Superman's children have varied through the years, going back to the Silver Age with imaginary stories featuring super babies flying around domestic bliss. Often, the children were ancillary, just showing up in the background with a reference being made to them as part of Superman's future family. Usually, he had a son, but there was occasionally a daughter thrown into the mix.
There are stories with Superman's children that resonate with readers. With DC's digital distribution of a vast back catalog, newer fans have easy access to some of the great stories where Superman's legacy was passed directly from parent to child. Of course, with so many stories, it's hard to know where to start.
10 "End of Innocence" Was The Perfect End For Super Sons
Jon Kent and Damian Wayne had a fantastic run in Super Sons, earning loyalty from fans that nearly revolted when Jon was aged up to join the Legion of Super-Heroes. Before the title was canceled, it had a magnificent two-part story that had the duo face off against Kid Amazo, who had already started using the Justice League as batteries.
Having children save their parents is a trope of comics, and tropes are hard to pull off effectively, but Peter Tomasi and Carlo Barberi pull it off magnificently. Jon and Damien manage to save the Justice League and earn a little respect from the fathers.
9 Legion of Super-Heroes Showed Jon Kent His Legacy
Brian Michael Bendis revamped the Legion of Super-Heroes, who promptly invited Jon Kent to join. Through Jon Kent, the reader is introduced to the 31st century and how Jon Kent's legacy shaped the future. Not only did he create the United Planets, but he became the greatest hero ever to be called Superman.
The Legion needed to learn from Jon Kent, and Jon Kent needed to learn from the Legion. His adventures with the group taught him the responsibility of being a hero. It also introduced him to New Krypton and his descendant, Mon-El.
8 Future State Introduced The House of El
In Future State: The House of El, readers are shown the far future where the descendants of Superman rally around his banner. The Kryptonian patriarch has been trapped in another dimension by Circe, who gave birth to a son she raised to destroy the legacy of Superman. That son is Pyrrhos, the Red King.
As one of the surviving children of Superman, Pyrrhos wages war on the Universe, destroying the United Planets. In the tradition of their ancestor, the House of El rallies against the Red King's advance. It's through the efforts of Brainiac 4 that Superman comes back to give his son a chance at redemption in the dimension Circe sent him to.
7 Generations Gave A Tragic Example Of Sibling Rivalry
In the first Generations series, John Byrne broke up the story over 10-year increments to explore the effect time had on the Superman and Batman legacies. Superman's first child Joel was exposed to Gold Kryptonite in the womb, but his daughter, Kara, fights crime as Supergirl. It naturally causes friction in the family.
Joel's resentment and jealousy are used by Lex Luthor to kill Superman's entire family. He gives Joel Kent powers long enough for him to kill his sister before it tragically kills him as well. The loss of both of his children drives Superman to hunt down and kill Luthor, who is actually his old foe, the Ultra-Humanite.
6 Action Comics Annual 2021 shows the burden of Legacy
Pyrrhos and the House of El return in Action Comics Annual 2021. It's a story set before Future State, Pyrrhos attacks Sanctuary during the wedding of Alura Van-El and Khan of Warworld. It's set as a story from the oppressed past of Warworld.
It shows how the House of El overcame its differences to ascend to its legacy as protectors of the innocent. Pyrrhos sees his legacy as his right to rule and keeping the Kryptonian bloodline as pure as possible. Throughout, the House of El prevails because they stay together as a family and even learn to trust an old enemy of Superman.
5 House of Kent Showed A Family Working Together To Stop A Huge Threat
"House of Kent" was the last story in the Action Comics run by Brian Michael Bendis. It featured the culmination of all of the various subplots, including the return of Jon Kent from the 31st century with his new friend Brainiac 5 in tow. All of this coincides with Superman trying to solve the mystery of Connor Kent.
Invisible Mafia head Marisa Leone is revealed to be from a parallel Earth with a mission to expose Lois Lane and Superman from another Earth as well. The superman family of heroes even fights against two powerful villains, Red Cloud and a Parasite from a parallel Earth. It ends with Superman and his son getting in some bonding by helping people with their superpowers.
4 Son of Superman Had Superman's Son Understand Why His Father Was Never There As He Grew Up
Sometimes the point of a superhero story is not the action, the powers, or even the plot. Son of Superman shows how the arrogance of youth can be wrong but still rooted in the right motives. The Jon Kent of this story came into his powers and quickly found out that his absent father wasn't the villain he believed him to be.
Howard Chaykin, David Tischman, J.H. Williams III, and Mick Gray had Jon come to terms with the truth of his father's absence. He also resolved the guilt that he felt for villainizing the man that wasn't there. After they stop Luthor's takeover of the country, Jon Kent goes on to carry on the legacy of Superman.
3 Justice Society of America #22 Shows The Future For Kingdom Come
Superman from Earth-22, better known as the world of Kingdom Come, spent some time with the Justice Society of America. This time came to coincide with the threat posed by Gog. After defeating the giant old god, Superman had Starman send him back to his Earth, just moments after he had left.
At the end of the climatic issue, Alex Ross shows not only the end of Kingdom Come but the future where Superman sees his children grow up and rebuild Earth following the Great Disaster. It's nice to see the happiness in Clark's eyes as he holds his children. We see that same pride in the last panel as he watches the Legion of Super-Heroes fly by with two members of his extended family, Supergirl and Superboy.
2 Jon Kent Came To Realize The Legacy of Superman In Superman: Lois And Clark
Superman: Lois and Clark told the story of Superman, Lois, and their son Jonathan, continued from Convergence. They arrive on Prime Earth just as the New 52 begins, and live in seclusion, taking new identities. Jon ends up going to school not realizing his father is a superhero, saving people and stopping threats without being seen.
Jon's discovery of his father's true identity comes with the reveal of New 52 Superman's secret identity. The story doesn't just set the stage for this Superman to take the place of the New 52 hero. Jon's emerging powers set up everything that came for him to carry on the legacy.
1 "For the Man Who Has Everything" Had Superman Lose A Son He Never Really Had
Alan Moore has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest writers comic books have ever known. His journey through comics led him to write Superman Annual #11, "For The Man Who Has Everything." In this story, Moore explored a Krypton that never exploded.
Kal-El marries and has a son named Van-El in the vision created by the Black Lotus, attached to Superman by Mongul. The efforts of Wonder Woman, Batman, and Robin free Superman just as he realizes his life and family are a dream. He has a tearful goodbye with his son before waking up and helping defeat Mongul by trapping him with the Black Lotus.