REVIEW: ‘Superman: Son of Kal-El,’ Issue #6

There’s no time to rest for Jon Kent and his friends and family after a vicious attack they barely got away from. President Bendix of Gamorra is up to something nefarious, involving human trafficking and experimentation. It’ll be up to Superman, his boyfriend Jay Nakamura, his mom Lois, and others to figure out exactly what’s going on and stop it. Superman: Son of Kal-El #6 is written by Tom Taylor, with art by John Timms, colors by  Hi-Fi, and letters by Dave Sharpe. It is published by DC Comics.

This is an issue that highlights the importance of journalism and uncovering the truths of what oppressive forces, whether they be governments, corporations, or other entities, commit. Taylor has built up Jon’s relationships well throughout this series to have them all come together in this issue to seek out that truth, and it’s engaging to read. This isn’t a story based on action, but on uncovering what Bendix and his cronies are doing to innocent lives to further their own goals. Taylor’s dialogue between Jon, Lois, Jay, and the others in this issue is full of rich detail about their current events and politics, making the DC universe feel more lived-in and relatable to our own.

But it’s fundamentally still about Jon’s relationships. His relationship with Jay is blooming, and we get to learn more about Jay’s backstory and how it fits into the overarching story. There’s a more active inclusion of Lois as well, showcasing her investigative prowess as she gets in on uncovering Bendix’s schemes. I hope we see more of that throughout the series. Jon Kent is someone who cares a lot, and there’s a good snippet in this story on how he doesn’t want others to take the risks before him. But Taylor subtly reminds us in the story that Jon still needs to accept help, as even Superman can’t achieve everything alone.

John Timms’ art is fantastic as always. The textures, lining, and details are all so intricate while retaining an impressionistic quality, and thus always retain their distinctive flair. The colors with HI-FI are a rich palette of blues, purples, and indigos in the nighttime setting, and the characters are always colored with rich depth. Timms’ art always makes reading this story a visual delight.

Dave Sharpe’s letters are also great and smoothly fit onto the page. It’s virtually never difficult to read, making this all the more enjoyable to jump into, along with the other great aspects of the issue.

Superman: Son of Kal-El #6 is a great story that sets aside heavy action to focus on the importance of investigative journalism and holding people in power accountable. Taylor writes Jon and his supporting characters with great detail and emotional depth, Timms art with HI-FI’s colors is beautifully immersive, and Sharpe’s letters make this great issue an even greater read. Superman: Son of Kal-El remains one of the best Superman stories out in years, and I highly recommend you pick it up.

Superman: Son of Kal-El #6 is available now wherever comics are sold.