Superman comes out as BISEXUAL: DC Comics reveals son of Clark Kent is dating a man

Superman is set to come out as bisexual and begin a romantic relationship with his male best friend, DC Comics revealed on Monday – just two months after the company announced that iconic Batman sidekick Robin is also bi. 

The news marks what DC has branded a ‘bold new direction’ for the legendary superhero – a move that began in July, when the company debuted a woke new series of comics about the character featuring Clark Kent and Lois Lane’s son Jonathan, who inherited the role from his cape-wearing father. 

In the months since the Superman: Son of Kal-El series made its debut, Jon has taken on several hot-button issues, including high school shootings, climate change, and the deportation of refugees – all of which are a world away from the sinister supervillains that the Man of Steel once fought. 

The character will now take yet another big step to separate himself from the much-loved original Superman storyline by dating his close male friend – with the romance set to take center stage in an upcoming issue of the comic, due to be released on November 9. 

However, the same-sex relationship was inspired by the iconic romance between Clark and Lois, with DC revealing that the new Superman’s partner, Jay Nakamura, is also a reporter – just like his parents. 

‘Just like his father before him, Jon Kent has fallen for a reporter,’ the company shared in a press release.  

‘After initially striking up a friendship with reporter Jay Nakamura, he and Jon become romantically involved. Following a scene where Superman mentally and physically burns out from trying to save everyone that he can, Jay is there to care for the Man of Steel.’

It continues: ‘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?’

Images from the upcoming comic, which is the fifth issue in the new series, show Jon and Jay kissing and embracing, with Superman clad in his iconic blue-and-red uniform, while his pink-haired partner is seen wearing an orange hoodie, white T-shirt and purple glasses. 

Jay will also be introduced to Clark and Lois in the new issue of the comic – with a sneak peek revealing that the reporter is left dumbstruck with nerves upon meeting his partner’s mother for the first time.  

Speaking about the decision to give Superman an LGBTQ+ storyline, series writer Tom Taylor told the New York Times that he wanted the new version of the character to be relevant for a modern audience – insisting that it would have felt like a ‘missed opportunity’ to once again portray the superhero as a ‘straight white savior’. 

‘The idea of replacing Clark Kent with another straight white savior felt like a missed opportunity,’ Taylor said. 

‘[A] new Superman had to have new fights — real world problems — that he could stand up to as one of the most powerful people in the world.’   

The news about Superman’s LGBTQ+ relationship comes just two months after DC Comics announced that another of its legendary characters – Batman sidekick Robin – was also set to come out as bisexual and begin a relationship with a man. 

In August, the comic book company revealed that the Caped Crusader’s longtime sidekick Robin, a.k.a Tim Drake, would accept a date with a male character called Bernard Dowd in a new issue of the series Batman: Urban Legends. 

Tim/Robin was described as having a ‘lightbulb moment’ when fighting alongside Bernard during a brawl, eventually rescuing Bernard in the process.

Fans of the comic welcomed the revelation saying they suspected Drake may be bisexual or gay for years. 

In March, Marvel revealed their first openly-gay Captain America character, Aaron Fischer, which is debuted during Pride Month this past year.

Fischer is a youth advocate that was included in the ‘United States of Captain America’ comic book miniseries which was released on June 2. 

‘Aaron is inspired by heroes of the queer community: activists, leaders, and everyday folks pushing for a better life,’ creator Aaron Trujillo told Entertainment Weekly. 

‘He stands for the oppressed, and the forgotten,’ Trujillo added. ‘I hope his debut story resonates with readers, and helps inspire the next generation of heroes.’

In addition to Fischer, Ayo (Black Panther), Valkyrie (Thor: Ragnarok) and Harley Quinn are superhero characters apart of the LGBTQ community.