#he will continue to be dumb even after the retcon that he has lex genes

[jesncin]

You’ve talked about Eradicator and (especially) Conner, but I don’t think you’ve said anything about Steel yet? He and his daughter are some of my personal favorites in the superfam, so I was curious. Especially since he and Conner were close enough for the latter to try to rescue him from Apokolips.

I love the Steels! I want to do more research on them before doing a take, so that's why I haven't gotten around to it yet.

Something thematically I really like about Superboy + Steel's dynamic is how they were initially contrasted against each other in Reign of Supermen.

Reign of Supermen is all about how after Superman dies, a bunch of Superguys show up to take his title. Each of them have something missing that don't make them a complete replacement. Conner is presented to have Superman's "biology" but none of his character. Steel has no superhuman powers, but he has Superman's spirit, and that's what makes him the most worthy to carry the mantle (something I wish the animated movie adaptation incorporated more hrrrggghhh, justice for John Henry Irons!!).

If I was to do a take on their dynamic, this would all change! My take on Conner rides on the fact that while he is technically Clark's son, he doesn't look like Clark. So everything he does gets profiled and adultif-ied through racism. Conner would be enamored to see how an average person who looks like him chooses to take on that mantle. Not to mention, unlike Lex, John Henry Irons is a self-made man-of-tomorrow who uses his powers for good! Conner being, not just thematically of mixed heritage, but visibly mixed race as well opens him up to a much deeper connection with the rest of Superfam. So it's a change I'm really invested in!