Editing Clark Kent (Smallville)

{{Short description|Fictional character from Smallville}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox character
| name = park bent
| series = [[Smallville]]
| image = SmallvilleCK.jpg
| first_major = [[Smallville]]
| first_minor = [[Pilot (Smallville)|Pilot]]
| first_date = October 16, 2001
| last_major = [[Batwoman (TV series)|Batwoman]]
| last_minor = [[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 2]]
| last_date = December 9, 2019
| caption = Clark's costume in season ten reflects his outfit in the first eight seasons, but with a leather jacket and an additional embossed Superman shield.
| adapted_by = [[Alfred Gough]] <br /> [[Miles Millar]]
| portrayer = [[Tom Welling]]<br>Malkolm Alburquenque (young)<br>Jackson Warris (young)<br>
[[Brett Dier]] (alternate timeline)
| alias = Kal-El (birth name) Clark Joseph Kent (adoptive name)<br />"The Red-Blue Blur"<br />"The Blur"<br />Superman
| species = [[Kryptonian]]
| lbl21 = Affiliations
| data21 = [[Justice League (Smallville)|Justice League]]<br />''[[Daily Planet]]''
| lbl22 = Abilities
| data22 = Invulnerability, superhuman strength, speed, sight, and hearing, super breath, heat vision, X-ray vision, and flight
| based_on = {{based on|[[Superman]]|[[Jerry Siegel]]|[[Joe Shuster]]}}
}}

'''Clark Joseph Kent''' is a fictional character and the main protagonist on [[The WB]]/[[The CW|CW]] television series ''[[Smallville]]''. The character of Clark Kent, first created for [[comic book]]s by [[Jerry Siegel]] and [[Joe Shuster]] in 1938 as the civilian persona of [[DC Comics]]' [[Superman]], was adapted to television in 2001 by [[Alfred Gough]] and [[Miles Millar]]. This is the fourth time the character has been adapted to a [[live-action]] television series. Clark Kent has been played continually by [[Tom Welling]], with various other actors portraying Clark as a child. The character has also appeared in various literature based on the ''Smallville'' series, all of which are completely independent of the television episodes. As of 2011, ''Smallville''{{'}}s Clark Kent has appeared in eighteen [[young adult novels]].

In the series, Clark Kent attempts to live the life of a normal human being, and struggles with keeping the secret of his alien heritage from his friends. He has an [[on-again, off-again relationship]] with childhood friend [[Lana Lang (Smallville)|Lana Lang]] through the first seven seasons, the trials of which are based on his lack of honesty about his secret, which eventually gives way to the traditional relationship with ''[[Daily Planet]]'' co-worker [[Lois Lane (Smallville)|Lois Lane]]. In contrast to previous incarnations of the character, this Clark Kent starts out best friends with [[Lex Luthor (Smallville)|Lex Luthor]], whom he meets after saving the latter's life. The pair's friendship eventually deteriorates into hatred for one another. In ''Smallville'', Clark's powers appear over time, as he is not aware of all of them at the start of the show; for instance, his heat vision and super breath do not develop until [[Smallville (season 2)|season two]] and [[Smallville (season 6)|six]], respectively.

When developing ''Smallville''{{'s}} version of Clark Kent, the producers decided to strip him down to the "bare essence" of Superman;<ref name="genesis" /> he is also fallible, which allows the audience to see his humanity, but that he is also "... good to the core".<ref name="Core" /> In the series, he has been seen by critics, and intentionally portrayed by the filmmakers, as a symbolic representation of [[Jesus Christ]]. Tom Welling has been nominated for multiple [[Teen Choice Awards|Teen Choice]] and [[Saturn Award]]s for his portrayal of Clark Kent since the show's [[Smallville (season 1)|first season]].

== Role in ''Smallville'' ==
Clark Kent first appears in the pilot episode of ''Smallville'' as a teen with superhuman abilities that he uses to help others. Clark is adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent ([[John Schneider (screen actor)|John Schneider]] and [[Annette O'Toole]]) as a young child, when he crash lands on Earth on the day of the Smallville meteor shower in 1989. Twelve years later, trying to find his place in life after being told he is an alien by his adoptive father, Clark saves the life of [[Lex Luthor (Smallville)|Lex Luthor]] ([[Michael Rosenbaum]]), the son of billionaire [[Lionel Luthor]] ([[John Glover (actor)|John Glover]]), and the pair become quick friends.<ref name="Pilot ep">{{Cite episode|title=Pilot|series=Smallville|credits=[[Alfred Gough]], [[Miles Millar]] (writers) & [[David Nutter]] (director)|network=The WB|airdate=October 16, 2001|season=1|number=1|minutes=42}}</ref> During season one, Clark struggles with the burden of keeping his powers a secret from those close to him. In particular, he is afraid to open up to [[Lana Lang (Smallville)|Lana Lang]] ([[Kristin Kreuk]]) for fear that she would not accept him if she learned of his extraterrestrial origins.<ref name="Tom">{{Cite book|last=Simpson|first=Paul|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 1|year=2004|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|pages=8–17|isbn=1-84023-795-3}}</ref>

In the season two episode "Rosetta", Clark learns of his [[Kryptonian]] heritage, including his native language, his birth name (Kal-El), and his birth father's [[Jor-El]] ([[Terence Stamp]]) plan for him to rule the world.<ref name="Rosetta ep">{{Cite episode|title=Rosetta|series=Smallville|credits=Alfred Gough, Miles Millar (writers) & [[James Marshall (director)|James Marshall]] (director)|network=The WB|airdate=February 25, 2003|season=2|number=17|minutes=42}}</ref> Fearful that he will not be able to control his own destiny, Clark runs away to Metropolis with a class ring made of red [[kryptonite]] that [[Chloe Sullivan]] ([[Allison Mack]]), his best friend, owned. In the season two finale, he leaves Lana behind, with whom he had started to develop a romantic relationship.<ref name="Exodus ep">{{Cite episode|title=Exodus|series=Smallville|credits=Alfred Gough, Miles Millar (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=May 20, 2003|season=2|number=23|minutes=42}}</ref> In the season three premiere, three months later, Clark is living a criminal life in Metropolis, but he's eventually brought home by Jonathan, who has agreed to allow Jor-El to take Clark at an undetermined time in the future.<ref name="Phoenix ep">{{Cite episode|title=Phoenix|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=October 3, 2003|season=3|number=2|minutes=42}}</ref> In the season three finale, a girl calling herself Kara arrives at the Kent farm and claims to be from Krypton. After Kara predicts that Clark's friends are destined to leave or betray him, Clark decides to leave Smallville for good. When Jonathan attempts to intervene, Jor-El threatens to kill him. To save his adoptive father's life, Clark agrees to go through with his decision to leave.<ref name="Covenant ep">{{Cite episode|title=Covenant|series=Smallville|credits=Miles Millar, Alfred Gough (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=May 19, 2004|season=3|number=22|minutes=42}}</ref>

In the season four premiere, Clark returns to Smallville. He has been "reprogrammed" by Jor-El to seek out the three stones of knowledge so he may fulfill his destiny. He meets [[Lois Lane (Smallville)|Lois Lane]] ([[Erica Durance]]), who is investigating the supposed death of her cousin, and Clark's best friend, Chloe. Clark, with help from his mother, regains control over his mind and consciously refuses to look for the stones.<ref name="Crusade ep">{{Cite episode|title=Crusade|series=Smallville|credits=Miles Millar, Alfred Gough (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=September 22, 2004|season=4|number=1|minutes=42}}</ref> In the season four finale, a "great evil" is awakened in space after Clark defies Jor-El's instructions and fails to obtain the three stones of knowledge. With a new meteor shower hitting Smallville, Clark finds the remaining stones and is transported to the [[Arctic]],<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Commencement|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=May 18, 2005|season=4|number=22}}</ref> where the three stones create the [[Fortress of Solitude]].<ref name="Arrival ep">{{Cite episode|title=Arrival|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer(writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=September 29, 2005|season=5|number=1|minutes=42}}</ref>

