Spoilers ahead for Future State Superman/Wonder Woman #2.
One of the most inspirational aspects of Superman is that he views his abilities as a gift for those who need it. Of course, this can – and has – taken a huge personal toll on Ka-El, given the problems of the world. However, his Future State successor Jon Kent seems to be learning and using a skill Ka-El never mastered – the art of delegating duties to someone else.
In Future State Superman/Wonder Woman #2, written by Dan Watters and illustrated by Leila Del Duca and Nick Filardi, Jon is pushed to the brink of his capabilities. Not only does he have to remember to shoot a black hole full of energy to save a dying world every day, he also has to contend with the sun-eating menace of Solaris – and he agrees to race the sun god Kuat on Wonder Woman’s behalf. However, with Wonder Woman dealing with Solaris, Superman is able to beat Kuat in their race and even take a day off, as Wonder Woman agrees to take over his duties for a day while he takes a very much-needed break. The issue ends with Superman returning to the Fortress of Solitude with breakfast for him and Wonder Woman.
One reason why this shift to delegation is so important is that Superman himself is half-human, meaning he doesn’t have his father’s boundless reserves of energy. Still, his role as Superman – sometimes literally – puts the weight of the world on his shoulders. After all, if he is incapacitated – as he is in the beginning of the issue – the black hole could swallow its intended galaxy. It’s clear Jon learned these habits from his father, who was always rushing off from one disaster to the next, often times in mid-conversation. To make matters worse, this Superman doesn’t share the hopeful optimism of his predecessor, and confesses to Wonder Woman that he doesn’t have much faith the world will keep turning if he doesn’t tend to things personally. Fortunately, Yara isn’t having any of this, and points out that people held their own even when his father was Superman, and even before there was a Superman.
Ultimately, Jon willingly taking some work off his plate is a major bit of character development, as it shows him learning to strike a balance his father never did. While Superman was a beacon of hope for the world, even he had limits, with his duties often taking a toll on his personal life. Jon accepting his own limitations as a half-human successor to Superman means he won’t make the same mistakes, or worse, magnify them. As a result, this also allows this Superman to deepen his relationships with friends and allies like Wonder Woman, as well as face new challenges refreshed and ready to go.
The issue provides a fun glimpse into the newest Superman’s life. It also shows what new struggles await this Man of Steel, and, ultimately, how his solutions are very different from that of his father’s. Hopefully this will build into a much more well-rounded Future State Superman going forward.
