DC Is Finally Done Ignoring the Superman Family's Most Underrated Heroes

Warning: Spoilers for Action Comics #1073Superman is known for being a one-man fighting machine in DC lore, but that doesn't mean he always fights alone. He has a family of heroes beside him who all boast impressive powers, though they don't get nearly as much recognition as Superman himself. Now, Superboy and the Super-Man of China are leading their own adventure in Superman's absence, demonstrating the untapped potential of the Superman family.

Action Comics #1073 by Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer, Matt Herms, and Dave Sharpe continues the "Phantoms" storyline, in which Superman ventures into the Phantom Zone to uncover the truth about dark occurrences within it. While he's away, he leaves the Earth in the capable hands of his extended superhero family. This includes Kong Kenan and Conner Kent, who end up begrudgingly joining forces to deal with trouble that comes their way.

Without Superman around, his lesser known family members have to solve problems themselves, resulting in the hilarious team-up of Super-Man and Superboy. This unexpected duo proves that DC needs to focus on Superman's family more in stories, since they deserve the same praise he gets.

Superman's Most Underrated Allies Finally Get Their Own Adventure

Super-Man and Superboy Team Up After the Fortress of Solitude Is Robbed

Superman's journey sends him to the depths of the Phantom Zone, whereas Super-Man and Superboy's journey finds them on Earth during a baseball match. Immediately, Kenan and Conner butt heads over whether Kenan has cheated at their game when he claims victory. Then, they discover that Superman's Fortress of Solitude has been robbed, and things take a surprising turn. Before they can track down the culprits, they get kidnapped and imprisoned by aliens from the Royal Museum of Space. Shenanigans ensue as Kenan holds Conner back from lashing out at their captors, with this comedic team-up giving the two of them a rightful spotlight.

As members of Superman's hero family, Super-Man and Superboy have already been acquainted with each other, but this story unites them in a whole new way. It's always enjoyable to see two contrasting personalities get pitted against each other, and Conner's endless frustration with Kenan - and vice versa - makes for a fun dynamic. They aren't a duo that normally gets a story all to themselves, and they show that they're the perfect pair as they bicker like siblings. Kenan and Conner are getting the push they've needed as characters, and their potential being explored has been a long time coming.

Who Are Superboy and Super-Man? Superman's Family Members, Explained

Kon-El and Kong Kenan Are Both Non-Kryptonians with Kryptonian Powers

Although these two Superman family heroes share similar powers to Clark, neither of them are natural Kryptonians like he is. Conner Kent, or Kon-El, is a clone with the DNA of Superman and Lex Luthor, meaning he has standard Kryptonian superpowers among other unusual abilities. These unique powers include his tactile telekinesis, which allows him to control anything he touches with his mind. First appearing in a story from 1993's The Adventures of Superman #500 by Karl Kesel, Tom Grummett, Doug Hazlewood, Glenn Whitmore, and Albert De Guzman, Conner has since taken on the mantle of Superboy to fight alongside Superman and his allies.

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Superboy has been a part of the Superman family since the 1990s, while the Super-Man of China is a more recent addition to the group. Kong Kenan made his DC debut in 2016's New Super-Man #1 by Gene Luen Yang, Viktor Bogdanovic, Richard Friend, Hi-Fi, and Dave Sharpe. Originally a human from Shanghai, Kenan obtains powers after being infused with the life force of the deceased New 52 Superman. Like Superboy, Super-Man possesses both standard Kryptonian abilities and his own unique magical powers. This is the key distinction between him and his American counterpart, as he replaces Superman's weakness to magic with a proficiency in it.

The Superman Family Deserves a Bigger Role in DC Lore

Super-Man and Superboy's Adventure Should Be the First of Many

Now that Conner and Kenan have been given some much-needed attention in DC lore thanks to their current outing, it's about time the rest of the family got that treatment as well. For instance, Starchild and Red Son - the adopted children of Clark Kent and Lois Lane - are less recognizable to the wider audience and could benefit greatly from a story that centers on them. Superman has awesome heroes fighting by his side, and they all deserve a chance to shine. Thanks to Superboy and Super-Man, there's hope yet that the Superman family is no longer being ignored by DC Comics.

Action Comics #1073 is available now from DC Comics.