Superman: Son of Kal-El #5

Writer: Tom Taylor Artist: John Timms Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: November 17, 2021 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 14 User Reviews: 74
8.1Critic Rating
6.9User Rating

Faster than fate. As powerful as hope. Able to lift us all. For all his great power, Jon Kent can’t save everyone, but that won’t stop him from trying. How much can Earth’s new Superman do before this Man of Steel buckles? And when he does, who swoops in to save Superman?

  • 10
    But Why Tho? - Swara Ahmed Nov 16, 2021

    Superman: Son of Kal-El #5is a masterfully moving issue that gets even more to the heart of Jon Kent and his motivations. With beautiful art by Timms and HI-FI, a poignantly relatable story about burnout by Taylor, and great lettering by Sharpe, this is an issue that readers new and old won't want to miss. I cannot recommend this series and this issue enough. Read Full Review

  • 10
    DC Comics News - Derek McNeil Nov 16, 2021

    Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 is another stellar story from Tom Taylor and John Timms. At this point, I'm convinced that Taylor couldn't write a bad story if he deliberately tried to do so. I look forward to seeing what else Taylor has planned for Jon in the upcoming months. Read Full Review

  • 9.7
    Comic Watch - Bethany W Pope Nov 16, 2021

    This is a wonderful story, told with tremendous skill and illustrated with art that verges on gorgeous. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Read Full Review

  • 9.6
    You Don't Read Comics - David Harth Nov 17, 2021

    Superman: Son Of Kal-El #5 has been the talk of the comic industry since it was announced, and it delivers. Taylor is making everyone a believer in Jon as Superman, one super feat at a time. The relationship between him and Jay hits the next level, and its a perfect moment. This issue is going to get praised by some, the ones who know comics and panned by those who dont and are trying to make some culture war points. All that matters is that this is a great comic with some great moments. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Nov 16, 2021

    This isn't a big coming-out story, it's just a connection between two LGBT superheroes. My only quibble is with the art in some places"it's very good, but Jon looks a little too old and square-jawed in some places, like his father. Overall, a great issue and a great moment for DC. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    AIPT - David Brooke Nov 16, 2021

    There's a vibrancy to Superman: Son of Kal-El you can't get anywhere else in comics. There's a hopefulness Superman inspires, a brightness to the art and clever visual ideas. Read Full Review

  • 8.7
    Graphic Policy - Logan Dalton Nov 16, 2021

    Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 is character, not plot-driven as Tom Taylor, John Timms, and Hi-Fi dig into Jon Kent's emotions at both work and play. He has great power, but he also has limitations. However, smooching a cute boy and taking some time for self-care will help with that so that Jon is back in action and using his powers in a social justice-tinged way. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills Nov 20, 2021

    The smooch heard 'round the world is not yet best part of this really enjoyable comic about Superman being the best Superman he can. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    ComicBook.com - Nicole Drum Nov 17, 2021

    Taylor is creating something special with this story and yes, this issue could have moved the story a bit further forward, lingering here in these life lessons for Jon is time well-spent. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    COMICON - Tony Thornley Nov 19, 2021

    The big coming out issue is more of a story about control and responsibility. The reveal is just one element of a bigger picture, and we'll see what it means for the future. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Bleeding Cool - Hannibal Tabu Nov 27, 2021

    It's not as if you could say anything went wrong here. Bendix's impact is more felt than seen, as there is no direct antagonist in these pages. The flitting from disaster to crisis and back kept the attention focused on spectacle, hoping the emotional core of the latter pages would carry the day. It was a solid gambit and not a bad one, save for one would-be rescuee who paid the price, but it spotlights Jon's inexperience and his limitations to not even see the true problem despite the many people whose lives he improved. This is a solid book that can see greatness from here, but it hasn't quite made the jump just yet. Read Full Review

  • 6.8
    Weird Science - Eric Shea Nov 16, 2021

    While there's a lot to enjoy with this book since we do have Superman doing Superman things, while also giving us the exciting smooch heard around the world, this issue feels like it was written specifically for the spectacle of that and little else because it doesn't feel like a real continuation of where we left off previously because Jon just decides to do other things..... The art looks great though and hopefully next issue we'll get back to taking down Gamorra. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj Nov 24, 2021

    I know ... I know ... it can't be true can it? What do you all think? To be honest, of everything that happened in this book from the kiss to the weird Jay stuff, the hospital vignette is the one that I keep replaying. It just isn't that simple. And this sort of lackadaisical approach to real-life issues weighs heavy on me. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    Comic Crusaders - Lucas Fashina Nov 19, 2021

    Tom Taylor has added some romance to Jon Kent's life, but it feels clunky and shoe-horned in. Read Full Review

  • 10
    deen Dec 1, 2021

    A really great, solid issue. A whole lot of super-rescues, and how Jon has as much of his mother in him as he does his dad. I loved the moment between him and Jay, just really sweet and vulnerable. Jon has way more confidence than his father did at that age from the looks of it. The youthful energy of this book is enough to put a smile on the most hardened faces. That is, unless you're a cantankerous, sour soul with no room for joy in your life.

