It’s a comic book. It’s a movie. It’s a television show. Superman has been capturing people’s imaginations since 1938 when the first issue of Action Comics appeared on newsstands. He has become a cultural fixture, a symbol of goodness, protection and strength. Now, in his latest incarnation, the WB’s Smallville meshes the legend with a Dawson’s Creek brand of storytelling in order to probe the Man of Steel’s adolescent angst.

The back story is familiar. Young Kal-el crash-lands on earth. A farming couple named Kent pull the boy from the wreckage, claim him as their own and name him Clark. Ten years later Clark goes to high school, which is where Smallville begins to color outside the lines of traditional Superman lore.

The town of Smallville (near the crash site) is devastated by the hail of space debris that accompanies Clark’s arrival on earth. For the most part it recovers, but years later many citizens are still in jeopardy as stray pieces of kryptonite keep turning unsuspecting folk into superhuman monsters. Clark (Tom Welling) must destroy them while struggling to control his emerging powers and preserve his secret identity. A bug-boy. A pyrokinetic football coach. An ice-man. A shape-shifter. Each one a gruesome menace only Superman can dispatch.

A young Lex Luthor (excellently played by Michael Rosenbaum) struggles with his own demons, an infuriatingly unloving father among them. One almost believes this Luthor might transcend his evil destiny. He genuinely cares for Clark, and the two carry on a brilliantly convoluted friendship.

Classmate Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) serves as Clark’s hard-to-catch love interest. She’s not only dating a football player, but she wears a piece of kryptonite around her neck as a memento from her mother, who was killed in the meteor shower.

Teens entering Smallville encounter much more graphic violence than their parents will remember from Superman I-IV. The shots are tighter and more intense. The villains are infinitely more heinous and disgusting. Additionally, Lex consumes a lot of hard liquor. And as Clark learns to use his x-ray vision, the first place he looks is into the girl’s locker room (Lana is shown disrobing).

Smallville’s Superman has more in common with Buffy the Vampire Slayer than with the Action Comics heroes of yesteryear. That’s something to keep in mind as teens begin leaping tall buildings in a single bound to watch WB’s hottest new show.

episodes reviewed:
Oct. 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13, 20, Dec. 11, 2001