The Kents #12

The Kents was a twelve-issue limited series published by DC Comics in 1997, serving as a historical Western drama centered on the ancestors of Clark Kent. Set in the late 19th century, the narrative explores the turbulent lives of the Kent family in the Kansas territory, weaving their personal history into the backdrop of the American Civil War and its aftermath. The project was intended to provide a grounded, gritty origin context for the family legacy, moving away from traditional superhero tropes to focus on themes of survival, morality, and frontier life.

Written by John Ostrander and illustrated by Timothy Truman, the series was designed with a deliberate focus on period-accurate atmosphere and character-driven storytelling. Truman’s rugged artistic style complemented the script’s exploration of the moral ambiguities inherent in the settling of the West. While the series received moderate critical appreciation for its ambition and departure from standard genre conventions, it remains a niche entry in the DC library, remembered primarily by enthusiasts of Western-themed comics and deep-cut Superman lore.