The Kents

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The Kents

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The Kents
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Limited series
Genre	Western
Publication date	August 1997 - July 1998
No. of issues	12
Main character(s)	Nathaniel Kent Jebediah Kent
Creative team
Written by	John Ostrander
Artist(s)	Tom Mandrake
Penciller(s)	Timothy Truman
Inker(s)	Michael Bair
Letterer(s)	Bill Oakley
Colorist(s)	Digital Chameleon Carla Feeny
Editor(s)	Peter Tomasi
Collected editions
The Kents	ISBN 1-56389-513-7

The Kents is the title of a 12-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics, from August 1997 to July 1998. The story concerns a troubled generation of ancestors to Jonathan "Pa" Kent (Superman's adoptive father). Set in the mid to late 19th century, the two main characters are brothers Nathaniel and Jebediah. The series was written by John Ostrander. As with many limited series, it was later collected as a trade paperback.

Publication history

[edit]

The series was written by John Ostrander with pencils/inks for the first eight issues by Timothy Truman/Michael Bair. In issue #9 Tom Mandrake took over full art duties for the final four issues.

Plot

[edit]

The story begins with Clark Kent's adoptive father Jonathan writing to his adopted son (Superman) about the memoirs he has discovered on the family farm. They reveal that the Kent family in the 19th century were noted abolitionists who assisted the personnel of the Underground Railroad, like Harriet Tubman. The family moved to Kansas Territory during its infamous violent conflict over its status concerning slavery, Bleeding Kansas, to promote the cause of creating a free state by running a newspaper for the region.

However, the family patriarch was murdered by border ruffians who wanted to silence him. Furthermore, the sons, Nathaniel and Jeb, argued and had a parting of the ways so deep about slavery that they found themselves on opposing sides of the American Civil War, with Jeb fighting with the notorious Confederate guerrilla unit led by William Quantrill and Nathaniel fighting for the North and marrying a half-Native American woman who gave him a special traditional spiritual symbol that was apparently a forerunner and inspiration for Superman's chest symbol.

After the war, Nathaniel became a sheriff in Smallville, while Jeb became the leader of a group of bandits. Eventually, Jeb discovered he had a son out of wedlock years ago, and allowed him to join his gang, but his son turned out to be a murderous sociopath and Jeb approached his estranged brother to arrange a trap to stop his son.

In springing the trap, the son mortally wounded his father before being killed himself and Jeb has just enough time to fully reconcile with Nate before dying. Nate remained in Smallville and there the Kents have since stayed for generations, including Jonathan and Martha Kent, Superman's adoptive parents.

In other works

[edit]

John Ostrander includes a subtle reference to The Kents in the 2002 Marvel/MAX limited series Apache Skies. Set in 1886, the first issue of Apache Skies depicts Johnny Bart—the Rawhide Kid—arriving by train in the town of Sagoro, Texas, seeking to avenge the death of the Apache Kid. When approached by the local sheriff, Bart uses the alias "Jeb Kent".

Collected editions

[edit]

The series has been collected into one trade paperback:

The Kents (272 pages, 2000, ISBN 1-56389-513-7)

References

[edit]

The Kents at the Grand Comics Database
The Kents at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)

