Superman: Son of Kal-El #4

8.2

Critic Rating

12 Reviews
6.2

User Rating

77 Reviews
Writer Tom Taylor
Artist Daniele Di Nicuolo

Kal-El has left, and the weight of the world now rests on his son's shoulders. Powerful forces have been threatened by Jon Kent's first leaps in his father's boots. It's hard to hurt a man of steel, but his loved ones make a much easier target.Jon's world is about to come crashing down.

Reviews (12) User Reviews (77) Rate / Write A Review

CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top

  • 10

    DC Comics News - Derek McNeil

    Oct 27, 2021

    Superman: Son of Kal-El #4 was another great issue of Tom Taylor's fantastic new series. Taylor has been hitting all the right notes on this title so far. Getting DC fans to accept a new Superman is a formidable task, but I trust that if anyone can do it, it would be Tom Taylor. And so far, Taylor is proving me right. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield

    Oct 19, 2021

    This might be about to become one of the most important books in the DCU, but long before that it was already one of the best. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    But Why Tho? - Swara Ahmed

    Oct 19, 2021

    Superman: Son of Kal-El #4is a stressfully compelling story as Jon Kent faces his most dire challenges yet. Taylor continues to write Jon Kent with keen empathic understanding as he gives more challenges for the young Superman, and the art and colors by Di Niculou and Eltaeb continue to immerse readers in his thrilling world. With great lettering by Sharpe to boot, it's another excellent issue in this comic series you don't want to miss. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    ComicBook.com - Nicole Drum

    Oct 20, 2021

    I don't love the art in Superman: Son of Kal-El #4, but I do love the way Tom Taylor is continuing to develop this story and fully flesh out Jon Kent, both as Superman now that his father has left the world and as a man in his own right. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    On Comics Ground - Timothy Quail

    Oct 20, 2021

    Superman deals with the fallout of the previous issue, while building his relationships with the larger cast (both old and new). Tom Taylor is carving out a very new world and status quo for Jonathan Kent, and it seems like it will be an essential read. Read Full Review

  • 8.8

    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally

    Oct 19, 2021

    Daniele Di Nicuolo's art style works brilliantly with this story. The energy of the action comes across in the art and the details are amazing. Read Full Review

  • 8.4

    You Don't Read Comics - David Harth

    Oct 21, 2021

    Superman: Son Of Kal-El #4 feels like Taylor's way of reassuring readers that Jon is just as good a Superman as his father. It works splendidly; he also builds up the threat of Gamorra and shows just how good Bendix is at playing this game. Di Nicuolo's art looks great and really helps the script along. This is a fun comic that makes a case for why Jon deserves to be Superman. Read Full Review

  • 7.0

    Weird Science - Eric Shea

    Oct 19, 2021

    Some things feel really off about the progression of this issue but once we leave the Kent Farm the book feels like it gets back on track and I enjoyed seeing the further adventures of Jon figuring out what kind of Superman he's going to be and seeing who else is going to show up in his life to help him along the way. The art is great and I like a lot of elements here, I just wish the first quarter of the book didn't feel so weird and out of place at times. Read Full Review

  • 7.0

    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles

    Oct 19, 2021

    Bendix is proving to be a formidable villain and a nice equivalent of Lex Luthor for Jon. It'll be interesting to see where Taylor takes this new rivalry while fleshing out Jon's backstory beyond what's already been spoiled. Read Full Review

  • 7.0

    COMICON - Tony Thornley

    Oct 22, 2021

    A stronger entry in the series so far, this shows the potential of what the series could be. We just hope it's an indication of the overall direction and not just a fluke. Read Full Review

  • 7.0

    Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills

    Oct 23, 2021

    A lot of nice character work and story set-up in this issue. I think this series is still trying to find its heart, but it is definitely well on its way. Read Full Review

  • 7.0

    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj

    Oct 26, 2021

    Maybe Jon will be scrutinized for this attack on a government, even an 'evil' government. Maybe Jon will wonder if he is being manipulated by Jay. Three issues ago, Jon wanted to nothing more than go to college. Now he is attacking political leaders on the other side of the world. I know that this middle-aged man is not the target audience here. But I can hope for good story-telling. And I trust that Taylor will make politics and ambitions not seem so black and white as he has so far. That said, we are 4 issues in. I'm still waiting. Read Full Review

USER REVIEWS Back to Top

  • 9.5

    Dave

    Oct 16, 2021

    Read it early another stellar issue and cool twist with As always it looses .5 because Jon is not ten

    + Like Comment
  • 9.5

    cincyfan

    Oct 24, 2021

    Another great issue!

