The short answer
The short answer
Jon Kent is the son of Superman and Lois Lane. He first appeared in Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015), became Superboy in Rebirth comics, was aged up to about 17 in 2019, and took over as Superman in Superman: Son of Kal-El (2021–22). He came out as bisexual in Son of Kal-El #5 (2021).
Meet the family
The rest of the family.
How it has changed
Every era, a different story.
New 52 to Rebirth (2015–2016)
New 52 to Rebirth (2015–2016)
Jon is born in Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015) by Dan Jurgens, then grows up in hiding in Superman: Lois and Clark (2015–16), the story of a pre-New 52 Clark and Lois living secretly in the New 52 world.
Rebirth (2016–2019)
Rebirth (2016–2019)
Jon becomes Superboy from Superman (vol. 4) #6 (November 2016). 'Superman Reborn' (2017) merges the two Supermen and Loises into one history, making Jon the son of the main Superman.
Today (2019–)
Today (2019–)
Aged up to about 17 in 'The Unity Saga: The House of El' (2019), Jon joins the Legion of Super-Heroes (2019–20), becomes Superman in Superman: Son of Kal-El (2021–22), and later uses the identity Tomorrow Man in Superman Unlimited.
TV: Superman & Lois
TV: Superman & Lois
Jon is played by Jordan Elsass, then Michael Bishop. The show gives him a twin brother, Jordan (Alex Garfin), a TV-only character.
In depth
The full story.
Jon Kent is the newest member of the House of El, and one of the most important. In less than a decade he went from baby to Superboy to Superman, and he gave the Super-family a new generation.
Who is Jon Kent?
Jon Kent is the son of Clark Kent (Superman) and Lois Lane. Dan Jurgens introduced him in Convergence: Superman #2 (July 2015), and he grew up in Superman: Lois and Clark (2015–16), in which a pre-New 52 Superman and Lois raise him in secret.
Jon Kent’s story, step by step
| Year | What happened | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Born to Clark and Lois | Convergence: Superman #2 |
| 2016 | Becomes Superboy | Superman (vol. 4) #6 (November 2016) |
| 2017 | His family’s history merges with the main timeline | “Superman Reborn” |
| 2019 | Aged up to about 17 | “The Unity Saga: The House of El” |
| 2019–20 | Joins the Legion of Super-Heroes | Legion of Super-Heroes |
| 2021–22 | Becomes Superman | Superman: Son of Kal-El |
| 2021 | Comes out as bisexual | Son of Kal-El #5 |
| 2023 | His own mini-series | Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent (6 issues) |
In short: Jon went from his 2015 debut to wearing his father’s cape in six years.
Why was Jon Kent aged up?
In “The Unity Saga: The House of El” (2019), written by Brian Michael Bendis, Jon leaves Earth for a time in space and comes back aged about 17. Wikipedia says he travelled with his grandfather Jor-El, who had returned in Rebirth comics, but we rate that detail as likely rather than confirmed. The change let DC write him as a teenage hero and set up his time with the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Jon Kent as Superman
In Superman: Son of Kal-El (Tom Taylor and John Timms, July 2021 to December 2022), Jon takes over as Superman. In issue #5 he comes out as bisexual and begins dating the reporter Jay Nakamura. The series was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award. Jon and Jay later split after Absolute Power (2024), and Jon has since used the identity Tomorrow Man in Superman Unlimited.
Jon Kent’s powers
Jon has the full Kryptonian power set: flight, heat vision, X-ray vision and freeze breath among them. In his early Superboy days the powers were unstable, which made for a lot of his best stories. His best friend in the comics is the family dog, Krypto.
Superman’s other sons
Jon isn’t the only boy Superman has raised. Chris Kent (Lor-Zod), General Zod’s son, was adopted by Clark and Lois in “Last Son” (Action Comics, 2006–08). In Superman Returns (2006), Jason White is Lois’s son and, it’s implied, Superman’s. Both are rated likely in our research. And Conner Kent, the 1990s Superboy, is a clone rather than a son: see the Superman family tree.
Jon Kent on TV
In Superman & Lois, Jon is played by Jordan Elsass and later Michael Bishop. The show gives him a twin brother, Jordan Kent (Alex Garfin), who doesn’t exist in the comics. For the actors who’ve played his mother, see Lois Lane.
Questions
Fans ask.
Does Superman have kids?
Yes. In the comics Lois and Clark's son is Jon Kent, born in Convergence: Superman #2 (2015). Jon later became a Superman himself. Superman Returns (2006) hints that Lois's son is Superman's, and Superman & Lois gives them twin sons.
How old is Jon Kent?
Jon Kent was a child when he became Superboy in Rebirth comics (2016). In 'The Unity Saga: The House of El' (2019), by Brian Michael Bendis, he returns from time in space aged about 17, so he's now written as a young adult.
Is Jon Kent the new Superman?
He was. Jon Kent took the Superman name in Superman: Son of Kal-El (Tom Taylor and John Timms, July 2021 to December 2022). He has since used the identity Tomorrow Man in Superman Unlimited.
Is Jon Kent bisexual?
Yes. Jon Kent came out as bisexual in Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 (2021) and dated reporter Jay Nakamura. The series received a GLAAD Media Award nomination. Jon and Jay split up after the Absolute Power event (2024).
What powers does Jon Kent have?
Jon Kent has his father's Kryptonian powers, including flight, heat vision, X-ray vision and freeze breath. When he was younger his powers were unstable, and Rebirth comics show him struggling to control his heat vision.
Next in family
Krypto.
A Kryptonian dog. Every bit as super.
Keep exploring.
All family
Family treeBorn on Krypton. Raised in Kansas.
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