Superboy May Finally Address The Childhood DC Completely Skipped Over

After years of avoiding the emotional topic, Superman Jon Kent—who was once known as Superboy—may finally start to address his stolen childhood.

Warning: SPOILERS for Action Comics #1051After years of avoiding the emotional topic, Jon Kent—who was once known as Superboy—may finally start to address his stolen childhood. Though Jon has been serving as Superman since his father left Earth for Warworld, he’s still not much older than a boy himself, and he still needs his parents.

Jon Kent began his superhero adventures as Superboy during DC’s Rebirth era. Back then, he was a goofy, carefree child, much beloved by his parents Lois and Clark—even when he got into trouble with his best friend, Damian Wayne’s Robin. But Jon’s idyllic childhood was interrupted when he was held captive in another dimension by Earth-3’s Ultraman, an evil version of Jon’s father, Superman. After years of being lost in space and time (and a volcano), Jon finally made it back home—only to discover just three weeks had passed for his parents and friends. Jon then decided to spend time working with the Legion of Super-Heroes in the future. Even after returning home to his parents from his Legion adventures, more challenges arose: Clark left Earth to rescue the enslaved peoples of Warworld, and Jon stepped up as Superman in his absence. It seemed Jon would never get to spend quality time with his parents again.

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Jon Kent Needs His Parents, Even If He’s Not a Cute Superboy Anymore

The emotional toll of Jon’s constant separation from his parents seems to be coming due as of Action Comics #1051 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Rafa Sandoval, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe. Clark is back on Earth, and the Kent family seems to be truly reunited once again. But changes are still afoot: Clark has returned with two Phaelosian orphans, known as the Super-Twins, whom Clark and Lois are officially adopting. The couple make this announcement to their close friends and family, though it seems to catch Jon off-guard. When Natasha Irons asks if his parents told him about the adoption, he replies, with a shadow over his face, “Ah… well, they did, kind of. I guess I didn’t completely understand the situation.”

This moment may seem small in the grand scope of the new Action Comics arc, but it’s setting up an essential emotional beat for the former Superboy. For years Jon has been flung from one time to another, only to end up as Superman without his father’s support. It only makes sense, despite his upbeat nature, that he would be upset about his parents taking in young children who are around the age Jon was when he was kidnapped. Jon may be flying around as Superman, but he still deserves the quality time and support he missed out on. And it certainly doesn’t help that this once-only child will suddenly have two young siblings to split Lois and Clark’s attention.

Action Comics isn’t the only book about to address Jon Kent’s lost childhood; Jon’s solo title, Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent will see him facing off with Ultraman, the despot who once held him captive in a volcano. Fans should be thrilled to see DC finally addressing Jon’s stolen childhood in his stories. Even though he’s been serving Earth well as Superman, this former Superboy still deserves to mourn all the time he’s lost.

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Check out Action Comics #1051, available now from DC Comics!