In the season five premiere, Clark interrupts his training to return to Smallville, but when he fails to return to the Fortress before the Sun sets, he is stripped of his powers. In the episode "Hidden", Clark begins an honest relationship with Lana, but is killed trying to save the town from a resident who hopes to kill all of the "... meteor freaks". Jor-El resurrects Clark, but warns him that someone he loves will eventually have to take his place.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Hidden|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & Whitney Ransick (director)|network=The WB|airdate=October 13, 2005|season=5|number=3}}</ref> Clark worries about who will be sacrificed in return for him being saved. In the episode "Reckoning", Lana is killed. Unwilling to accept this, Clark turns back time to save her. As a result, it is Clark's adoptive father that becomes the sacrifice when he suffers a fatal heart attack.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Reckoning|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=January 26, 2006|season=5|number=12}}</ref> In the season five finale, Clark battles [[Characters of Smallville#Brainiac|Brainiac]] ([[James Marsters]]), a Kryptonian artificial intelligence in the form of a man. Clark fights to stop Brainiac from releasing the Kryptonian criminal [[General Zod|Zod]] from the [[Phantom Zone]]. Clark fails, and becomes himself imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, while Zod escapes and sets out to conquer Earth.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Vessel|series=Smallville|credits=Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=May 11, 2006|season=5|number=22}}</ref>

In the season six premiere, Clark escapes the Phantom Zone — inadvertently releasing several of the prisoners in the process — and returns to Smallville, where he fights and defeats Zod.<ref name="Zod ep">{{Cite episode|title=Zod|series=Smallville|credits=Steven S. DeKnight (writer) & James Marshall (director)|network=The CW|airdate=September 28, 2006|season=6|number=1|minutes=42}}</ref> The other Phantom Zone escapees become Clark's primary focus in season six.<ref name="Static ep">{{Cite episode|title=Static|series=Smallville|credits=Shintaro Shimosawa, James Morris (writers) & James Conway (director)|network=The CW|airdate=November 16, 2006|season=6|number=8|minutes=42}}</ref> He must also deal with Lana's romantic relationship with Lex, which culminates in their engagement in the season six episode "Promise".<ref name="Promise ep">{{Cite episode|title=Promise|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writer) & Rick Rosenthal (director)|network=The WB|airdate=March 15, 2007|season=6|number=16|minutes=42}}</ref> The season six finale reveals that the last of the Phantom Zone criminals is really a genetic experiment created by Kryptonian scientists. The escapee attacks Clark, cloning his DNA, and becomes Clark's [[doppelgänger]].<ref name="Phantom ep">{{Cite episode|title=Phantom|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The CW|airdate=May 17, 2007|season=6|number=22|minutes=42}}</ref> In the season seven premiere, Clark, together with [[Characters of Smallville#John Jones|John Jones]] ([[Phil Morris (actor)|Phil Morris]]), defeats his doppelgänger.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Bizarro|series=Smallville|credits=Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders, (writers) & [[Michael Rohl]] (director)|network=[[The CW Television Network|The CW]]|airdate=September 27, 2007|season=7|number=1}}</ref> As the season continues, Clark discovers that a secret society known as Veritas was aware of his landing in Smallville during the first meteor shower and, moreover, possess a device that supposedly allows them to control him.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Veritas|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peters (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The CW|airdate=February 13, 2008|season=7|number=15}}</ref> In the season seven finale, Clark is confronted by Lex at the Fortress of Solitude. Lex has discovered Clark's secret and possesses the Veritas device, which he uses, resulting in the Fortress collapsing on him and Clark.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Arctic|series=Smallville|credits=Don Whitehead, Holly Henderson (writers) & Todd Slavkin (director)|network=The CW|airdate=May 15, 2008|season=7|number=20}}</ref>

In the [[Smallville (season 8)|season eight]] premiere, it is revealed that the Veritas device does not allow others to control Clark, but rather strips him of his powers. Wandering the globe with Russian gangsters, Clark is eventually found and rescued by [[Green Arrow|Oliver Queen]] ([[Justin Hartley]]) and John Jones, with the latter restoring Clark's powers.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Odyssey|series=Smallville|credits= Kelly Souders, & Brian Peterson (writers) & Kevin Fair (director)|network=The CW|airdate=September 18, 2008|season=8|number=1}}</ref> During season eight, Clark uses his new job at the ''Daily Planet'' to access advance information, which he uses to stop crime around the city.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Prey|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & Michael Rohl (director)|network=The CW|airdate=October 23, 2008|season=8|number=6}}</ref> In subsequent episodes, Clark adopts the name "Red-Blue Blur" as his superhero moniker.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Identity|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Mairzee Almas (director)|network=The CW|airdate=October 30, 2008|season=8|number=7}}</ref> Toward the end of the season, Clark wrestles with the idea of having to kill Davis Bloome ([[Sam Witwer]]), a new friend, after discovering that Davis is actually [[Doomsday (comics)|Doomsday]], a genetically engineered creature created by General Zod to kill Clark and destroy Earth.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Bloodline|series=Smallville|credits=Caroline Dries (writer) & Michael Rohl (director)|network=The CW|airdate=November 6, 2008|season=8|number=8}}</ref> In the season eight finale, Clark finds a way to separate Davis' personality from that of Doomsday, and buries Doomsday a mile underground. When Davis subsequently kills [[Jimmy Olsen]] ([[Aaron Ashmore]]), Clark decides that his human-learned emotions have caused him the most trouble, as it was his compassion for Davis that led to Jimmy's death. He vows that "Clark Kent is dead".<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Doomsday|series=Smallville|credits=Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The CW|airdate=May 14, 2009|season=8|number=22}}</ref>

The start of [[Smallville (season 9)|season nine]] reveals that Clark has begun training with Jor-El, which is shown by his wearing [[Superman logo|his family crest]] on his chest when in his superhero persona.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Savior|series=Smallville|credits=Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders (writers) & Kevin Fair (director)|network=The CW|airdate=September 25, 2009|season=9|number=1}}</ref> After realizing there are other Kryptonians on Earth, lacking special powers and led by Zod ([[Callum Blue]]), Clark decides to help them adjust to living as humans.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Kandor|series=Smallville|credits=Al Septien, Turi Meyer(writers) & Jeannot Szwarc (director)|network=The CW|airdate=November 6, 2009|season=9|number=7}}</ref> When Zod is shot and killed, Clark uses his own blood to bring him back to life, resulting in Zod regaining his Kryptonian powers.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Upgrade|series=Smallville|credits=Drew Landis, Julia Swift (writers) & Michael Rohl (director)|network=The CW|airdate=April 16, 2010|season=9|number=17}}</ref> Zod enables the other Kryptonians to regain their powers as well, and unites them to destroy the world in order to turn it into a new Krypton.<ref name="Salvation ep">{{Cite episode|title=Salvation|series=Smallville|credits=Al Septien, Turi Meyer (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The CW|airdate=May 14, 2010|season=9|number=21}}</ref> This season, Lois and Clark begin a romantic relationship, while Lois also assists "The Blur" in his heroic endeavors.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Idol|series=Smallville|credits=Anne Cofell Saunders (writer) & Glen Winter (director)|network=The CW|airdate=November 13, 2009|season=9|number=8}}</ref> Clark kisses Lois while he is "the Blur" in the season nine finale and unknowingly reveals to her the truth. Afterward, he convinces the Kryptonians to leave Earth for a new, uninhabited planet. Clark then sacrifices his own life to send Zod through a portal, far away from Earth.<ref name="Salvation ep" />

