The 2025 Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award

It’s the last day of the year, so we present to you, live from the Multiversal Nexus Ballroom, the winner of the 2025 Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award.

While I have been awarding the Darth Vader Parenthood Award for Outstandingly Horrible Fictional Parents for 45 years now (see the 2025 winner here), the Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award is a fairly new prize that I only introduced in 2020 as a companion piece to the Darth Vader Parenthood Award. The 2020 winner may be found here, the 2021 winner here, the 2022 winner here, the 2023 winner here and the 2024 winner here.

As for why I felt the need to introduce a companion award, depictions of parenthood in popular culture have been undergoing a paradigm shift in the past few years with more positive portrayals of supportive and loving parents and fewer utterly terrible parents. Personally, I believe that this shift is a very good thing, because the reason that I started the Darth Vader Parenthood Award in the first place is because I was annoyed by all the terrible parents in pop culture. For while most real world parents may not be perfect, at least most of thmy do their best. Maybe, the conditions that gave rise to the Darth Vader Parenthood Award will eventually cease to exist and we can permanently retire the award.

The bar is open for the adults, the play area and ball pit are open for the kids, and the kitchen is serving up delicacies from around Multiverse as well as the greatest selection of pastries and sweets found anywhere in any universe, so without further ado, let’s get started.

Warning: Spoilers for lots of things behind the cut!

Before we get to the 2025 winner of the Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award, let’s take a look at some loving parents who did not quite make it.

The 2023 runner-up Joel Miller reappeared this year in season 2 of The Last of Us and he’s still trying to be a good Dad to a now somewhat older Ellie. However, Joel is brutally murdered in episode 2 of season 2 and only appears in flashbacks thereafter. And talking of The Last of Us, Ellie’s girlfriend Dina finds herself pregnant in season 2 and Ellie enthusiastically embraces the parent role. But since Dina’s baby is not yet born, we will have to wait until a future season to see how Ellie and Dina do as parents.

In the front row, Ellie sheds a tear for the late Joel, while Dina, sporting a little baby bump, holds her hand.

For more returning favourites, the 2023 winner Master Splinter returned in the Turtles of Grayskull comic mini-series by Tim Seeley and Freddie William II and once again proved to be a great Dad to his four boys.

And since Turtles of Grayskull is a crossover between Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Masters of the Universe, we also get some lovely moments between the 2021 winner Duncan a.k.a. Man-at-Arms and his various children both biological, adopted, built and found Adam, Teela as well as Roboto. I wasn’t that interested in Turtles of Grayskull, mostly because I’m not a huge Turtles fan, but the comic surprised me with several touching moments about fathers and sons and the conflict facing parents who have to send their children into danger to fight the good fight.

In the auditorium, Duncan and Splinter are quietly exchanging parenting tips and laments, while Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mickey try to chat up Teela.

Duncan got to be a great Dad once again in the Masters of the Universe: The Sword of Flaws comic mini-series by the same creative team (review of issue 1 here – issue 2 and 3 are coming soon). However, Duncan already got his pie, though he didn’t actually get to eat it, and there were other wonderful parents who also deserve recognition.

2025 also saw the return of Duncan’s mentor Dekker after more than twenty years in the Andra one-shot comic by Tiffany Smith and Adriana Melo. Dekker was introduced in an episode of the 2002 Masters of the Universe cartoon as Duncan’s mentor and predecessor as Man-at-Arms. Furthermore, it was revealed that Dekker had also been a mentor to a young Prince Randor and actually used to call hims Randy. Considering that Randor’s own father Miro is less than ideal and we have no idea if Duncan ever had a father at all, Dekker did an invaluable service to Eternia by being a father figure to two young men who needed one.

However, the Andra one-shot comic revealed that Dekker was not only a father figure for Duncan and Randor, but that he also had a family of his own, namely an unnamed daughter and son-in-law as well as a granddaughter, who is none other than Andra, Teela’s best friend and tech genius turned Eternia’s latest Man-at-Arms. The comic sees Andra returning to her former home on Orkas Island, where she reconnects with her grandfather Dekker, whom she thought dead, and also has to deal the villain Count Marzo who murdered Andra’s parents.

