Fourteen years ago, a meteor shower burst from the heavens, raining destruction on the unsuspecting citizens of Smallville, Kansas. The intervening years have left the town's inhabitants with scars and secrets. From the ashes of tragedy, Clark Kent has grown into an awkward teen. While adolescence always brings its challenges, Clark's transition from boyhood to manhood has been particularly difficult. He has struggled to come to grips with his emerging superpowers - and the effects of various forms of kryptonite - while battling the strange things that have plagued this idyllic Midwest hamlet since the meteor shower.

In last season's finale, Clark was enticed by a Kryptonian girl, Kara, who had been sent to bring him home. After being pulled violently into the cave wall, Clark was trapped in a phantom zone. As Season Four begins, Clark seems to have resurfaced in Smallville, but is it really Clark or his alter ego, the emotionless Kryptonian Kal-El? Breaking the show's long-standing rule, "No Flights, No Tights," Clark/Kal-El will soar up into the sky for the very first time. Continuing the tradition of introducing well-known characters from the Superman mythology, Clark will also encounter the speedster known as The Flash and answer the longtime question who is the fastest teen alive.

Clark's world is turned upside-down as another landmark moment happens this season: The introduction of Lois Lane (Erica Durance). Expect the unexpected, when Lois' quick wit and dazzling beauty catch Clark totally off-guard. While someday Lois and Clark will be the perfect match - as teenagers, they are oil and water, much in the same way Smallville has successfully surprised everyone by making Lex and Clark - future arch-enemies - the best of friends. Clark and Lois are forced to work together as they seek out the true fate of Lois' cousin Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack), who died tragically in last season's startling season finale.

The guardians of Clark's secret identity have always been his adoptive parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent. In the aftermath of the meteor shower, they discovered his crashed spacecraft in a cornfield and took him in as their own. Last season, Jonathan put his life on the line for his deal with Clark's real father, Jor-El, and now has to pay the consequences.

Jonathan (John Schneider) will also struggle with the idea that Clark is becoming more independent every day and no longer needs him the way he used to. For Martha (Annette O'Toole), the months of uncertainty with Jonathan in the hospital and Clark trapped in the phantom zone, only served to strengthen her character. While Jonathan has the farm and Clark is busy with high school, Martha will look for a passion of her own.

Last season, the knowledge that his life is out of control forced Clark to keep the girl he loves, Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), at arm's length. Lana finally escaped to Paris, where she met a handsome stranger named Jason Teague (Jensen Ackles) and soon fell in love. However, mysterious events draw her back to Smallville, and she arrives in her hometown with a newfound confidence and a sophisticated new look. Unable to be separated from Lana, Jason follows her from Paris to Smallville. When he takes a job as assistant coach of the football team, Jason and Lana will have to keep their relationship a secret from everyone - and, in particular, Clark.

Over the years, Clark has forged a remarkable relationship with Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), though neither has an inkling of how their destinies will ultimately collide. Last season, Lex came to believe he was poisoned and left for dead by this father, Lionel Luthor (John Glover). Lex used all his power to put his father behind bars, and now he is determined to make sure that his father suffers and rots in prison while he takes over as head of LuthorCorp. Despite Clark's current distrust in him, Lex is eager to make amends and regain Clark's friendship. Even so, Lex is steadily continuing on the path from good to evil.

By now, Lionel has come to share Lex's obsession with Clark Kent and both father and son will carry on their relentless pursuit to discover the truth about Clark. Lionel will do whatever it takes to get out of prison and exact revenge on those who put him there, especially his own son. Lionel's vast power makes it possible for him to operate from the inside until he is released.

Reinterpreting the Superman mythology from its roots, Smallville was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Shanghai Noon, Spiderman 2), based on the DC Comics characters. Gough and Millar serve as executive producers, along with Greg Beeman, Ken Horton, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Joe Davola. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television, Tollin/Robbins Productions and Millar/Gough Ink. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.