[[Smallville (season 10)|Season ten]] begins with Clark stuck in the afterlife, where Jor-El informs him that a great darkness is coming to Earth. Clark is unknowingly resurrected by Lois, who is now aware that he is "the Blur". Jor-El also informs Clark that he is not ready to be Earth's true savior, as there are inner demons that Clark must overcome first.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Lazarus|series=Smallville|credits=Don Whitehead, Holly Henderson (writers) & Kevin Fair (director)|network=The CW|airdate=September 24, 2010|season=10|number=1}}</ref> In the episode "Homecoming", Clark is visited by [[Brainiac 5#Smallville|Brainiac 5]], who shows Clark how his past has shaped his present, and will one day shape his future; including a vision of Clark's future self when he has fully embraced his destiny.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Homecoming|series=Smallville|credits=Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders (writers) & Jeannot Szwarc (director)|network=The CW|airdate=October 15, 2010|season=10|number=4}}</ref> In the episode "Isis", Clark reveals his secret to Lois only to find out that she already knew he was "the Blur",<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Isis|series=Smallville|credits=Genevieve Sparling (writer) & James Marshall (director)|network=The CW|airdate=October 22, 2010|season=10|number=5}}</ref> which is followed in a later episode by Clark proposing to Lois.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Icarus|series=Smallville|credits=Genevieve Sparling (writer) & Mairzee Almas (director)|network=The CW|airdate=December 10, 2010|season=10|number=11}}</ref> Clark realizes that in order to be the hero the world needs, he will have to step out of the shadows and into the light. As a result, Clark makes the decision to turn "Clark Kent" into a real disguise — opting to wear eyeglasses and alter his mannerisms to be more shy and reserved — so that the Blur does not have to hide his face to the world.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Masquerade|series=Smallville|credits=Bryan Q. Miller (writer) & Tim Scanlan (director)|network=The CW|airdate=February 18, 2011|season=10|number=14}}</ref> By the series finale, the darkness, which is revealed to be [[Darkseid]], arrives on Earth to enslave all of humanity. Clark realizes that his entire life has been one big trial by Jor-El; accepting his true destiny, the Blur saves Earth from Darkseid's coming [[Apokolips]]. The series ends by moving seven years into the future, where Clark and Lois are finally getting married, and Clark has embraced his new identity as "[[Superman]]".<ref name="finale">{{Cite episode|title=Finale|series=Smallville|credits=Al Septien, Turi Meyer (Part 1), Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders (Part 2) (writers), Kevin Fair (Part 1), Greg Beeman (Part 2) (directors)|network=The CW|airdate=May 13, 2011|season=10|number=21/22}}</ref>

{{Quote box
|align=left
|style=background:#c6dbf7;width:30em;max-width:40%;
|quote="With 'Red Clark' he's ''completely'' aware of the consequences of his actions at the time, but he doesn't care! He doesn't care what happens to you, and he certainly doesn't care what happens to himself, because he probably realizes that nothing can happen to him. It's always fun to be that way, even in real life, because we're not allowed to be that way all too often".
|source=&nbsp;— Tom Welling on the effect of red kryptonite on Clark.<ref name="TW2">{{Cite book|author=Simpson, Paul|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 2|publisher=Titan Books|date=March 1, 2005|pages=116–119|isbn=1-84023-947-6}}</ref>
}}
Throughout the series, Clark gains and adjusts to new abilities, including [[X-ray vision]] in season one,<ref name="X-ray ep">{{Cite episode|title=X-Ray|series=Smallville|credits=[[Mark Verheiden]] (writer) & [[James Frawley]] (director)|network=The WB|airdate=November 6, 2001|season=1|number=4|minutes=42}}</ref> heat vision in season two,<ref name="Heat ep">{{Cite episode|title=Heat|series=Smallville|credits=Mark Verheiden (writer) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=October 1, 2002|season=2|number=2|minutes=42}}</ref> and super hearing in season three.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Whisper|series=Smallville|credits=Ken Horton (writer) & Tom Wright (director)|network=The WB|airdate=January 21, 2004|season=3|number=10}}</ref> Clark unofficially flew in the season four premiere, when he was reprogrammed as "Kal-El" by his biological father, but upon regaining his memory he forgot how to use the ability.<ref name="Crusade ep" /> In season six, Clark gained his super breath.<ref name="Sneeze ep">{{Cite episode|title=Sneeze|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Paul Shapiro (director)|network=The WB|airdate=October 6, 2006|season=6|number=2}}</ref> By the series finale, Clark learns to fly.<ref name="finale" /> Clark also discovers new vulnerabilities as the series progresses, including "green meteor rocks" or (kryptonite), which he learns can weaken and potentially kill him.<ref name="Pilot ep" /> Various other forms of kryptonite appeared as the show continued, each with a different effect. Red kryptonite removed Clark's inhibitions.<ref name="Red ep">{{Cite episode|title=Red|series=Smallville|credits=[[Jeph Loeb]] (writer) & Jeff Woolnough (director)|network=The WB|airdate=October 15, 2002|season=2|number=4|minutes=42}}</ref> Black kryptonite separated Clark's Kryptonian personality from his human self, creating two distinct physical forms,<ref name="Crusade ep" /> and blue kryptonite stripped him of all supernatural abilities as long as it was in contact with him.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Blue|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Glen Winter (director)|network=The WB|airdate=November 15, 2007|season=7|number=8}}</ref> Subsequent seasons also revealed that Clark could be vulnerable to alien weapons and magic.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=Wither|series=Smallville|credits=Tracy Bellamo (writer) & Whitney Ransick (director)|network=The WB|airdate=October 12, 2006|season=6|number=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode|title=Spell|series=Smallville|credits=Steven S. DeKnight (writer) & Jeannot Szwarc (director)|network=The WB|airdate=November 10, 2004|season=4|number=8}}</ref>

== Pornrayal ==
In October 2000, producers [[Alfred Gough]] and [[Miles Millar]] began their search for the three lead roles, and had casting directors in ten different cities looking at actors.<ref name="metcom" /> After months of scouting, Tom Welling was cast as Clark Kent.<ref name="Tom" /> [[Zachary Levi]] initially auditioned to play Clark Kent, but was asked instead to audition for [[Lex Luthor (Smallville)|Lex Luthor]], a role Levi did not get either.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lee Freitag|url=https://www.cbr.com/smallville-zachary-levi-almost-lex-luthor/|title=Smallville: Zachary Levi Recalls How Close He Came to Playing Lex Luthor|website=Comic Book Resources|date=April 4, 2023|access-date=April 4, 2023}}</ref> [[Jensen Ackles]], the runner up for the role of Clark Kent, would go on to play [[Characters of Smallville#Jason Teague|Jason Teague]] as a [[Smallville (season 4)|season four]] regular.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Byrne, Craig|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 4|publisher=Titan Books|date=September 4, 2007|page=124|isbn=978-1-84023-957-7}}</ref> Besides Welling, four other actors have portrayed Clark as young boy/teenager: Malkolm Alburquenque portrayed a three-year-old Clark in the pilot, and season two episode "Lineage";<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/episode/20946/Smallville/overview|title=Pilot overview|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 31, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/episode/29774/Smallville/overview|title=Lineage overview|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 31, 2008}}</ref> Brandon Fonseca played young Clark in the season five episode "Vengeance";<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/episode/54231/Smallville/overview|title=Vengeance overview|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 31, 2008}}</ref> and in the season eight episode "Abyss", Jackson Warris would fill the role.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/episode/82644/Smallville/overview|title=Abyss overview|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 31, 2008}}</ref> In addition, in an alternate reality in the seventh season episode "Apocalypse", a teenaged Clark Kent was portrayed by [[Brett Dier]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tv.nytimes.com/episode/74859/Smallville/overview|title=Apocalypse overview|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 31, 2008}}</ref>

The [[Television pilot|pilot]] director, [[David Nutter]], was looking through pictures of actors and stumbled on Tom Welling's image. When he asked about Welling, the casting director said Welling's manager did not want him to do the role because it could hurt his feature film career. After a conversation with Welling's manager, Nutter got Welling to read the script for the pilot, which convinced him to do the part.<ref name="pilcom">{{Cite video|title="Pilot" commentary by Al Gough, Miles Millar and David Nutter|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Television]]|year=2002}}</ref> Welling's initial fears were quelled after reading the script, when he realized that the show was not about Clark "... being a super hero ...," but more about the character attempting to live a normal life as a teenager.<ref name="TW1" />

