Smallville is the most recent live-action Superman television series. It is a one-hour, prime-time drama, which chronicles the adventures of a young Clark Kent and his journey to becoming Superman.
The show pits Clark against numerous Meteor Freaks, who are teenagers mutated by Kryptonite into weak Supervillains. Additionally, Clark meets many of his future nemeses for the first time.
The show originally focused heavily on Clark's struggling romance with Lana Lang and friendship with Lex Luthor.
Two new main characters are introduced to the Superman mythos in the show: Chloe Sullivan, Clark's sidekick-of-sorts, and Lionel Luthor, Lex's rich and powerful father. Although Lex Luthor's father had previously appeared in the comics, this was the first time his character was fully fleshed out and given the name Lionel.
Later through the course of the series 10-year run, More prominent figures from The Superman mythology appeared such as Lois Lane, Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Supergirl, Connor Kent, etc... as well as famous Super-villains the likes of Doomsday, General Zod, Brainiac, Metallo, and Darkseid just to name a few . In addition various heroes from the DCU also appeared. The series wrapped up it's ten year run with the appearance of Superman saving the planet from the Apokolips.
Main Characters
- Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman
- Lois Lane
- Lex Luthor
- Chloe Sullivan
- Tess Mercer
- Oliver Queen/Green Arrow
Previous Characters
- The Kents
- Lana Lang
- Pete Ross
- Lionel Luthor
- Whitney Fordman
- Jason Teague
- Jimmy Olsen
- Kara Zor-El
- Doomsday/Davis Bloome
- Major Zod
Heroes/Allies
- Superboy
- Justice League
- The Martian Manhunter
- Impulse/Kid Flash
- Black Canary
- Aquaman
- Hawkman
- Doctor Fate
- Stargirl
- Cyborg
- Speedy (Mia Dearden)
- Zatanna
- Blue Beetle
- Booster Gold
- Batman (Season 11)
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Cosmic Boy
- Saturn Girl
- Lightning Lad
- Brainiac 5
- Batgirl/ Barbara Gordon (Season 11)
- Jay Garrick [The Flash] (Season 11)
- Wonder Woman (Season 11)
- Ms. Martian (Season 11)
- Jor-El & Lara
- Perry White
- Franklin W. Stern
- Ron Troupe
- Catherine Grant
- Emil Hamilton
- Dan Turpin
- Maggie Sawyer
- Sam Lane
- Lucy Lane
- Bibbo Bibbowski (Season 11)
- Angela Chen (Season 11)
Villains
- Meteor Freaks
- Lex Luthor
- Brainiac/Milton Fine
- General Zod
- Doomsday
- Bizarro
- Metallo
- Maxima
- Ultraman
- Toyman
- Parasite
- Mister Mxyzptlk
- Silver Banshee
- Intergang
- Bruno Mannheim
- Checkmate
- Amanda Waller
- The Suicide Squad
- Deathstroke
- Darkseid
- Granny Goodness
- Gordon Godfrey
- Desaad
- The Female Furies
- Otis Berg (Season 11)
- Cyborg Superman (Season 11)
- Prankster (Season 11)
- Mr. Freeze (Season 11)
- Brain and Monsieur Mallah (Season 11)
- Black Flash (Season 11)
- Kirt Niedrigh (Season 11)
- Felix Faust (Season 11)
- Hades (Season 11)
Seasons
- Season 1 - Introduces Clark Kent and his friends, his situation in Smallville. It focuses on his friendship with Lex Luthor and his romance with Lana Lang.
- Season 7 - Introduces Kara Zor-El, Clark's cousin from Krypton, as his new ally. This season also includes Bizarro in several episodes and the return of Brainiac.
- Season 8 - Lana and Lex have left, and it takes place more in Metropolis now. The news becomes aware of an anonymous hero known only as the Red-Blue Blur.
- Season 9 - Introduces a younger Zod, a clone from his time as a Major. The S-Shield featured more prominently in this season including on Clark's chest. Clark adopts a black outfit, calling himself simply The Blur.
- Season 10 - The final season of Smallville. This season features the return of Lex Luthor, as well as the appearance of Darkseid. Chloe Sullivan is no longer a regular in this season, appearing only as a recurring guest star. And the real Superman costume finally appears.
- Season 11 - A 2012 comic book continuation of the TV series.
Other Media
Prose
Upon Smallville's launch, a series of paperback novels was launched, along with a series of young adult novels. These stories chronicled some of Clark's adventures that took place during the first few seasons. Both series died out before too long. See Smallville Novels for information on both series.
Comic Books
Addtionally, there have been comic book adaptations of Smallville. During the first few seasons, a comic series simply titled 'Smallville' ran stories taking place concurrently with the show. It also had special features, like episode guides and interviews with the actors.
Additionally, one online comic story was made in conjunction with Stride Gum, entitled Smallville: Visions.
After the show's final season ended, Smallville Season 11, a new regular comic series, continued the story from the TV series.
Webisodes
Chloe Sullivan had her own live-action series of webisodes, called the Chloe Chronicles, which tied in with current episodes of Smallville. The series was later renamed the Vengeance Chronicles.
Additionally, there were a few different web cartoon series. One series was an animated comic book featuring the Justice League, Smallville Legends: Justice & Doom. There was a series based on the character of Green Arrow/Oliver Queen from the show, "Oliver Queen Chronicles". Kara Zor-El also got her own webseries, Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton, which expanded on her origins.
External links
Superman Television Series (V) | ||
Live-Action | Adventures of Superman • The Adventures of Superboy • The Adventures of Superpup • Superboy • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman • Smallville • Supergirl (Arrowverse appearances) • Krypton • Superman & Lois
Undeveloped series: Metropolis | |
Animated | 'Superman' Fleischer cartoons • Superman (1988 Animated Series) • Superman: The Animated Series • Krypto the Superdog • Legion of Super-Heroes Justice League series: Super Friends • Justice League Unlimited • Young Justice • Justice League Action | |
Webisodes and other shorts | The Adventures of Seinfeld & Superman • Chloe Chronicles • Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton • Super Best Friends Forever • Superman of Tokyo • World's Funnest |
Smallville Television Series | ||
Seasons | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 | |
Webisodes | Chloe Chronicles • Smallville Legends: Kara and the Chronicles of Krypton | |
Print Media | Novels • Comic Books (Smallville • Visions • Season 11 (Alien • Lantern) ) | |
Characters | Clark Kent • Lana Lang • Chloe Sullivan • Pete Ross • Whitney Fordman • Lex Luthor • Lionel Luthor • Martha and Jonathan Kent • Lois Lane • Kara Zor-El • Davis Bloome • Oliver Queen • Jason Teague |