  • 8.0

    Psycamorean

    Oct 19, 2021

    I read this nice and early so I could review it early, so I could hope to miss out on the terrible, toxic discourse this series creates because a minority of idiots decide to keep reading a book that sends them for a spin for daring to be written by someone who's not as idiotic as them. The optimist in me doesn't see much that could be potentially disagreeable here, even from their idiotic perspectives. I imagine most of the negative reviews here will ignore most of this issue, and make their reviews all about the news from DC that Jon is bisexual. All I have to say about that is, being homophobic is bad. As for this issue, it's good. I didn't like it as much as the last few issues, since it didn't really progress the plot all that much. I' more

    + Like Comments (4)
  • 8.0

    WhistleBlower

    Oct 19, 2021

    Everything is pretty solid here except the coloring. Don't know what nepotism hire DC made here, but the shit I took last night was a better coloring job.

    + Like Comments (1)
  • 8.0

    Danilo Silva

    Oct 19, 2021

    The story in this issue was a little rushed and I didn't like the art, but enjoyed Aerie and Wink appearing and the final let me curious dor the next one.

  • 7.5

    fvkcrsh

    Oct 20, 2021

    Really enjoyed seeing Jon trying to live up to Clark in this one, probably the weakest issue so far tho

  • 7.5

    Gorr

    Oct 20, 2021

    Art feels rushed in this issue. I am enjoying the story so far but I feel like too many pages and a great deal of focus are being placed on Jon and Jay's relationship as opposed to fleshing out this new role for Jon as the "Superman" of Earth. It seems like the next issue (annual #1) will introduce Lex Luthor into the mix, which could make things more interesting. 7.5/10.

  • 7.5

    Hex

    Nov 03, 2021

    Like most people have been saying, this is the weakest issue in the run so far. I've never seen the artist before but it seems like they are trying REALLY hard to emulate Ryan Ottley. Ottley is a fine artist but I don't think his style fits Marvel or DC very well and neither does this. I like seeing Jon interact with Justice League members (Wally!) so that makes me happy. The Guardians of the Globe/Teen Team stand-ins aren't my favorite. We'll see where things go. There is only "hot button issue" I will touch on. If you have a problem with Jon being bi-sexual, you are an overly sensitive, sheltered, phobic child. Grow up, this is normal. Jon is separate from Clark. When Clark comes back, he's still going to be married to Lois. To those comp more

    + Like Comment
  • 7.5

    Jawsh

    Dec 16, 2021

    Pace is off on this one, feeling clunky. Tie it up together Taylor! John Timm's art is also sorely missed.

  • 7.0

    Gavan

    Oct 19, 2021

    This issue was just okay. Not really much else to say about it, but not having Timms' art definitely didn't do the issue any favors

  • 7.0

    Mout

    Oct 19, 2021

    Weakest issue so far

    + Like Comment
  • 7.0

    DiegoLDUganda

    Oct 26, 2021

    I've expected better for a first encounter of Bendix and Jon, it's suppose that he will be his "Luthor" but I did'nt felt anything about that.

  • 6.5

    Lal

    Oct 19, 2021

    It's probably the weakest issue in the run so far. Everything felt both rushed and anti-climatic. A lot of things happened and a lot of characters made guest appearances, but most of them were meaningless, with the exception of Jon meeting Wally, which was actually nice. Jon is young and inexperienced and is making mistakes, and it all makes sense, but his actions still felt very childish, and Lois just allowing him to do it was also weird. I still think it's a good series, but this issue was a bit disappointing.

  • 6.5

    Stormwrath

    Oct 19, 2021

    The writing is actually great, this book has some great moments and what Tom Taylor is doing works. But the art is not great at all, really weak when compared to John Timms. It hurts do give this rating to a book I really enjoy, but it was hard to deal with the art

  • 6.5

    retcon_D

    Nov 27, 2021

    Sadly going to be dropping this title now. These last two issues have been really just...meh, and I expected something far better, especially with Taylor on writing duties.

  • 6.0

    daspidaboy

    Oct 19, 2021

    It's not bad, and its pretty interesting but the coloring is pretty bad if you ask me.

  • 5.0

    egonnn244

    Oct 25, 2021

    "I won't do anything stupid..." How atrocious is the art in this book? My goodness! It can't get worse, right? Then I see Aerie's face. And then Wink's. Who the hell, in their right mind, greenlit this? It seems that this book is important enough for DC to have two separate press releases, but not enough to make an actual effort to have consistently good art. Go figure. I'll give you the opening sequence though, that was cool. But then what? He has powers too? And he's from Gamorra too? And he knows Wink and the Aerie? And he was in the same exact school that Jon went to? And on the exact same roof that Jon landed after saving a boat full of Gamorran people? Well, are you now Mr. Deus Ex Coincidence Machina. Or an evil genius tha more

  • 5.0

    cumgurglinrhino

    Oct 31, 2021

    Still not loving this series as much as I wish I was, but I'll give this first arc a chance to play out. Hopefully Taylor has something else up his sleeve. Glad people are enjoying it though.