Hereby, the comic is very much about Dekker’s failure as a parent and grandparent. Dekker’s position as Eternia’s Man-at-Arms often takes him away from home and so he was not there to protect his daughter and son-in-law, when they were killed by Count Marzo. And since Andra, who was only five or six years at this point, was the key that kept Marzo separated from the magical amulet that is the source of his power, Dekker sent the little girl away for her own safety, not really considering that his granddaughter was forced to grow up as an orphan on the streets of Eternia. But even though Dekker failed his daughter and granddaughter, he nonetheless tried his best and that deserves recognition. Besides, he is a great and criminally underused character and it was good to see him again.

Dekker sits in the audience in his dress uniform between Duncan and Andra, who are both also in their dress uniforms. Dekker’s partner Maeve is there as well, wearing a beautiful red gown and a seashell necklace with a glowing red jewel in the center. When is name is called out, Andra hugs Dekker, Duncan pats him on the back and Maeve plants a kiss on his cheek.

For more icons of 1980s or rather 1980s inspired pop culture, Stranger Things returned for the final time Towards the end of the year and once again gave us loving and supportive parent figures in addition to geeky kids fighting monsters. There is Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), the single mother of Will Byers, whose disappearance in the first season set off the story, and who later enters into a relationship with Sheriff Jim Hopper (David Harbour) who adopts Eleven, a young psychokinetic girl who escaped from a secret laboratory. Joyce Byers and Jim Hopper are the most notable parents in Stranger Things, but I want to give a special shout-out to Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono), mother of Nancy, Mike and Holly, who seems to be oblivious to the supernatural going-ons in Hawkins for most of the time and who also develops an entirely inappropriate attraction to Billy Hargrove, who is about the same age as her daughter Nancy. Besides, Karen Wheeler does appear to have an alcohol problem. However, she really comes through in the final season, by taking on a Demogorgon with a broken wine bottle to protect her daughter Holly.

As for supportive parent figures played by David Harbour, Alexei Shostakov a.k.a. Red Guardian, father figure to Natasha Romanova a.k.a. Black Widow and Yelena Belova, also made his return in 2025 in Thunderbolts*, a Marvel movie which was really good, but sadloy overlooked.

For more Marvel, there was also Fantastic Four: First Steps this year. Now Fantastic Four has always been a story about family – there is a reason they are called Marvel‘s first family – but First Steps also shows us Reed and Sue Richards becoming the parents of Franklin – while Galactus is threatening to devour Earth. Worse, Galactus decides that he really, really wants Baby Franklin and his superpowers and even offers to spare Earth. Of course, the Fantastic Four refuse this offer and now have to protect a planet of hostile citizens from Galactus, while dealing with a super-baby.

Reed and Sue Richards would certainly have been worthy winners of the 2025 Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award. And indeed, they were the front runners for quite some time. However, we don’t actually see all that much Reed and Sue being parents rather than fighting Galactus. Besides, we also don’t want to confuse Grogu by giving the award to yet another father figure played by Pedro Pascal who just happens to look like Grogu’s Dad.

All members of the Fantastic Four are in the audience tonight. Reed and Johnny are wearing formal suits with black tie, Ben is wearing pants and a black tie, but no shirt. Shalla Bal is sitting next Johnny and still doesn’t seem to have grasped the point of clothing, since she isn’t wearing any. Sue is wearing a stunning blue cocktail dress hemmed with ostich feathers (imagine this gown in blue) and she’s holding Franklin in her arms.

Grogu, sitting on the lap of Din Djarin, notices Marvel‘s first family, focusses on Reed and suddenly gets very exciting, exclaiming “Da-da-da” over and over again. Din Djarin nods an apology to the Fantastic Four and frowns at Reed.

“Excuse me, but do I know you? Cause you look familiar?”

Reed searches his memory, while Grogu gets ever more excited. “Did we maybe meet at MIT? Or the Future Foundation?”

