his own superpowers and demonstrating that he not only can potentially follow in his father’s footsteps but potentially take the Superman mantle in a more inspiring, long-lasting direction as a more proactive, socially conscious Man of Tomorrow. Observing this, Superman officially hands off the mantle to Jon in Superman: Son of Kal-El #3 — by Tom Taylor, John Timms, Gabe Eltaeb and Dave Sharpe — while the farewell is expanded in Action Comics #1035 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Daniel Sampere, Adriano Lucas and Sharpe.
While Jon initially believed his presence in the modern-day DC Universe had subtly altered his father’s fate, with Superman surviving beyond where the historical texts from the 31st century indicated, it became clear that this destiny was simply delayed, not averted. While Superman appreciates Jon’s warnings and pleas to stay on Earth rather than confront Mongul as the cosmic tyrant’s influence is felt throughout the DCU, Superman assures his son he needs to confront this threat even if it means relatively certain death. Imparting his son with his own costume, Superman launches up, up and away towards Warworld.
Action Comics #1035 reveals that Superman isn’t heading into this high-stakes showdown alone but rather is accompanied by the alternate version of the Authority he formed in the comic book miniseries Superman and the Authority. While it is still unclear how exactly this unique version of the WildStorm Universe team arrived in the main DCU, the ensemble of misfits ensures that Superman isn’t charging into the ominous unknown alone. After one last romantic night with Lois Lane, Superman joins his alternate universe team, teleporting away to Warworld for the coming confrontation.
Of course, Superman leaving the planet is not unnoticed, with a nefarious head-of-state, that has been menacing Jon lately, observing Superman leaving Earth and letting him get a considerable distance away before striking at the Kent family’s heart by completely obliterating their farm with an orbital blast. Superman has barely been off the Earth before enemies are quickly rising out of the woodwork to take advantage of his absence and directly challenge his legacy through his son Jon. Superman knows the gravity of what he’s up against and charges into it knowing that his predicted demise is all for the greater good but those that he has left behind are already bearing the brunt of consequence from this action.
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