  • 4.0

    Merlyn

    Oct 19, 2021

    Another boring issue with awful art in which Taylor decides to insert his annoying creations from his Suicide Squad. And I love how after the copied Faultline from PKJ's Tao-La, now he's copied Hickman with "post-humans". This guy doesn't have one inch of an original bone in his body, he just copies what other writers are doing and just panders to his twitter crowd, that's his whole career right there after Injustice. Oh, and don't think that the fact that his LGBT creations are "post-humans" is just a tiny bit of innocent coincidence. If you know anything about Tom Taylor and his ideological leanings, that is decidedly NOT a coincidence, he really thinks that the future is a green utopia (we'll see more of that later in his run where Jon i more

    + Like Comments (5)
  • 3.0

    SenpaifenixJäger

    Oct 20, 2021

    Expect better in this issue. This is nothing interesting, boring to die for. And it is this type of writing by which one stops buying the series.

    + Like Comment
  • 3.0

    Silver Rocket

    Oct 20, 2021

    Tom Taylor can't write a compelling story. At least, I could laugh at his zombie stories, but this book is just boring.

  • 2.5

    fearUhavemeisenough

    Oct 19, 2021

    Boring subject, writing is not juvenile, it is childish to die for. And this is going to be the new superman? it's totally disappointing and the art gives the perspective that they want to give a touch of the Invincible comic, but in my opinion it's pretty bad.

  • 2.0

    Valiant Son

    Oct 25, 2021

    This is bad. This is really, really bad. The story is almost non-existent; the dialogue cringey; the line-work poor. Honestly, the colouring isn't great, but it's the least of the problems with this issue.

  • 2.0

    Raging Rainbow

    Nov 13, 2021

    We continue with the modern gay romance, minus the romance, in this story as we see Jon and Jay continue to get closer. If they're going to end up together it would be nice to see them actually show some amount of attraction for each other. Or does Tom Taylor think gay people only try to date their friends? https://youtu.be/uWcevtJsVvs

  • 1.0

    DoorMan

    Oct 19, 2021

    Being triggered, nice and early, is bad for your health.

    + Like Comments (6)
  • 1.0

    S.J

    Mar 15, 2022

    Is it comic book ? I think not.

  • 10

    RJ

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 10

    JLD

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 10

    Anakin

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 10

    EdNothIng

    Oct 20, 2021

  • 10

    ReviewBombDefuser

    Nov 13, 2021

  • 10

    wesshamu

    Nov 24, 2021

  • 10

    Nightcrawler4

    Mar 20, 2022

  • 10

    Mail2g

    Jun 09, 2022

  • 8.5

    BitchWitcher

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 8.5

    TheHyruleElf

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 8.5

    mynameisraj

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 8.5

    KittyNone

    Oct 20, 2021

  • 8.5

    tonpas1989

    Oct 21, 2021

  • 8.5

    Radar

    Oct 23, 2021

  • 8.5

    Ronin

    Jun 20, 2022

  • 8.5

    AshleyOmegaNova

    Jun 08, 2023

  • 8.0

    oshawottt

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 8.0

    Swanktub

    Oct 20, 2021

  • 8.0

    UxasIs

    Nov 07, 2021

  • 8.0

    FilmsAndJRPGs

    Nov 27, 2021

  • 7.5

    Khan/Murdock

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 7.5

    sebastianorellana95

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 7.5

    Anterozek

    Feb 23, 2022

  • 7.5

    Drasek83

    Jun 10, 2022

  • 7.5

    ed1138

    Feb 03, 2023

  • 7.0

    Crimson Knight

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 7.0

    JBL Reviews

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 7.0

    Jason The Dude

    Nov 06, 2021

  • 7.0

    K-23

    Apr 26, 2022

  • 7.0

    Adsun22

    Sep 12, 2023

  • 6.5

    Bruno Mael

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 6.5

    Watchtower022

    Oct 20, 2021

  • 6.5

    ds

    Oct 25, 2021

  • 6.5

    ICC

    Nov 26, 2021

  • 6.5

    Puzzlebox

    Oct 12, 2022

  • 5.5

    TheFallenKing13

    Oct 20, 2021

  • 5.5

    LeiaFavaz

    Oct 23, 2021

  • 5.5

    Annie Chuu

    Nov 21, 2021

  • 5.0

    prettythief

    Oct 23, 2021

  • 5.0

    SamComics

    Oct 23, 2021

  • 4.5

    Becea

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 3.0

    nastyD

    Oct 19, 2021

    + Like Comment
  • 3.0

  • 2.5

    Emma

    Oct 23, 2021

  • 1.5

    AGJ

    Oct 23, 2021

  • 1.0

    TheBest

    Oct 19, 2021

    + Like Comment
  • 1.0

    KFuqua

    Oct 19, 2021

    + Like Comment
  • 1.0

    Robin

    Oct 19, 2021

  • 1.0

    Jurooo

    Oct 25, 2021

  • 1.0

    Str8Supes

    Mar 21, 2022

  • 1.0

    Callmeraider

    Jun 06, 2025

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