Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Earth-Prime: Superman & Lois!
Earth-Prime: Superman & Lois just threw some major shade at Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. The 2013 film by Snyder is no stranger to controversy, with one particular scene earning the ire of many who felt like Henry Cavill's portrayal of the world's most iconic superhero didn't live up to Clark Kent's pure standard.
While the film has many fans, there are many others who feel Man of Steel got Superman completely wrong. One choice made to Superman's father, Jonathan Kent, has been a lightning rod for fan discussion, both positive and negative. In Man of Steel following a scene where young Clark Kent saves a busload of his classmates after it veers over a bridge, he has a heart-to-heart with his father. He's criticized for revealing his powers, risking being hunted by people who don't understand. Clark then asks his father "Well, what was I supposed to do? Just let them die?" Jonathan's response is a surprising one. He just sighs to himself then tells Clark "Maybe." Though some argue that Zack Snyder's Justice League fixes Pa Kent, the scene is still a major sour point for others.
Now, Earth-Prime: Superman & Lois by Jai Jamison, Adam Mallinger, and Andrew N. Wong just included a tongue-in-cheek subversion of that scene. The second story in the three-part anthology is a tribute to Superman's father titled "Father's Day" as Clark looks back on how Jonathan shaped the hero he became. In the first panels, a young Clark uses his super-speed to push a kid out of the way of an oncoming school bus, saving their life. He looks up to Jonathan and tells him "I'm sorry Dad. I know that was--" Jonathan interrupts though and says "What were you supposed to do, Clark? Just let him get hit?" This is a direct reference to the line in Man of Steel and is an interesting juxtaposition of the two takes on Jonathan Kent. Both have similar mindsets as expressed by Superman's narration throughout the story, but the small actions made by the comic version show a Jonathan Kent that fans may recognize from the past.
The film version of Jonathan Kent is more reserved and wants to be sure Clark is safe, even if it means Clark letting his classmates die. However, the comic shows a Jonathan Kent that knows that sometimes things need to be done to save the lives of the innocent. To him, it's okay if Clark uses his powers a little if it means one life can be saved. He realizes that sometimes, rules are meant to be broken for the greater good, so he doesn't just approve of Clark's choice to save the kid--he's proud of him too. The short story ends with a pretty heartwarming moment. Clark has clearly taken to heart what Jonathan taught him as he takes pride in not the achievements he's made on the headlines as Superman, but rather the fact that his first solo byline was published in the Daily Planet. He wants to show that he's more than just Superman, just like his father taught him, and it ends with him visiting Jonathan's grave with a heartwarming "thank you."
Regardless of the comic's cute reference, there are still some who feel Man of Steel's Pa Kent scene totally works. Still, that version of Jonathan is very different than the one in the comics and the one in Earth-Prime. The shade thrown at Zack Snyder's version of Superman in Man of Steel is amusing in its own way, but it opens the door to show why Jonathan is a treasured character to fans.