When Tom Welling auditioned for the role he was not sure how to prepare. While waiting for his turn, he realized that the character is one thing above all else: "... a high school kid ...." To Welling, simply acting like he was a normal teenager, instead of like a super hero, was the perfect way to embody the character. Welling realized that by doing that, the special effects and other production elements would fill in the holes and perfect the character on screen.<ref name="TW1" /> For one of his auditions, he read the graveyard scene with Kristin Kreuk (the first actor to be cast for the show), and the network thought they had "... great chemistry".<ref name="genesis">Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion) pp.8–17</ref>
{{Quote box
|style=background:#c6dbf7;width:25em;max-width:40%;
|quote="Honestly, I don't really have too much time to worry about the future. It's almost a blessing in disguise, because in a sense Clark doesn't know what's going to happen [either]".
|source=&nbsp;— Tom Welling on his lack of Superman knowledge.<ref name="TW5">{{Cite book|author=Byrne, Craig|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 5|publisher=Titan Books|date=November 2007|pages=112–115|isbn=978-1-84576-542-2}}</ref>
}}
Welling was generally unfamiliar with the Superman mythology, so much so that when an episode of ''[[Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'' aired on television, which featured Clark learning about his Kryptonian heritage, Welling immediately turned the show off. According to Welling, he wanted to learn about Clark's heritage simultaneously to Clark learning about it on ''Smallville''. Welling believed that it was important for him to learn with the character, to help him be the Clark Kent envisioned by Al Gough and Miles Millar.<ref name="TW1">Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion), pp.112-115</ref> The actor believed his lack of knowledge of the Superman mythology helped his performance, because Gough and Millar set up the series so that the previous mythology was not as important.<ref name="Tom" /> Welling also enjoyed that he was in the same predicament as Clark with neither knowing the future of the character, beyond the fact that he will be Superman. When Welling landed the role of Clark Kent he was sent various Superman-related gifts, including books and toys, which Welling planned to leave unopened until the show was over.<ref name="TW1" /> Welling was adamant from the beginning that he had not signed on to play Superman, but rather Clark Kent on his journey to becoming Superman, and as such had no intention of wearing the costume.<ref name="TW4" /> When asked about the decision to not wear the suit in the series finale, Welling commented: "We jumped onto this idea that at the end of the show, the idea is that Clark becomes Superman and he's out there, and we know he's out there, but we can't go with him, but that we know and we feel good that he's out there doing good. That was what we strove for, and I think we hit it. I liked the ending of the series, because it's like, 'Yes, he did it!' I hope the audience didn't feel like we didn't show them something that they needed to see. I felt like we gave them the jumping off point for their imagination as to what could happen".<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/08/08/smallville-tom-welling-finale-superman-suit/ | title = 'Smallville' Star Tom Welling Breaks Silence on Series Finale Suit-Up | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>

While filming, Welling was allowed input into how his character responded in certain situations, including moving the scene between rooms, or requesting the director film particular mannerisms to emphasize a specific emotion.<ref>{{Cite video|people=[[Alfred Gough]], [[Miles Millar]], [[Greg Beeman]], Ken Horton, and [[Michael Rosenbaum]]|title=Commentary for season three's episode "Exile"|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Home Video]]|year=2004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite video|people=[[James Marshall (director)|James Marshall]], [[John Glover (actor)|John Glover]] and [[Allison Mack]]|title=Commentary for season three's episode "Truth"|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Home Video]]|year=2004}}</ref>

== Character development ==
=== Storyline progression ===
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Early in the series, Clark was still learning how to handle his life, by learning to control his powers and find the best solution for everyone. His main priority was to fit in with his friends at school and be an average guy. Initially, Clark's biggest problem was the fact that he could not share his secret with anyone he cared about. According to Welling: "He is burdened with a lot of responsibility. He hasn't been able to choose whether or not he has these abilities. All this responsibility has just been thrust on him, and he has to deal with it. There have got to be times when he goes home and thinks to himself, 'Why me?' He wishes it could all go away and he could just be normal. That's part of the character dilemma which makes him interesting to play". Welling noted that the show was not about Clark always saving the day, but more about how using his powers "... alienate[s] him from others".<ref name="TW1" /> Welling reasoned that by the end of season three, Clark had decided that leaving Smallville and going with Jor-El was something that would save everyone a lot of pain in the long run.<ref name="TW2" /> Welling described why Clark finally gave in to Jor-El at the end of season three:<blockquote>"If you can't fight them, you might as well join them [...] he was choosing the lesser of two evils to go with Jor-El. I think a combination of those two things would probably sum it up. A lot of times in your life, you get to a point where you go, 'I just can't fight this anymore. There's nothing I can do about it, so I better get up out of bed and go to work!' And in a sense, that's what Clark had to do. Somehow he had to try to face what it was that was causing him so much pain—and everyone else so much pain—and maybe he reasoned that by causing everyone else a little bit of pain, he could save them a lot of pain in the long run".<ref name="TW3">{{Cite book|author=Simpson, Paul|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 3|publisher=Titan Books|date=September 1, 2005|pages=116–119|isbn=1-84023-952-2}}</ref></blockquote>

A significant moment in the character's story came when Clark decided to play football in season four, providing conflict between him and his father. Writer Darren Swimmer refers to this moment as a "... callback to [Hothead] ..." in season one. To him, when Clark defies Jonathan and joins the team anyway, it signified the moment where Jonathan finally decided that he can trust Clark to not hurt anyone. Writer Todd Slavkin viewed it as Clark finally emerging from his father's shadow.<ref name="TW4">Byrne, Craig, (Season 4 Companion) pp.&nbsp; 112–115</ref> Two more significant moments came during the following season. First, Clark lost his powers when he failed to return to Jor-El to finish his training, leaving him human and vulnerable. According to Welling, "... [Clark] learned a little bit more about what it's like to be human, physically. Emotionally, he's pretty close to trying to understand that. It added more weight to his abilities once he got them back, and it made him realize his responsibilities for what he has".<ref name="TW5" /> The second moment came in the show's 100th episode, with the death of Clark's adoptive father. The decision to kill Jonathan was made so that Clark could finally step into his destiny, allowing Clark the boy to become Clark the man, as explained by Gough. In order to do that he needed his mentor to die, so that no one would buffer him from the world any longer.<ref>Byrne, Craig, (Season 5 Companion) pg. 66</ref> Welling saw the series' 100th episode as the chance for his character to evolve and grow.<ref name="TW5" /> John Schneider saw the same catalyst for Clark's evolution. According to Schneider, Jonathan's death inspired Clark to make the move toward his eventual destiny. Jonathan provided such an example of sacrifice that it leaves a void in Clark. To fill that void Clark would have to become Superman. It was Schneider's contention that had Jonathan not been the man he was, when the time came that the world needed Superman, Clark would have been unable to take on that persona, because he would not realize that the world needed him.<ref>Byrne, Craig, (Season 5 Companion) pg. 132</ref>

Writer Holly Harold noted that the introduction of [[Justice League (Smallville)|Green Arrow]] ([[Justin Hartley]]) allowed Clark to mature more in the sixth season. Clark was able to see how others achieved the same goals, but used alternative routes that perhaps crossed moral lines. This taught Clark to start thinking about things from his opponents' perspectives. Ultimately, in season six Clark learned it would be his human side that allowed him to become the hero he needed to be, summed up by writer Turi Meyer as "... soon-to-be Man of Steel".<ref name="TW6">{{Cite book|author=Byrne, Craig|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 6|publisher=Titan Books|date=March 2008|pages=112–115|location=London|isbn=978-1-84576-656-6}}</ref> Each season, Clark gained insight into how not to misuse his abilities from the kryptonite-mutated villains that used them for crime. In later seasons, Clark saw how even those that used their abilities for good might still have questionable actions, specifically [[Aquaman|Arthur Curry]] ([[Alan Ritchson]]) and [[Acrata|Andrea Rojas]] ([[Denise Quiñones]]), though Clark did help them take the high road. Those episodes reiterated the effect Clark's parents had on how he used his abilities.<ref name="TW5" /> Clark also learned that he cannot do everything alone, even though he chose not to join Oliver's team of superheroes at the end of the episode "Justice". For Meyer, season six showed that Clark was still struggling to accept his destiny, but did take steps toward the day that he would put on the cape and become Superman.<ref name="TW6" />