“I have no idea what those organisations are,” Din replies, “But I know I’ve seen you before.”

On his lap, Grogu is clapping his little hands and exclaiming “Da-da-da-da” over and over again. Franklin joins in and also exclaims “Da-da-da” and while the two of them are da-da-da-ing together, we also suspect that they may have a mental conversation using their considerable abilities. At any rate, they both telekinetically help themselves to some nibbles from the tray of a passing waiter at the same time.

However, our 2025 winner comes not from the Marvel, but from the DC Universe. Once again, this is a character who should probably have won a long time ago, except that there was no Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award until 2020. And no, it’s not the Kents, though they would certainly be eligible via Superman.

Instead, I’m very pleased to announce that the winner of the 2025 Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award is…

Drumroll

Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman

Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger all the way back in 1939 and portrayed by a lengthy list of actors over the years, including Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Kevin Conroy, Christian Bale, Robert Pattison, Ben Affleck, Lewis Wilson, Robert Lowery, David Mazouz, Diedrich Baader, Luke Wilson and others, Bruce Wayne has been not just crime fighter but also a family man since 1940.

Tragically orphaned when his parents were murdered in front of his eyes, Bruce was raised by Wayne family’s butler Alfred Pennyworth and devoted his life and vast fortune to fighting crime. And since Bruce was an orphan himself, he found himself adopting other orphans starting with Dick Grayson a.k.a. Robin a.k.a. Nightwing in 1940, followed by Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Terry McGinnis, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain.

Bruce also became a biological father, first to Helena Wayne a.k.a. Huntress, his daughter by Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman in 1977 (the character has since been retconned out of existence) and then in 2006 to Damian Wayne, his son by Talia Al Ghul. But whether his children are biological or adopted, Bruce always does his best to be a loving and supportive father.

But though Bruce Wayne has been a most deserving winner for decades now, why did I decide to honour this year in particular? Well, that’s because of Bat-Fam, an delightful cartoon, which features Bruce trying to juggle crime-fighting as well as parenting Damian, who wants to be a crime-fighter just like his Dad, and Claire Selton, who used to be the supervillainess Volcano and has since been de-aged into a surly teenager. Helping out – or adding to the mess – are Alfred Pennyworth, Alfred’s niece Alicia a.k.a. Bright, Kirk Langstrom a.k.a Man-Bat, who hangs out at Wayne Manor – quite literally since he’s a bat – and Damian’s villainous grandfather  R’as Al Ghul, who is currently dead and haunting Wayne Manor.

Bat-Fam is an utter delight, though it seems to have flown under the radar, and is also unique for focussing as much on Bruce as a Dad as on Bruce as a crime fighter. Therefore, I am pleased to present this long overdue Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award as well as one of Martha Kent’s famous apple pies to Bruce Wayne.

Applause

The auditorium explodes in cheers and applause, while Bruce receives hugs from Alfred and Alicia, all the various Robins and Batgirls, Selina Kyle who is sitting next to Bruce in a stunning black evening gown, and of course Damian who hugs his Dad so hard as if he never wants to let go off him ever again. Even Claire, who is beyond such childishness, is moved to give Bruce a quick hug. From across the aisle, Clark Kent gives his friend a thumbs up.

I won this cool Batman figure, who inexplicably plays the guitar, at Church of Eternia last year, so he gets to accept the pie.

Bruce Wayne ascends to the stage, clad in a finely tailored black suit and black tie. He accepts the apple pie from a beaming Martha Kent, steps up to the microphone and holds the following speech:

Good evening. I am Bruce Wayne, CEO of Wayne Enterprises, and…

“He’s also Batman,” Damian, who is dressed in a mini-version of his father’s tailored suit, blurts out, while bouncing up and down in his seat.

Bruce sighs.

Thank you, Damian. Now everybody knows my secret identity, just in case someone here didn’t know already…

“It’s okay, Bruce,” Clark Kent calls out from the auditorium, “All the bad guys and girls go to the other ceremony.” Selina giggles.

Bruce sighs once more.