    A great new Superman tale for a new generation!

  • 10
    Smock948 Nov 26, 2021

    WAAAAAH SUPERMAN TOO GAY WAAAAAH

  • 10
    KittyNone Nov 16, 2021

    Growing up as a bi kid who loved Superman more than anything, I can't tell you how much it would have meant to know that someday there was going to be a genuinely excellent Superman comic with a tender, queer romance in it. Goodness knows at age 40 it still means the world. I love this and it gives me such hope and joy to see it be the commercial smash hit of 2021, because that means we're going to see comics that look like the real world much more often now.

  • 9.5
    Jawsh Dec 16, 2021

    And we're back!
    Absolutely adore John Timm's work.
    Taylor's Saturday Morning Cartoons energy is paced stronger here with some fine characterization and the pace is better with the issue ramping up and slowing down when it needs to.
    Jon is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters in comics, can't wait to see where this goes next.

    + LikeComment
  • 9.5
    Tempra16v2.0Turbo Nov 16, 2021

    Como falou o amigo abaixo, o início dessa edição tem os melhores momentos Superman em anos.
    Infelizmente tem gente que só vai pulando até achar um painel para reclamar e ficar chorando.
    O fato do Jay ter deixado o mundo sem o Superman por 9 horas e aquele quadro do "I'm the one person.......", me dão a sensação do Jon estar sendo manipulado.
    Serio, se não for por puro preconceito, não há razão para dar notas muito baixas a essa edição.

  • 9.5
    oshawottt Nov 16, 2021

    this issue will be overhated but who cares? it was damn good

  • 9.5
    Stormwrath Nov 16, 2021

    The first half of this book has one of the best Superman sequences in the past years, such a great book. Fantastic art, writing and coloring.

  • 9.5
    Dave Nov 15, 2021

    Wanted to post before the hype starts. This was another great issue of the book . It looses .5 point because Jon is not ten ( maybe one day I’ll get over it)
    The only problem with the book is the problem all modern books have in the slow pacing nothing happens writing for the trade. None the less buy those before the speculators di

  • 9.0
    cincyfan Nov 21, 2021

    This continues to be a great story as John feels the pressure of being superman

  • 9.0
    Danilo Silva Nov 16, 2021

    This issue was damn good! All the "salvations sequences" were great, Superman being Superman. And I don't care Jon being bi, but the kiss come out from nowhere. I mean, they just... kissed... for no reason or even a flirting. So I do expect that Taylor gives us some relatioship development from this start (please, Tom).

    About the art, still don't like it.

  • 9.0
    Hex Nov 16, 2021

    Much better art this time around. I like the continuation of this story and I love the jabs at Bendis. It's likely just for fun but it does bring a certain satisfaction in my lizard brain whenever someone calls him out. A person's sexuality is a journey. Just because, "he was never attracted to boys" in another comic doesn't mean he can't find himself over time. He aged what, 7 years in our 1? These are comics, he flies in space and people's biggest complaint is he's bi? Whatever. Story is good, sexuality shouldn't detract from people's reviews or enjoyment unless they are bigots. I agree with Psyc and Merlyn, more bisexual characters please! (And more Kate Kane because Batwoman is extremely underrepresented and should be allowed to marry w more

  • 9.0
    tonpas1989 Nov 16, 2021

    I'm coming around to the Timms art.

  • 9.0
    Psycamorean Nov 16, 2021

    I think Merlyn is right. Make everyone bisexual.

    + LikeComments (5)
  • 9.0
    superstan52 Nov 16, 2021

    Great issue, but with his enhanced powers, when Jon gave "the kiss" how come he didn't inadvertently rip the tongue out of his paramour?

  • 8.5
    UxasIs Nov 24, 2021

    This was a fun, interesting issue, can't wait to see where this Bendix plot goes

  • 8.0
    WhistleBlower Nov 15, 2021

    This issue is going to get negative review bombed by those with parasocial relationships with pedophile YouTubers (The Quartering, Yellowflash, etc).

