Bisexual Superman gets social media’s knickers in a twist

DC Comics announced on Monday that Jon Kent, son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, will be the world’s first bisexual Superman and social media users are not having it.

In addition to taking over the mantle of Superman from his father, Jon will be following in his father’s footsteps by falling in love with a reporter.

The only difference, this time, is that the superhero’s love interest is a man named Jay.

AFP reports that Jon and budding journalist Jay Nakamura struck up a friendship in a story released in August. Their relationship will evolve in an upcoming comic set to be published next month, which will see the pair share a kiss ushering in the era of a bisexual Superman.

“Following a scene where Superman mentally and physically burns out from trying to save everyone that he can, Jay is there to care for the Man of Steel,” DC Comics said in a statement.

The bisexual Superman storyline will feature in Son of Kal-El issue five, due to hit shelves on 9 November, confirmed the publisher in a press release headlined “Jon Kent finds his identity“.

“Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics,” added Tom Taylor, who writes the series.

In the Son of Kal-El series, the new Superman has already been proving himself a different type of superhero to his father.

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He has been fighting a number of social justice issues, including tackling wildfires sparked by climate change and protesting the deportation of refugees.

Fans took to social media to share their thoughts about the announcement regarding the bisexual Superman.

“This news about Superman makes my queer heart glad, knowing the positive impact it will have on so many young folks today and in the future,” tweeted actor Anthony Rapp.

The coming out of America’s most famous superhero comes as more comic books embrace diversity.

In March, Marvel Comics announced its first gay Captain America and Aquaman introduced a black, gay superhero earlier this summer.

The latest Robin in the Batman comics came out as bisexual in August.

While the new Superman is not the first LGBTQ comic book character, he is arguably the most recognisable.

“Nowadays, we live in a less closeted age. That’s an absolute good,” said Ben Saunders, director of comics and cartoon studies at the University of Oregon.

“One consequence might be that the mainstream culture has caught on to what some people have known all along: superheroes have always been, at least potentially, a bit queer,” he told AFP.

DC Comics made the announcement about bisexual Superman on National Coming Out Day.

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Compiled by Kaunda Selisho. Additional reporting by AFP