Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1 Review: Jor-El Crash Lands and Brings a New Kind of Sadness to the Superman Origin

I just read Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1 that came out today (5/28/2026). It’s a really cool new angle on the Superman mythos with a shift in family dynamic, an earlier arrival of a ‘Superman’, and an added sci-fi angle. This is very solid first issue for a series with an interesting hook.

Superman Father of Tomorrow comic book cover A depicting Jor-El in a silver and black Superman like suit. Various images are behind him like the city, his crash landing, his adoptive brother and sister Jonathan/Martha Kent etc.
Superman: Father of Tomorrow Cover A

The Setup

The premise is that Jor-El crash lands instead of his son Kal-El. Because he’s an adult, he becomes more of an adopted brother, Jordan Kent, to Jonathan and Martha Kent instead of their son. There’s a real sadness to it — there was always sadness in the classic Superman origin story, but it hits different because fathers aren’t supposed to outlive their sons (and wife).

Jor-El's crash landing. He is stating his family and planet are dead.
Opening a futuristic crate to reveal a variation of the Superman Symbol and Martha Kent stating that its time for the world to meet the real him (Jor-El / Jordan Kent)
Jor-El as Superman holding something heavy to save a young Louis Lane.
A flash of green showing the skeletons of a mother and her child while Jor-El reached out from his spaceship. This is a flashback scene of Jor-El remebering everything that was lost.

The Cool (and Interesting) Parts

  • We get some tender moments between Jor-El and Jonathan as he wrestles with the memories of his lost family and planet. He’s an alien on this new world, trying to figure out his place.
  • He’s not supposed to interfere with the planet’s progress (old Kryptonian rules), but after some big key moments in the story he decides to scrap that and help anyway.
  • He brings advanced Kryptonian tech and science in addition to the usual powers — speed, strength, vision, heat vision, etc. It definitely gives the book more of a sci-fi feel.
  • We also get glimpses of young Lex Luthor and young Lois Lane in the opener. They are still kids.
  • He eventually reveals himself to people with an expected “I’m here to help and change things for the better.”
Superman Father of Tomorrow Cover D comic book cover. Superman is holding a dog and a tractor in the middle of a wheat field.
Superman: Father of Tomorrow Cover D
Jor-El in a silver and black Superman like suit saving the city.
Superman Father of Tomorrow comic book cover A depicting Jor-El in a silver and black Superman like suit. Various images are behind him like the city, his crash landing, his adoptive brother and sister Jonathan/Martha Kent etc.
Superman: Father of Tomorrow Cover A
A scene of the Kent farm at night with Jor-El / Jordan Kent flying in front of the moon over the barn while the silhouette of his adoptive brother, Jonathan Kent, walks out to check on him.
Jonathan Kent and Jordan Kent (Jor-El)

Final Verdict

This is a very solid story and a fantastic start. It’s a fresh take that still feels like Superman while adding new layers of sadness and responsibility. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this goes.

What did you think?

Did you pick up Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1 yet? What was your favorite part — the Jor-El/Kent family dynamic, the tech angle, the earlier appearance of a ‘Superman’, or something else? Tag me on X!

Originally posted as a thread on X — check out the original conversation here:

Read the original X thread →
Jonathan Kent sitting beside his adoptive brother Jor-El / Jordan Kent comforting him as he remembers the family and world he has lost.
Jonathan Kent and Jordan Kent (Jor-El)

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