DC Comics has canceled the politically-charged Superman: Son of Kal-El series after just 18 issues.
The failed series followed Jon Kent, 17, the bisexual son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
The comic had been the subject of controversy as writer Tom Taylor frequently inserted far-left politics into the comics, including having Kent protest climate change, wear face masks during COVID-19 mandates, and “rescue” illegal migrants.
In the fifth issue, Jon Kent began a romantic relationship with a male friend.
“Look, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no, it’s another company going woke and broke,” Sky News host Rowan Dean said of the short run.
Last October, the New York Times ran a glowing piece about the new “woke” Superman.
“The idea of replacing Clark Kent with another straight white savior felt like a missed opportunity,” Taylor told the newspaper, adding that 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 hyper-politicized comic led to Gabe Eltaeb, a former Superman: Son of Kal-El colorist, to quit DC Comics in protest.
1 year ago, I stood on principle and left @DCComics for their 🇺🇸 hating book by SJW narcissist Tom Taylor.
I win.@EthanVanSciver @JonMalin @shanedavisart @dwamsart @EricDJuly @RAZ0RFIST @EnjetiArt @DDayCobra @Drunk3po @Nerdrotics @YellowFlashGuy @ThatUmbrella @thatstarwarsgrl pic.twitter.com/GJ6CtzjxEN
— Gabe جبريل 🇺🇸”El Maga Mas Grande”🇺🇸Eltaeb (@GabeEltaeb) October 8, 2022
“1 year ago, I stood on principle and left @DCComics for their U.S. hating book by SJW narcissist Tom Taylor. I win,” Eltaeb tweeted after the cancellation was announced at New York Comic Con.
Bounding Into Comics reports, “While the ending of the series is a bellwether for how poorly sales appear to be going for the Superman: Son of Kal-El book, DC Comics, unfortunately, has not learned their lesson in forcing politics into the Superman line.
“As announced this past weekend, DC Comics also revealed that Tom Taylor will be returning in Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent — which is expected to start in January of 2023,” the report continued. “The publisher remains committed to pushing their LGBTQ version of Superman in spite of poor sales that would’ve suggested otherwise. With the announcement of a reboot, it appears as if DC Comics is attempting to use speculators to force a sales bump with the all-new #1 issue.”
The new comic is being billed as a six-part mini-series, prompting many to speculate that it may be an effort to give Taylor one last shot.
The final issue is scheduled to be released in December.