Anyway, as I said, I am Bruce Wayne, CEO of Wayne Enterprises, and – as my son Damian just felt the need to tell the world – I am also the crime fighter known Batman.

What you may not know about me is that I am an orphan. My parents were murdered by a street criminal when I was only ten years old. That night, I swore two things. That I would fight crime wherever I find it and that I would never have children, lest they suffer the same pain I suffered…

In the audience, Damian gasps, while Alfred raises an eyebrow.

Well, we all know how that worked out. I found Dick, who’d lost his parents to violence just like I had and took him in, because someone had to.

“This is the way,” Din Djarin exclaims approvingly.

And then I found Jason – and Jason, I’m so sorry that I let you get killed…

“It’s all right,” Jason Todd replies, “I got better.”

And then I found Tim and Stephanie and Cassie. And apparently, I will one day find Terry and will one day have a daughter named Helena…

Bruce flashes a knowing smile at Selina, while Damian frowns, not quite sure whether he really wants a baby sister or not.

And then, one day, I learned that I already was a father, father to Damian, the result of an – ahem – unwise encounter with Talia Al Ghul, who by the way swore that she was on the pill, though I suspect she may have been lying. I also learned that Damian, that my son, was being raised by my old enemy R’as Al Ghul to serve as his successor and vessel for his evil spirit.

And even though I never planned to father a child, I would not leave any child to such a fate, let alone my son. So I took Damian home to raise him as best I can and protect him from all evil, particularly that of his grandfather.

“I’m right here, Detective, and I can hear you,” the Ghost of R’as Al Ghul exclaims, “And know that I will be back and that I will reclaim my birthright and my grandson and heir.”

Damian stick out his tongue at his grandfather.

Bruce turns to the Ghost of R’as Al Ghul.

I’m warning you, R’as, leave my son alone. You may have engineered his birth, but Damian is my son and you will never have him.

The Ghost of R’as Al Ghul scowls and fades, while Bruce turns to Claire, who is dressed in a black mini-skirt, fishnet stocking and a black t-shirt with a flame print.

As for you, Claire, you were another child in need of a home that I found…

“I’m not a child,” Claire grumbles, “I’m already thirteen.”

…and so you became the latest member of our strange family, for I will never abandon a child in need.

“For the last time, I am not a child,” Claire grumbles.

“This is the way,” Din Djarin declares.

I may not have planned to have this family, to have all of you in my life, but I also know that my life would be so much poorer without you. So thank you for this honour and thank you for giving this lonely orphan boy a family again.

Once more, the auditorium erupts in applause. Damian won’t hold back anymore and rushes onto the stage to hug his Dad, followed by the other Robins and Batgirls, Claire, Selina, Alicia, Alfred and Clark Kent.

“Pie!” Damian exclaims and helps himself to a slice, followed by Tim, Jason, Dick, Stephanie, Cassie and even Claire, who still pretends to be above everything.

Bruce sighs and exchanges a glance with Alfred. Martha Kent waddles over, dressed in her Sunday Best. “Oh, it’s so lovely to see you again, Mr. Wayne. And my, how little Damian has grown. I still remember when he was only baby and I showed you how to change his diapers.”

“Well, considering how much he eats, it’s a wonder he hasn’t grown to giant size yet,” Bruce replies and glances at his family, who are in the process of utterly demolishing the pie.

“Ah yes, young people are always so hungry,” Martha Kent says and produces a second pie, “That’s why I baked a spare.”

“You’re the best, Mom,” Clarke says and kisses his mother on the cheek. He helps himself to a slice of pie and hands one to Bruce.

“So, Bruce, when are you and Selina going to tie the knot and all those kids finally get a mother?”

“When are you and Lois going to tie the knot, Clarke, so you will no longer be the most eligible bachelor in Metropolis?”

***

Since everybody is happily chatting and eating pie, it’s time to conclude our live broadcast of the 2025 Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award. Who’ll win next year? You’ll find out in this space.

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of these characters, I just gave them an award and wrote acceptance speeches for them. All characters and properties are copyright and trademark their respective owners.