Ma & Pa Kent: The Faces Behind Super Values

Kevin and Christian dig into how Martha and Jonathan Kent basically built Superman’s moral GPS, arguing the Kents are the real force behind who Clark becomes. They romp through movie and comic examples — from the 1978 film Smallville moments to All-Star and Red Son flips — showing how different origins still bow to the Kents’ influence. They joke about being tired and sick but get surprisingly deep about how those farm‑style values beat out flashy Kryptonian backstories. They even tie the Kents to real‑life grandparents, cooking, and the whole nature vs. nurture debate in superhero form. They close by asking listeners to shout back with hot takes, and they thank supporters while keeping the banter light and nerdy.

Kevin kicks things off a little groggy and Christian sniffles through it, but they power through a warm, homespun dive into why Jonathan and Martha Kent are the quiet engine behind Superman. He teases out how the Kents aren’t just background props—these two plant the moral compass that turns an alien child into a neighborly legend. They riff on how continuity swings (one run the Kents live, another they don’t) yet the core traits—honesty, work ethic, and stubborn Midwestern kindness—keep resurfacing. He drops affectionate nods to the 1978 Superman movie’s funeral scene and its music, and they both agree those Smallville moments matter more than some critics claim.

Christian plays tour guide through comics and alternate universes, pointing to All-Star Superman, Absolute Superman, Red Son and various Elseworlds as thought experiments: swap the Kents’ values and you get very different super-people (and sometimes monsters like Brightburn). They unpack nature vs. nurture in comic form with a wink—remove Ma and Pa and you might accidentally invent a supervillain. He even notes the Kents’ Methodism as a subtle origin of Clark’s conscience, which writers often tiptoe around. Between nostalgia, personal anecdotes about grandparents who “could cook like Martha,” and recommendations for readers, they keep it light, witty and affectionate.

Takeaways:

• Kevin notes that Ma and Pa Kent's Midwestern values shape Clark's moral compass far more than his Kryptonian heritage.
• Christian observes that across movies, comics, and TV shows the Kents consistently embody warmth, moral guidance, and groundedness.
• They agree that removing the Kents or changing their ideology often creates darker, morally compromised super-figures like in Brightburn and Irredeemable.
• Kevin gushes about Glenn Ford's Jonathan in the 1978 film, calling that farewell scene absolutely crucial and emotionally devastating.
• Christian highlights comic moments like All-Star Superman issue six and Action Comics Annual 2022 to showcase parental influence on Clark.
• They talk about Red Son, The Nail, and Absolute Universe takes to show how different cultures or mistakes alter Superman's path dramatically.
• Both hosts personally connect the Kents to their grandparents, praising cooking, blunt care, and the everyday heroism of steady family values.

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Check out all of our "The Faces Behind Us" series:

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Listen to our other DC episodes:

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