=== Characterization ===
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The idea Gough and Millar came up with for their show's version of Clark Kent was to strip him down to his "... bare essence ...", discovering the reasons why Clark became Superman.<ref name="genesis" /> In ''Smallville'', Clark is fallible, as Gough explains: <blockquote>The thing that we've tried to portray...is that Clark doesn't always make the right decisions, and by not making the right decisions, he brings further consequences on himself. Whether it's running away from Jor-El at the end of season two, or choosing humanity over some sort of Kryptonian mission, those decisions get him in more trouble, and cause more people to suffer, or in Jonathan Kent's case, to die.</blockquote> Welling agreed with Gough's opinion of Clark's fallibility, stating that the mistakes Clark made showed his humanity.<ref name="TW5" />
[[File:clarkjesus.jpg|thumb|left|'''Above:''' The imagery used in the pilot episode, where Clark is strung to a scarecrow pole, drew early comparisons to Jesus Christ and his crucifixion.]]
Even though Clark could make the wrong choices, season five's "Aqua" helped illustrate the concept that Clark was "... good to the core". The episode showed how protective he could be over someone, even when that person annoyed him. In this case, he was trying to warn Lois that Arthur Curry may not have been the man she believed him to be.<ref name="Core">Byrne, Craig, (Season 5 Companion) pg.124</ref> This concept was echoed by the ''[[Seattle Times]]''' Julia Waterhous, who noted that Clark, despite all his flaws, always put others before himself.<ref name="Waterhouse" /> Welling's fellow actors also had their own insights into the character. Kristin Kreuk saw Clark as a kindred spirit who was sad, lonely, but also endearing;<ref>Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion), pg.116</ref> whereas John Schneider classified Clark as a [[special needs]] child.<ref>Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion), pg.140</ref>

Just like his comic book counterpart, ''Smallville'''s Clark Kent was a symbolic representation of [[Jesus]] Christ. Established early on, the pilot episode contained a moment when Clark was crucified on a scarecrow post during a high school hazing.<ref name="Byun">{{Cite news|author=Judge Bryan Byun |url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/smallvilleseason1.php |title=Season 1 DVD review |publisher=DVD Verdict |date=November 24, 2003 |access-date=August 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704144317/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/smallvilleseason1.php |archive-date=July 4, 2008}}</ref> The [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'s [[Rob Owen (journalist)|Rob Owen]] noted the Christ-like imagery of the scene, stating, "Is it any wonder Clark gets tied up there since Superman, too, was 'sent to save us'?"<ref name="Owen 3">{{Cite news|author=Rob Owen|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/tv/20011014smallvilletv2.asp|title=Superman revisited in "Smallville"|publisher=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=October 14, 2001|access-date=July 8, 2007|author-link=Rob Owen (journalist)}}</ref> Echoing Owen, Judge Byun identified the same symbolism: "Superman is, in a way, the secular pop culture stand-in for Jesus Christ, a messiah figure for our generation. The series makes this theme explicit in its pilot episode, in which Clark is symbolically 'crucified' in a cornfield. That striking bit of symbolism becomes the central preoccupation of the series; Clark is the savior who sacrifices all for the greater good of humanity, and ''Smallville'' shows us how he comes to accept and embrace that role".<ref name="Byun" />

This was extended to the end of season nine, where Clark sacrificed his own life in the finale, in order to send General Zod and the rest of the Kandorians to their own world. In doing so, Clark fell off a building "... in full crucifixion pose, driving home the point that he is sacrificing himself for the good of the planet".<ref>{{Cite web|author=Carlos Delgado |url=http://www.ifmagazine.com/review.asp?article=4071 |title=TV Review: Smallville — Season Nine Finale – 'Salvation' |publisher=ifMagazine |date=May 15, 2010 |access-date=September 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519115041/http://www.ifmagazine.com/Review.asp?article=4071 |archive-date=May 19, 2010}}</ref> To this point, [[Cinefantastique]]'s Tom Powers suggested that these images and metaphorical emphasis through dialogue exchanges came across so heavy-handed that a very devout individual might have found them offensive.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Tom Powers|url=http://cinefantastiqueonline.com/2010/05/smallvillesalvation-%e2%80%94-review/|title=Smallville:Salvation — Review|publisher=[[Cinefantastique]]Online|date=May 14, 2010|access-date=September 26, 2010}}</ref>

In addition to religious allusions, the crew used color schemes and camera movements to create their own themes for the characters. Since the show was told from Clark's point of view, particular visual elements were utilized to illustrate a particular characteristic. When he was safe at home the colors used to illustrate the environment were warm and gentle, with an earth tone, while the camera movement was gentle as well. When Clark was keeping his secret, but there was no danger around, the lighting was more neutral, with greater camera movement. When there was danger, the lighting became colder with more grays and blues, and the camera shifted to a handheld, allowing more extreme angles.<ref name="MemCom" />

=== Relationships ===
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Clark's relationships with the other characters evolved over the course of the show. Clark's relationship with Lex Luthor was symbolic, as the two shared a [[yin and yang]] type of relationship. In the pilot, Clark first saved Lex from drowning after a car accident; at the end of the episode, Lex saved Clark when he was strung up in the cornfield and immobilized by kryptonite.<ref name="metcom">{{Cite video|title="Metamorphosis" commentary by Al Gough and Miles Millar|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Television]]|year=2002}}</ref> His relationship with Lex was tested by his lack of honesty, just like it was with Lana for the first six seasons; the same could be said for Lex's dishonesty with Clark. Both characters wanted to be completely honest with each other, but knew they could not, which inhibited their friendship.<ref name="TW1" />

His relationship with Lana Lang was one of ''Smallville'''s central relationships. When Clark and Lana met in the cemetery, Clark realized that he had found someone who understood him, who he could talk to, even though it was not in as strong a way as he would have liked. Although Clark felt close to Lana, his fear that she would "... kick him out of her life ..." if she learned his secret — that he came in the meteor shower that killed her parents — was strong enough to keep him from becoming as close to her as he wished. The lack of honesty caused issues between them.<ref name="TW1" /> Judge Byun wondered how this Clark Kent would have room in his heart for Lois Lane later in life, as he had bounced back and forth between Lana and Chloe in the first season.<ref name="Byun" />

With Lana's boyfriend gone by season two, the door opened for Clark, but Welling stated he understood why the producers continued to keep Clark and Lana apart, even after Whitney's departure: "There's the cliché that television shows with a main love interest fail once they get it together".<ref name="TW2" /> After briefly being together at the beginning of the fifth season, Clark's upbringing was not enough to help him cope with the loss of Lana to Lex toward the end of season five. Welling admits that Clark had learned to let Lana make her own choices and not stand in her way, but his problem with her relationship with Lex was that Lex is a dangerous individual and it put Lana's safety in jeopardy. Apart from that, Clark had learned to walk the lonely road of a hero.<ref name="TW5" /> His inability to cope with Lana moving on with Lex was carried over to season six. This season was the time the writers put Clark through an emotional wringer when they had Lana accept Lex's marriage proposal. For writer Kelly Souders, this presented Clark's worst fear: the woman he loved was marrying his worst enemy.<ref name="TW6" />

Apart from Lana, Clark had a growing [[Superman and Lois Lane|relationship with Lois]]. Season five saw the melting of the ice between the two characters, who continued to butt heads. Executive producer Darren Swimmer believed that the audience could finally start to see a growing attraction between the two, and the fact that both would be there for the other in a time of need. Erica Durance believed that Lois in season five, because of her self-imposed walls, laughed off any notion that she had a romantic interest in Clark, even if that notion was true.<ref>Byrne, Craig, (Season 5 Companion) pp.124-127</ref> In season six, Durance described the relationship between Lois and Clark as something neither character wanted to put an official label on. Instead, Durance believed that, by that point in the series, Clark and Lois were satisfied with identifying with a "brother and sister friendship" label, rather than trying to discover how each truly feels.<ref>Byrne, Craig, (Season 6 Companion) pp. 124-127</ref> By season eight, Durance noted that Lois was starting to accept the idea that she may be in love with Clark more than she had been with anyone else in her life.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Rachel Thomas|url=http://tvdramas.about.com/od/smallville/a/ericaduranceint.htm|title=Interview with Erica Durance (Lois, 'Smallville')|publisher=[[About.com]]|date=September 2008|access-date=October 18, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922134458/http://tvdramas.about.com/od/smallville/a/ericaduranceint.htm|archive-date=September 22, 2015}}</ref> His relationship with Lois was included in ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s list of the best TV couples of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Couples Pictures, Smallville Photos — Photo Gallery: The Best TV Couples of All Time|url=https://www.tvguide.com/PhotoGallery/Best-TV-Couples-1026715/1026726|work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=June 25, 2012}}</ref>

=== Costume ===
[[File:Tomwelling smallville 500.jpg|thumb|upright|In season nine, Clark began wearing a black costume while fighting crime in Metropolis.]]

