Superman: Son of Kal-El #5 (Jan. 2022) came out digitally in the Philippines late in the afternoon (before 6 p.m.) on November 16, 2021. Superman Jon Kent and reporter Jay Nakamura kissed for the first time on page 21 (from and including cover). The comic book is not paginated; one has to count the pages manually. Note that the comic book is dated January 2022 even though it is released in November 2021. Comic books are cover- or indicia-dated 2 to 3 months in advance.
Jon and Jay first met in issue #2 where they hit it off instantly. Jay has the power of intangibility, the ability to phase or move through solid objects. Jay’s power kicks in even when he is not aware of the danger he is in, as shown in the early pages of issue #4. In the event that Superman goes berserk and tries to hurt Jay Nakamura physically, he is not likely to succeed against the phantom man.
Blasted with a focused solar energy in issue #4, young Superman Jon Kent goes into action in issue #5 until the solar boost wears off, and he dozes off on Jay Nakamura’s couch for 9 hours.
When Jon wakes up, Jay tells Jon he’s “the one person in the world” Jon doesn’t “have to worry about” because of his intangibility. And, the two young men kiss right after.
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| © DC Comics used under principle of fair use |
Before getting the chance to talk about what just happened (the kiss), Superman has to leave to stop an armed robbery.
Before going back into action, Superman gives his cape to Jay and promises to come back.
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| © DC Comics used under principle of fair use |
The symbolism of the cape is Superman’s coming out to and entrusting himself to Jay (whose background he has not fully checked). I do not know if writer Tom Taylor, an Australian, is aware of the cape’s association with coming out since the idiomatic expression is Filipino. Regardless, Taylor hits a sweet spot when Jon gives the cape to Jay. Also, Jay can do a lot of wonders with and in the cape while Superman is out fighting the armed robbers.
Will Jay Nakamura be around for good? The possibility of Jay being a villain is great. He may have been transplanted into Superman’s life to attack the most vulnerable part of the Man of Steel, his heart. Let’s see if or how Jay crushes that heart later on.
Other than that, I imagine Jay as Jon Kent’s first and last male love. Saturn Girl is possibly Jon’s first love; she is Jon’s first kiss in canon (so far – writers can always retcon facts and stories). By first and last male love, I mean Jay is not the only male Jon will fall in love with, i.e., Jon will have his second, third, and so forth, but will eventually end up with Jay. I see Jon Kent hooking up with Robin (Tim Drake) eventually (and still be with Jay in the end).
Original Superman Clark Kent, Jon Kent’s father, had a number of loves in his life before finally having (and going back to) Lois Lane for good. If indeed the fruit does not fall far from the tree, Jon ending up with a reporter, like his father before him, would be a nice outcome for the love that finally dares to speak its name in this day and age.
Except for the last which has a sticky backdoor allusion, the titles are based on James Bond films. With Asgardian, I imagine Superman coming to blows with the Norse god Thor for the heart and loins of Jay. Of course, it is also nice to imagine Brandon Routh as Superman and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.
On a personal note, Jon and Jay suddenly kissing is something I can relate to. I’ve had partners where we’re just talking and suddenly we’re on the bed naked doing all sorts of gymnastic maneuvers and, sometimes, tongue twisters. I’m not really into tongue twisting or kissing much. Kissing is such an intimate act that I reserve that for someone I’m emotionally attached to. The character of Julia Roberts in the film Pretty Woman has the same attitude towards kissing. It was a welcome surprise seeing that. A part of me is reflected in that film, and that makes the film endearingly memorable.
Superman coming out is a pivotal point in comic book history that reflects the experience of many gay and bisexual men. That iconic kiss between Superman and Jay Nakamura will reverberate through time, throughout their/our (gay and bisexual men’s) lives.
It appears to me that writer Tom Taylor will round out an aspect of Superman with care and tenderness. I hope, or I shall curse him from here to Krypton and back.