v t e Superman publications and storylines
History
Current series	Absolute Superman Action Comics Power Girl Batman/Superman: World's Finest Superman
Former series	Adventure Comics DC Comics Presents Superboy Superboy and the Ravers Supergirl Superman (vol. 2) Superman (vol. 3) Superman/Batman Superman Confidential The Superman Family Superman: The Man of Steel Superman: The Man of Tomorrow Superman: Son of Kal-El Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen Superman/Wonder Woman Trinity World's Finest Comics Worlds' Finest
Limited series and one-shots	Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent (2023) Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity (2003) Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame (2000) The Kents (1997–1998) Lex Luthor: Man of Steel (2005) The Man of Steel (1986) The Phantom Zone (1982) Birthright (2003–2004) Superman and Wonder Woman: The Hidden Killer (1993) Superman for All Seasons (1998) Superman/Shazam: First Thunder (2006) Superman Unchained (2013–2014) Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (1978) Superman: Last Stand of New Krypton (2010) Superman: Secret Origin (2009–2010) Superman: World of New Krypton (2009–2010) Superman: The Wedding Album (1996) Superman: War of the Supermen (2010) Superman: Lois and Clark (2015–2016) World of Krypton (1979)
Outside continuity	All-Star Superman (2005–2008) "The K-Metal from Krypton" (unpublished) "The Sandman Saga" (1971) Son of Superman (1999) Superboy: The Comic Book (1989–1992) Superboy's Legion (2001) Superman Adventures (1996–2002) Superman: At Earth's End (1995) Superman: Earth One (Vol 1. 2010, Vol 2. 2012, Vol. 3 2015) Superman: The Last Family of Krypton (2010) Superman: The Feral Man of Steel (1994) Superman: Last Son of Earth (2000) Superman: Last Stand on Krypton (2003) Superman: Peace on Earth (1998) Kingdom Come (1996) The Superman Monster (1999) Superman: Red Son (2003) Superman: Secret Identity (2004) Superman: Speeding Bullets (1993) Superman: A Tale of Five Cities (1990) Superman: The Dark Side (1998) Superman: True Brit (2004) Superman: War of the Worlds (1998) Superman & Batman: Generations (1999, 2001 and 2004) Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? (1986) Whom Gods Destroy (1996) Dark Knights of Steel (2021–2023)
Intercompany crossovers	Superman/Aliens (1995 and 2002) Superman & Bugs Bunny (2000) Superman and Batman versus Aliens and Predator (2007) Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (1976) Superman and Spider-Man (1981) Superman/Fantastic Four: The Infinite Destruction (1999) Superman vs. Predator (2000) Superman/Tarzan: Sons of the Jungle (2001–2002) Superman vs. The Terminator: Death to the Future (1999–2000)
Storylines	"For the Man Who Has Everything" (1985) "The Greatest Hero of Them All" (1987) "The Death of Superman" (1992–1993) "Superman/Doomsday: Hunter/Prey" (1994) "Worlds Collide" (1994) "The Trial of Superman!" (1995–1996) "Superman Red/Superman Blue" (original: 1963, adaptation: 1998) "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?" (2001) "For Tomorrow" (2004–2005) "Up, Up and Away!" (2006) "Last Son" (2006–2008) "Kryptonite" (2007–2008) "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" (2007–2008) "The Third Kryptonian" (2007–2008) "The Coming of Atlas" (2008) "Brainiac" (2008) "New Krypton" (2008–2009) "World of New Krypton" (2009–2010) "World Without Superman" (2009) "War of the Supermen" (2010) "Grounded" (2010–2011) "Reign of Doomsday" (2011) "H'El on Earth" (2012–2013) "Doomed" (2014) "Reborn" (2017) "Super Sons of Tomorrow" (2017–2018) "Warworld Saga" (2021–2022) "House of Brainiac" (2024)
Other	Superman (comic strip) Superman: The Complete Comic Strips 1939-1966 Action Comics #1 Action Comics #1000

v t e DC Comics Western characters
Heroes	Bat Lash Cinnamon El Diablo Jonah Hex Nighthawk Pow Wow Smith Scalphunter Stuff the Chinatown Kid Super-Chief Tomahawk Johnny Thunder (John Tane) Trigger Twins Vigilante
Villains	El Papagayo Pistolera Terra-Man Quentin Turnbull
Publications	All-American Comics All-Star Western High Moon Jonah Hex: No Way Back Justice Riders The Kents Loveless Weird Western Tales Western Comics
Real-life characters	Frontier Fighters (featuring Buffalo Bill, Davy Crockett and Kit Carson) The Legends of Daniel Boone
In other media	The Vigilante Jonah Hex DC Showcase: Jonah Hex

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