Warning: Spoilers for Shazam #20The controversial aging of Superman son, Jon Kent, has been a source of controversy for DC over the past five years, with fans clamoring for him to return to his childhood. Now, those prayers have been answered as Superman undergoes a lore-changing transformation. Jon Kent’s age is officially being reversed – but will it last?
As part of DC Comics’ February solicitations, a synopsis for Shazam! #20 by Sina Grace and Dan McDaid has just been released, and this issue will feature an unexpected crossover with none other than Jon Kent’s Superman.
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SHAZAM! #20 (2025) |
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Release date: |
February 5, 2025 |
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Writer: |
Sina Graça |
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Artist: |
Dan McDaid |
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Cover artist: |
Gleb Melnikov |
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Variant covers: |
Inhyuk Lee, Mark Spears |
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A special guest writer arrives to tell a very special one-of-a-kind story! Jonathan Kent, Superman’s son, is in Philadelphia when something funny happens at the Rock of Eternity. Jon is caught by lightning and turns…back into a little boy?! While Jon gets a second chance at childhood, Billy better figure out how to get his adult superson back before the world misses him! |
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According to the synopsis, a malfunction in the Captain’s powers will cause Jon to return to being a child. Superman’s most criticized mistake is being reversed now that Jon Kent is about to grow old and become a kid againand anyone who misses seeing the Super Sons in action can look forward to this unexpected return of Superboy.
Superman’s Son Is Officially Becoming a Kid Again in DC Lore
Jon Kent’s Fan-Favorite ‘Super Sons’ Design Will Finally Return
Jon Kent made his first appearance in DC history during the Convergence event as the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. After learning that his father is Superman and that he has his own superpowers, Jon took up the mantle of Superboy and became a hero in his own right. His most prominent legacy from this era is his iconic partnership with Damian Wayne as the next generation’s Greatest in the World, forming a duo called the Super Sons. However, Jon’s tenure as Superboy was abruptly cut short in 2019 Superman #8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Ivan Reis, when he returned from space as a teenager.
Jon Kent’s increased age promoted him from Superboy to Superman, much to the consternation of readers longing for the return of the Super Sons. While Jon being a teenager opens up opportunities for exciting new stories this wasn’t possible for him as a child, like his romance with Jay Nakamura, it’s understandable why fans were put off by this sudden change in characterization. Now, with Jon becoming a child again and therefore closer to Damian’s age, there is hope that the Super Sons can reunite and restore the old status quo.
Will DC Aging Jon Kent’s Superman, back as a child, be permanent?
Superman’s transformation into Superboy probably won’t last long
While it’s notable that Jon Kent is returning to his childhood state, the fact that this change in Superman’s son is occurring in a single issue rather than a longer story is a clear indication that it won’t last. Ultimately, the fleeting nature of this aging may be for the best; Jon Kent has grown up from his youth, even taking on the role of Superman in his father’s absence. Permanently aging him would diminish what he achieved as a teenager. Jon Kent Superman he won’t remain a kid forever, but it’ll still be fun to see this Super Son return for as long as it lasts.
Shazam! #20 is available February 5, 2025 from DC Comics.