Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1 is written by Kenny Porter and published by DC COMICS. Artwork by Danny Earls. Colours by Nick Filardi. Letters by Lucas Gattoni. Main cover art (left) is by Danny Earls and Nick Filardi
Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
In a corner of far-flung space, a world explodes. A lone rocket escapes the destruction and races through space, ultimately landing on a small farm in small-town Kansas. A kindly couple steps with trepidation toward the alien craft as the door opens. Out steps a man named Jor-El, the sole survivor of the planet Krypton! As Jor-El fits into his new home, he realises that he can help the world, not just with his newfound powers but with his intellect as well. Witness how a Man of Steel and Science saves the world!
Review
Father of Tomorrow is a compelling concept that had me itching to read this six-part Elsewords series. What if Jor-El escaped Krypton and landed on Earth instead of his son, Kal-El? That question drives Kenny Porter’s Superman: Father of Tomorrow. Porter knows Superman well, having written Superman: Man of Tomorrow and the mini-series Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow.
Some of DC’s best stories live in the Elseworlds, so my hopes for Father of Tomorrow soared. Would Jor-El make the same heroic choices as Kal? Would he follow a completely different path? Well, if you want a story that radically reworks Superman lore, issue one will disappoint you.
Right now, DC’s Absolute titles deliver some of the best stories in comics. They balance established lore with fresh ideas. With that success, anything Elsewords has a high bar to clear, and Superman: Father of Tomorrow never reaches it because it plays everything too safe.
There’s too much familiarity. A Kryptonian, the last of his kind, crash-lands in Smallville. He is found and raised by the Kents, who adopt him, but eventually goes on to become Earth’s greatest saviour.
OK. But who is Jor-El?
We get teasing comments about why Jor-El, now called Jordan, refuses to share Kryptonian technology with Earth, but the reasoning feels weak. Krypton did not want to interfere with a planet’s natural evolution. Fine. But Krypton is gone, so who cares? Jor-El seems content to stay on the Kent farm and let his race’s advancements die with him. Well, that is until the story gives Jor-El the same tragic motivator that pushes Clark toward becoming Superman.
That is the core problem with the book: Jor-El’s journey barely differs from Clark’s. The story simply makes Jor-El Superman, and, well, eh. As we revisit Clark’s traumas and meet younger versions of his friends and enemies, I kept wondering what felt unique here.
Unfortunately, this first issue never fleshes out Jor-El. Instead, it leans too heavily on cutesy callbacks to Kal-El’s origins and scenes from the Christopher Reeve films. The story could have moved away from the Kents, the Lanes, the Luthors, and the Daily Planet. It could have carved out something distinct for Jor-El’s Superman.
I wish the first issue had taken more risks. Porter’s concept begged for something new, but the story delivers too many “I understood that reference” moments. In the era of the Absolute titles, audiences will accept bold and daring takes on established characters and lore.
Unfortunately, the story is not the only weak aspect. The art is also inconsistent. Some panels look exceptional, packed with tight action and fine detail. Others look rushed and unfinished, and several feature bizarre anatomy. Readers can forgive occasional dips in quality, especially in long-running series. However, seeing this in the premiere issue of a six-part mini-series feels disappointing.
There is still time for the mini-series to find its own identity in the remaining five issues, but out of the gate, I do not feel this will excite Supefans. Overall, the first issue of Father of Tomorrow might place Jor-El in Superman’s role, but I want to invest in Jor-El’s story and rely less on what readers already know about Kal-El.
Verdict
Maybe an Elseworlds story that is better left elsewhere. It’s a compelling idea, yes, but the rocky start and uneven art of this mini-series leave me uncertain it will offer anything new, as it swaps out Kal-El for Jor-El in the role of Superman.
⭐⭐.5
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