Superman's New Era Has Redefined His Use of Violence in One Huge Way
As Earth's new Superman, Jon Kent is resorting to violence only as a last resort and taking on issues that he can’t punch his way out of, such as aiding in a refugee crisis or trying to calm monsters confused by the degradation of their underwater habitat. His approach has been measured, rather than reactive, displaying a maturity that considers the potential damages to those around him and the way that villains manipulate others’ circumstances. The covers of the first 11 issues of Superman: Son of Kal-El reflect his decision not to go into every conflict swinging, as even while selling this character to a wide range of readers, Jon still hasn't chosen violence.
This is a marked departure from decades of cover art that had Superman throwing punches at foes, structures, the occasional ally, and even flying fist-first off of the page. For decades, Superman cover art has put violence front and center, often as a reflection of the hero's incredible strength. This is true even in Kal-El’s present day adventures in Action Comics, with multiple covers depicting him as a gladiator mid-attack. In this way at least, Jon isn't following in his father's footsteps.
Related: Superman's New Comic Nemesis Is A Greater Villain Than Darkseid
When Jon Kent took the mantle of Superman from his father after Kal-El informed him that he must leave Earth to fight Mongul on Warworld, he quickly established that he would be a different kind of Superman. Instead of placing an emphasis on fighting, he seeks to understand the circumstances of the danger he encounters, proving to have better foresight than his father. What's surprising, however, is that DC has carried this level-headed approach through to the regular and variant covers used to sell
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