For most of the series, Clark did not wear any sort of costume when in his superhero persona. From seasons one through eight, Clark was typically dressed in either red, yellow and blue (the traditional colors of the Superman costume), or in the All-American colors of red, white, and blue.<ref name="MemCom">{{Cite video|people=Al Gough, Miles Millar, Greg Beeman, Kent Horton, and Michael Rosenbaum|title="Memoria" commentary|type=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Television]]}}</ref> This included the primary usage of either a blue T-shirt underneath a red jacket, or a red T-shirt worn under a blue jacket.<ref>Visual observation used as example to further illustrate what Millar and Gough said in previous quote.</ref> In season nine, the producers decided to design an actual costume for Clark to wear while patrolling the streets of Metropolis. Abandoning the theme of red, blue, and yellow, the producers chose to keep the costume completely black, save for a silver Superman "S" shield painted on the front. Instead of the traditional cape, Clark's red jacket is traded for a black trenchcoat.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/tv-news/the-big-tease-scoop-on-greys-ncis-mentalist-more/ |title=The Big Tease: Scoop on 'Grey's', 'NCIS' and More &#124; Fancast News |publisher=Fancast.com |date=February 23, 2010 |access-date=July 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621002721/http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/tv-news/the-big-tease-scoop-on-greys-ncis-mentalist-more/ |archive-date=June 21, 2010}}</ref> This drew comparison to the character of [[Neo (The Matrix)|Neo]] from [[The Matrix (franchise)|''The Matrix'' film series]]. It was also compared to the black suit Superman wore after being resurrected, following his death at the hands of [[Doomsday (comics)|Doomsday]] in the comic books.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Bruce Simmons|url=https://screenrant.com/smallville-season-9-clark-kent-suit-brusimm-24307/|title=First Look At Tom Welling As 'Superman' On Smallville|publisher=ScreenRant|date=September 4, 2009|access-date=September 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Philip Pirrello|author2=Jesse Schedeen|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/108/1083157p1.html|title=Smallville Takes on DC Comics|publisher=IGN|date=April 13, 2010|access-date=September 28, 2010}}</ref>

In the season ten premiere, the audience got its first glimpse of the traditional Superman costume, which was left for Clark by Martha in the season nine finale. Although the suit was briefly seen through a reflection in Clark's eyes in the season nine finale,<ref>{{Cite web|author=Krystal Clark|url=http://screencrave.com/2010-07-28/smallville-season-10-trailer-flight-and-tights/|title=Smallville Season 10 Trailer – Flight and Tights?|publisher=Screencrave.com|date=July 28, 2010|access-date=September 28, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726072922/http://screencrave.com/2010-07-28/smallville-season-10-trailer-flight-and-tights/|archive-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref> the suit that appeared in the season ten premiere was a different design. The producers, working alongside Warner Bros. and DC Comics, procured the costume worn by Brandon Routh in ''[[Superman Returns]]'', which the team chose over the [[Christopher Reeve]] suit of the 1980s.<ref name="Suit">{{Cite web|author=Rick Marshall|url=http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/09/24/smallville-season-10-characters-end/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925151145/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/09/24/smallville-season-10-characters-end/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 25, 2010|title='Smallville' Producers On Season 10, Character Choices, And Why 'The Story Doesn't End Here'|publisher=MTV.com|date=September 24, 2010|access-date=September 27, 2010}}</ref> DC Comics offered the suit worn by Reeve, but Peterson explained that it "... just didn't quite fit with our world".<ref name=regular>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kryptonsite.com/cc10-brianpeterson.htm|title=Interview With Smallville Executive Producers Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson — Comic-Con 2010 |publisher=KryptonSite|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref> According to producer Kelly Souders: "The process was really a group effort. We worked with DC, and we have Alicia Louis, who does a lot of stuff for us at the studio, and who was really instrumental. It took quite a bit to get that costume. There's a lot of sign-offs, it really was Warner Bros. and DC and us working to make it happen".<ref name="Suit" /> Peterson stated that the costume plays a more prominent role in the final season, with the last scene of ''Smallville'' ending with Clark wearing it.<ref name=regular /> Before then, Clark began wearing a new costume in the season ten episode "Shield". Here, Clark replaced the black trenchcoat with a red leather jacket, and the "S" shield now embossed onto the chest of that jacket.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.ign.com/articles/2011/05/10/smallville-dc-comics-character-comparison|title=SMALLVILLE: DC COMICS CHARACTER COMPARISON|publisher=IGN|date=May 9, 2011|access-date=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

== Reception ==
In 2002, Welling was nominated for his first [[Saturn Award]] for Best Actor in a Television series, for his portrayal of Clark Kent in ''Smallville''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2002/03/14/Nominees_for_28th_Annual_Saturn_Awards/UPI-99311016139883/|title=Nominees for 28th Annual Saturn Awards|publisher=[[United Press International]]|date=March 14, 2002|access-date=August 23, 2008}}</ref> Following that, Welling was nominated another four consecutive years, 2003 to 2006, for the Saturn Award for Best Actor in a Television series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/email.cgi?story=2003-03/05/11.45.film |title=Rings, Minority Top Saturn Nods |publisher=[[Sci Fi Channel (United States)|Sci Fi channel]]|date=March 5, 2003 |access-date=August 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050317134504/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/email.cgi?story=2003-03%2F05%2F11.45.film |archive-date=March 17, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.moviecitynews.com/awards/2004/critics_awards/saturn.html|title=2004 Saturn Awards Nominations|date=February 16, 2004|access-date=January 24, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061123035149/http://www.moviecitynews.com/awards/2004/critics_awards/saturn.html |archive-date = November 23, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aintitcool.com/?q=node/19415|title=Saturn Nominations Announced! Still The Coolest Awards Show In Town!!|publisher=AintItCool.com|date=February 13, 2005|access-date=January 24, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/sith-leads-nomination-list-for-32nd-annual-saturn-awards_article_50679.html |title=SITH Leads Nomination List for 32nd Annual Saturn Awards |publisher=Mania.com |date=February 15, 2006 |access-date=August 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504134328/http://www.mania.com/sith-leads-nomination-list-for-32nd-annual-saturn-awards_article_50679.html |archive-date=May 4, 2010}}</ref> The same year he was nominated for his first Saturn Award, Welling won a [[Teen Choice Award]] for Choice Breakout TV Star, Male.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Rick Ellis |url=http://www.allyourtv.com/awards/awardsteenchoice2002.html |title=2002 Teen Choice Award Winners |publisher=AllYourTV.com |date=August 19, 2002 |access-date=August 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070403195232/http://allyourtv.com/awards/awardsteenchoice2002.html |archive-date=April 3, 2007}}</ref> Although he has not won a Teen Choice Award since, just like with the Saturn Awards, he has been nominated for Choice Actor in television for the four consecutive years after his win, 2003 to 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://popdirt.com/2003-teen-choice-award-nominees/16313/|title=2003 Teen Choice Award nominees|publisher=PopDirt.com|access-date=August 23, 2008|archive-date=September 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927154232/http://popdirt.com/2003-teen-choice-award-nominees/16313/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://74.125.19.102/translate_c?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.serieslive.com/article-53-teen-choice-awards-2004-le-vote-du-public.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3D2006%2BTeen%2BChoice%2BAward%2BChemistry%2Bkreuk%2Bwelling%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN&usg=ALkJrhj1cSh4pgmct40pTf8ei8EuYlsdbw |title=The Teen Choice Awards 2004: the voting public |access-date=December 9, 2008 |date=August 11, 2004 |publisher=SeriesLive}}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fox.com/tca2005/nominees.htm|title=2005 Teen Choice Awards|publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]|access-date=September 11, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070823065626/http://www.fox.com/tca2005/nominees.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = August 23, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tvdramas.about.com/od/tvshowsaz/a/2006teenchoice.htm|title=2006 Teen Choice Award Nominees and Winners|access-date=December 9, 2008|author=Thomas, Rachel|publisher=[[About.com]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212205408/http://tvdramas.about.com/od/tvshowsaz/a/2006teenchoice.htm|archive-date=February 12, 2012}}</ref> Although not nominated in 2007, he did receive a nomination in 2008 and 2009 for Choice Male in an Action/Adventure series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.teenchoiceawards.com/pdfs/TC08nominees.pdf |title=Teen Choice 2008 |access-date=December 9, 2008 |publisher=[[Teen Choice Awards]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218044919/http://www.teenchoiceawards.com/pdfs/TC08nominees.pdf |archive-date=December 18, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Kelly West|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/Nominations-Posted-For-2009-Teen-Choice-Awards-18151.html|title=Nominations Posted For 2009 Teen Choice Awards|publisher=CinemaBlend|date=June 15, 2009|access-date=June 16, 2009|archive-date=June 18, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618162946/http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Nominations-Posted-For-2009-Teen-Choice-Awards-18151.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Welling was also nominated for the 2006 Teen Choice Awards for Most Beautiful Couple (TV — Choice Chemistry), with his co-star Kristin Kreuk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.serieslive.com/news-2698-the-teen-choice-awards-2006-le-vote-du-public.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=9&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D2006%2BTeen%2BChoice%2BAward%2BChemistry%2Bkreuk%2Bwelling%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN|title=The Teen Choice Awards 2006: the voting public|access-date=December 9, 2008|author=Jacquiau, Baptist|date=August 20, 2006|publisher=SeriesLive}}</ref> In the 2009 Teen Choice Awards, Tom Welling received the award for Choice TV Actor — Action Adventure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chiff.com/pop-culture/teen-choice-awards.htm|title=2009 Teen Choice Awards, Nominees, Winners, TV Schedule|publisher=ChiFF.com|access-date=August 12, 2009}}</ref> Welling was included in ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s list of "TV's Sexiest Crime Fighters".<ref>{{Cite web|title=TV's Sexiest Crime Fighters|url=https://www.tvguide.com/special/summer-tv/PhotoGallery/TVs-Sexiest-Crime-1034736/1034746|work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=June 26, 2012}}</ref>

