DC Comics launches a new title under its Elseworlds imprint, Superman: Father of Tomorrow #1, with a premise that changes the Man of Steel's origin. In this alternate reality, it is not Kal-El who escapes Krypton, but his adult father Jor-El. Writer Kenny Porter avoids lengthy preambles and immerses the reader in a fraternal dynamic between Jor-El and the Kents, supported by solid artwork from Danny Earls, Nick Filardi, and Lucas Gattoni. A slow but promising debut. 🦸
The art of Earls and Filardi: expressiveness without excessive digital effects 🎨
The visual aspect of Father of Tomorrow #1 relies on a classic yet effective drawing style. Danny Earls builds characters with clear facial gestures, allowing their emotions to be understood without forced dialogue. Nick Filardi manages a color palette that does not saturate the panels, prioritizing contrasts between the coldness of Krypton and the warm tones of Kansas. Lucas Gattoni on inks ensures that every action line has weight, although the flight and planetary destruction scenes feel contained, as if the team is saving budget for future issues.
The perfect father nobody asked for (but that we deserve) 😅
Seeing Jor-El as a functional adult who gets along well with the Kents is refreshing, although one can't help but wonder if this guy knows how to change a diaper or if his super-intelligence will fail him with household chores. At least, by not having to deal with a Kryptonian's adolescence, the Kents save themselves years of door-slamming and arguments over curfew. The downside: if Jor-El is already a grumpy scientist on Krypton, just imagine when he discovers Earth's fast food.