    Wow, DoorMan and Mingthemerciless are really eager to defend pedophilia to the death. I wonder why.

    + LikeComments (37)
  • 7.0
    cumgurglinrhino Nov 23, 2021

    This series is starting to find it's feet a little more, but I still don't buy Jon as Superman. I'll see how the next issue goes to determine whether or not I end up dropping this series. I just can't imagine coming back to a book that isn't for me every month just to go into a rage about it because one of the main characters likes both cock and pussy.

  • 7.0
    charliekelly Nov 21, 2021

    This is a pretty solid issue. I've always enjoyed montages of Superman saving people, and although that element of this issue may have lasted a bit long, I still enjoyed it. The chemistry between Jon and the other guy is really good, but I still wish their romance could be built up a bit more because the kiss felt a little abrupt and random. I honestly really enjoy the art. It's vibrant and it captures the youthful energy of the comic with just the right dash of maturity.

  • 5.5
    egonnn244 Nov 25, 2021

    "It's not you, it's an armed robbery"

    Yeah, there's like zero chemistry between these two. Zero. Nada. Zilch. But at least we know who's going to be headlining the next year's pride anthology.

    With that out of the way.

    Five issues! It took Jon five issues to finally act like a bloody superhero. About damn time. Saving people from drowning, kidnapping; finding lost children, and carrying a whole bridge with cars and people on it? Ok, that's overdoing it. It's just so far that the suspension of disbelief can take you. And I know why he's wearing a mask, I do, but I'm pretty sure his Kryptonian heritage makes him immune to covid.

    As for the art. John Timms is back, so the issue looks good and the atr more

  • 5.0
    Valiant Son Nov 16, 2021

    The artwork is better than last issue, as is the colouring. The script is better too. Nothing really happens, though. In this instance, Taylor's script is the victim of the current trend for incredibly decompressed story-telling.

  • 2.0
    fearUhavemeisenough Nov 17, 2021

    This whole series has been a simplistic writing. FanfictionTaylor can't even take the time to have an affair with the other guy, everything is too fast, from one moment to the next it gives Jon's boyfriend powers, and it isn't a power that gives him the ability to maintain a relationship beyond of hold hands with the superbi.
    So we have Jon not being a superhero but an activist of an ecological communist propaganda (as if that were possible, let's just look at China and its big problems in water pollution) and now without their own sexual tension they are already kissing.
    If Taylor's goal was to give a rose novel, not even he can do it right.
    The action and challenges of this new superbi are boring as is his relationship wher more

    + LikeComments (169)
  • 1.5
    Raging Rainbow Nov 19, 2021

    This is it, folks! The moment we've seen multiple media outlets hype up! Jon Kent finally kisses Jay and it is every bit as anticlimactic as I expected. Not only was there no build up to this in previous issues it even comes across as needlessly abrupt in this issue. Every single person who made this possible should be ashamed of themselves. If you try to defend this by saying "you're a baby or a bigot if you don't like it!" go fall in a ditch you overly sensitive little queen. If you enjoyed it because "I wish I'd had this when I was a bi/gay kid growing up because Superman was my favoritest of all TIME!" get a grip.

    https://youtu.be/IihEy6hhM9o

    + LikeComments (2)
  • 1.0
    S.J Mar 15, 2022

    F**k you, Taylor.

  • 1.0
    Sup3rsa1yan1990 Feb 14, 2022

    Welp, Tom Taylor managed to deliver the final death blow to one of the most beloved new characters in recent memory. Hope all that dopamine from all the virtue signaling was worth it, these sociopaths never learn the tried and true adage, “get woke, go broke”

  • 1.0
    DoorMan Nov 17, 2021

    I honestly went into this hoping that I would enjoy it. It has become evident that Taylor's virtue signaling and his desire to be politically correct have taken priority over all else, sadly. Five issues in and it has been absolute politically motivated trash so far.

  • 1.0
    Merlyn Nov 16, 2021

    So we all knew this was coming and we all knew Tom Taylor is as stupid as they come but we didn't know it was going to be this stupid. I mean, I expected some explanation as to why a character who has NEVER shown any attraction to boys and has been attracted to several girls his age would all of a sudden swing that way. Nope, he just kisses the pink-haired guy and that's it, we're supposed to buy it like we don't even try to think it through. Sorry, that's not how it works, Tom. I get that he wanted to pander to his LGBT twitter crowd but we're not supposed to buy stupid shit like his. If you can justify after this that Jon is bi, you can justify Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent being bi too, it would make as much sense as it did here. Might as we more

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