Bryan Byun, of DVD Verdict, believes that Welling was the perfect choice for Clark Kent: "I can't imagine a more ideal actor to play this superpowered farm boy than Tom Welling, with his wholesome, honest face and heroic good looks—Welling not only resembles Christopher Reeve physically, but has all of the earnest charm that made Reeve the quintessential Superman".<ref name="Byun" /> ''The Free Lance–Star''{{'}}s Ron Hedelt likened Welling's performances as Clark Kent to that of Christopher Reeve's performances in the ''Superman'' films, stating that Welling manages to portray a "... sweet, unassuming teenager ..." while showing Clark struggle with the truth about himself.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Rob Hedelt|url=http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2001/102001/10282001/427249/index_html?page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211165729/http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2001/102001/10282001/427249/index_html?page=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 11, 2008|title=Superman's in high school in WB's fun 'Smallville'|publisher=Fredericksburg|work=[[The Free Lance–Star]]|date=October 28, 2001|access-date=November 15, 2008}}</ref> Comics2Film's Rob Worley also wrote of the physical resemblance Welling has to Christopher Reeve, noting that the actor gave the character depth with his convincing portrayal of Clark's longing to fit in.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Rob Worley|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=13850|title=Smallville: Not Man But Still Super|publisher=Comics2Film|date=July 25, 2001|access-date=November 16, 2008}}</ref> When comparing ''Smallville's'' Clark Kent to [[Bryan Singer]]'s Superman ([[Brandon Routh]]) in ''Superman Returns'', ''[[Seattle Times]]''' Julia Waterhous found ''Smallville's'' Clark Kent to be the more intriguing character. Waterhous explained that this was due to the inner turmoil of Clark — not being able to tell those he loved his secret — and the fact that no matter what his faults were he continued to put others before himself, remaining "... pure and good ...". She explained that this allowed the audience to become intimate with the character, something lacking in the film version.<ref name="Waterhouse">{{Cite web|author=Julia Waterhouse|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2003135554_smallville19.html|title=Why "Smallville's" Clark Kent is way cooler than "Superman"|publisher=Seattle Times|date=July 19, 2006|access-date=November 15, 2008}}</ref> According to the ''[[Associated Press]]'', Welling's popularity as Clark Kent on ''Smallville'' had fans of the show wishing he would take the role Routh received in ''Superman Returns''.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Anthony Breznican|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/movies/186264_supermansearch14.html|title=Up, up and away in search of a Man of Steel|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|date=August 14, 2004|access-date=November 16, 2008}}</ref>

== Other media appearances ==
=== Young adult novels ===
''Smallville''{{'s}} Clark Kent has also appeared in two series of [[young adult novel]]s. The first was published by [[Hachette Book Group USA#Inactive imprints|Aspect publishing]], consisting of eight novels, which began in October 2002 and ended in March 2004. The second series was published by Little, Brown Young Readers, also beginning in October 2002, with a total of ten young adult novels published through April 2004.

In Aspect's first novel, ''Smallville: Strange Visitors'', written by [[Roger Stern]], Clark attempted to stop two religious con-men from robbing the town with their kryptonite-enhanced spiritual seminars.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Strange Visitors|author=[[Roger Stern]]|date=October 1, 2002|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Inactive imprints|Aspect]]|isbn=0-446-61213-8}}</ref> Little's first novel, ''Arrival'', chronicled the events of the [[Pilot (Smallville)|show's pilot]] as written by author Michael Teitelbaum,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Arrival|author=Michael Teitelbaum|date=October 1, 2002|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-17359-2|url=https://archive.org/details/arrival0000teit}}</ref> and their second book, ''See No Evil'', also published in October 2002 and was written by [[Cherie Bennett]] and [[Jeff Gottesfeld]] — who have also written episodes of the show — featured Clark trying to stop Dawn Mills, a young actress, from hurting people who speak badly about her, by using her power to turn invisible.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: See No Evil|author=[[Cherie Bennett]] & [[Jeff Gottesfeld]]|date=October 1, 2002|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-17301-0}}</ref>

On November 1, 2002, Aspect published [[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grant's]] book, ''Smallville: Dragon'', which had Clark being hypnotized into believing that he was a normal, human teenager, with no abilities.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Dragon|author=Alan Grand|date=November 1, 2002|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Inactive imprints|Aspect]]|isbn=0-446-61214-6|author-link=Alan Grant (writer)}}</ref> Little's ''Flight'' featured Clark trying to lend emotional support to a young girl who has full-sized wings.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Flight|author=[[Cherie Bennett]] & [[Jeff Gottesfeld]]|date=December 1, 2002|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-17468-8}}</ref> The next Aspect novel, ''Hauntings'', followed Clark and his friends as they investigate a ghostly presence in one of Smallville's haunted houses.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Hauntings|author=[[Nancy Holder]]|date=January 1, 2003|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Inactive imprints|Aspect]]|isbn=0-446-61215-4|url=https://archive.org/details/hauntings00hold}}</ref> ''Animal Rage'' followed Clark as he tries to stop an [[animal rights activist]] when she tries to hurt the people harming animals in Smallville.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Animal Rage|author=David Weiss & Bobby Weiss|date=February 2, 2003|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-17421-1|url=https://archive.org/details/animalrage00weis}}</ref> Aspect brought in [[Dean Wesley Smith]] for their next novel, ''Whodunit'', which involved Clark, Chloe, Lana and Pete investigating the murder of a boy and his sister.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Whodunit|author=[[Dean Wesley Smith]]|date=March 1, 2003|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Inactive imprints|Aspect]]|isbn=0-446-61216-2|url=https://archive.org/details/whodunnit0000smit}}</ref>

Little published their next two books in April and June 2003. The first, ''Speed'', had Clark fighting hate crimes in Smallville.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Speed|author=[[Cherie Bennett]] & [[Jeff Gottesfeld]]|date=April 16, 2003|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-16816-5}}</ref> The second, ''Buried Secrets'', followed Clark and Lex as they both fell in love with a mind-reading, substitute Spanish teacher. In the novel, Clark and Lex's friendship was put in jeopardy as the two competed for the teacher's love.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Buried Secrets|author=Suzan Colon|date=June 1, 2003|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-16848-3}}</ref> On September 9, 2004, Aspect published ''Shadows'', where Clark must stop a girl's scientist father, who has created a monster that is killing people.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Shadows|author=[[Diana G. Gallagher]]|date=September 1, 2003|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Inactive imprints|Aspect]]|isbn=0-446-61360-6|url=https://archive.org/details/shadows00gall}}</ref> ''Runaway'' featured Clark leaving Smallville and living on the streets of Metropolis with other homeless teenagers. Clark fell in love with one of the girls before eventually returning home.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Runaway|author=Suzan Colon|date=October 1, 2003|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-73476-4|url=https://archive.org/details/runaway00colo}}</ref> ''Smallville: Silence'' has Clark and his friends investigating the appearance of zombies.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Silence|author=[[Nancy Holder]]|date=November 1, 2003|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Inactive imprints|Aspect]]|isbn=0-446-61359-2|url=https://archive.org/details/silence0000hold}}</ref> Little's ''Greed'' followed Clark and his friends as they took jobs as summer counselors to disadvantaged youths. Pete tried to abuse Clark's abilities by tricking him into playing in a basketball game, and then betting on the outcome.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Greed|author=[[Cherie Bennett]] & [[Jeff Gottesfeld]]|date=December 1, 2003|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-73477-2}}</ref>

Alan Grant returned for a second outing to write ''Curse'', about a grave digger who unleashed a 150-year-old curse onto Smallville, and Clark's attempt to put everything back the way it was.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Curse|author=Alan Grant|date=January 1, 2004|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Inactive imprints|Aspect]]|isbn=0-446-61361-4|author-link=Alan Grant (writer)}}</ref> In ''Temptation'', Clark used red kryptonite to try and impress Lana and Chloe after they become infatuated with a new, French foreign exchange student.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Temptation|author=Suzan Colon|date=February 1, 2004|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-73478-0}}</ref> Aspect released their final novel on March 1, 2004; written by [[Devin K. Grayson]], ''City'' chronicled Clark and Lex's trip to Metropolis. While in the city, the pair got caught between the Japanese mafia and a secret agent who believed he has found an alien.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: City|author=[[Devin K. Grayson]]|date=March 3, 2004|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Inactive imprints|Aspect]]|isbn=0-446-61362-2|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/city0000gray}}</ref> In Little, Brown Young Readers' final novel, written by Cherie Bennett and [[Jeff Gottesfeld]], ''Sparks'' featured Clark trying to save Chloe after she was exposed to a kryptonite fireworks display that makes her the desire of every man. For one of the men, when the desire wears off he decides that he really does want Chloe and kidnaps her.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smallville: Sparks|author=[[Cherie Bennett]]|date=April 1, 2004|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0-316-73479-9}}</ref>

=== Comic books ===
In 2012, the series was continued in ''Smallville: Season 11'', a comic book available both in digital and print formats. Every Friday for three weeks in a row, the stories which follow the primary story arcs, were released online and were referred to as episodes. The following week, the preceding three episodes were released as a print comic. Parallel to the main story arc, other story arcs featuring other characters (many of which were part of the future "Justice League America") were released online every fourth Friday, and collected and printed in special editions by themselves, separate from the main story. Written by [[Bryan Q. Miller]], who wrote for the television series, the comic took up the story of the ''Smallville'' characters six months after The Blur saved Earth from the Apokolips. Clark no longer fights crime by the alias The Blur, but has been dubbed Superman by the masses.<ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #1 (April 2012)</ref>

During the season Clark continued his battles with Lex Luthor, who had lost his memory. New characters were introduced, such as Commander [[Hank Henshaw]], a participant in LexCorp's project, Guardian Defense Platforms.<ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #2 (June 2012)</ref> In the third issue, Clark, as Superman, confronted Lex, during which Clark inadvertently implied that he knew Lex before his amnesia.<ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #3 (July 2012)</ref> Superman and [[Batman]] met and battled, but declared a truce, and began working together, eventually becoming friends.<ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #7 (November 2012)</ref><ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #8 (December 2012)</ref> Clark also reunited with [[Bart Allen]], who was seeking Clark's aid in battling the [[List of minor DC Comics characters#Black Flash|Black Flash]], who, ended up killing Bart during an ensuing battle.<ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #9 (January 2013)</ref><ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #10 (February 2013)</ref><ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #12 (April 2013)</ref>

At one point, Clark and Michael Jon Carter ([[Booster Gold]]) inadvertently traveled to the 31st century, where they found themselves caught in a war between New Krypton, led by Kara, and an army of xenophobes, during which [[Doomsday (comics)|Doomsday]] is reawakened, then defeated when all the belligerents form an alliance.<ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #13 (May 2013)</ref><ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #14 (June 2013)</ref> While in the future, Clark met a child named Bartholomew Allen, causing Clark to suspect he was a descendant of Bart and giving him hope that he was still alive.<ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #15 (July 2013)</ref> After meeting [[Wonder Woman|Diana Prince]], with whom he teamed to defeat [[Hades (DC Comics)|Hades]] and [[Felix Faust]], Clark, as Superman, chose to reveal to the [[President of the United States|President]] that he was not a meteor-infected individual as the public believed but was from another planet.<ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #16 (August 2013)</ref><ref>''Smallville Season 11'' vol. 1 #19 (November 2013)</ref> Later, Clark attempted to rally the heroes and the world to make a stand against the [[Monitors (comics)|Monitors]].<ref>''Smallville Season Eleven: Alien'' vol. 1 #1 (December 2013)</ref> After Oliver and Chloe's son Jonathan is born, they named Clark and Lois as the child's godparents.<ref>''Smallville: Continuity'' #4 (March 2015)</ref>

=== Arrowverse ===
Tom Welling reprised his role as Clark Kent in the 2019 [[Arrowverse]] crossover event, "[[Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)|Crisis on Infinite Earths]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/09/tom-welling-reprise-smallville-clark-kent-role-arrowverse-crossover-the-cw-1202738738/|title=Tom Welling To Reprise 'Smallville' Clark Kent Role In Arrowverse Crossover On the CW|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=September 19, 2019|access-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920041304/https://deadline.com/2019/09/tom-welling-reprise-smallville-clark-kent-role-arrowverse-crossover-the-cw-1202738738/|archive-date=September 20, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> During the crossover, he is confronted by [[Earth-38 (Arrowverse)|Earth-38]]'s [[Lex Luthor (Arrowverse)|Lex Luthor]], who sought to use the "Book of Destiny" to kill Supermen across the multiverse. However, Lex fails to subdue this version of Clark with kryptonite as the latter reveals he had long since given up his heroics and powers so he could spend time with his wife Lois and their daughters. Though Lex attempts to fight him, Clark easily defeats him, prompting the former to leave and proceed with his Superman-killing spree.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gelman |first1=Vlada |title='Crisis on Infinite Earths' Part 2: EPs on Arrowverse Crossover's Smallville Twist and Tom Welling's Reaction |url=https://tvline.com/2019/12/09/crisis-on-infinite-earths-recap-part-2-tom-welling-smallville-clark-kent/ |website=TVLine|date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>

== Merchandise ==
[[DC Direct]] has released [[action figure]]s for Clark Kent, along with other ''Smallville'' characters.<ref>Byrne, Craig, (Season 7 Companion) pg. 154</ref> The first set of action figures was released on October 2, 2002, and was modeled after Clark's appearance in the first season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joeacevedo.com/docs/figurezone/dcdactionfigures2002.htm|title=DC Direct Action Figure Archive|publisher=JoeAcevedo.com|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref> The second series was released on May 7, 2008, and was designed after Clark's appearance in the [[Smallville (season 6)|season six]] episode "Justice".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joeacevedo.com/docs/figurezone/dcdactionfigures2008.htm|title=DC Direct Action Figure Archive|publisher=JoeAcevedo.com|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Smallville}}
{{Superman characters}}

{{Italic disambiguation}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kent, Clark, Smallville}}
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