Smallvillewas one of the most elaborate origin stories of any superhero ever, with a broad range of characters that were introduced and then never properly used. In 2001, long before theDCU,Smallvillebegan an epic journey to unravel the early years of Clark Kent, before he took on the title of Superman. As a teenager, growing up in a quiet community, Clark slowly developed his skills, while also trying to lead a normal life as a high school student. However, Clark appeared to attract a lot of attention thanks to his incredible powers.
In the years when he was establishing his own identity, learning to control his powers, and getting ready to embrace his future as the Man of Steel, Clark met a lot of familiar characters from throughout DC Comics history. From friends, to foes, aliens, to monsters, and so much more,Smallvilleintroduced a lot of these figures to help connect it to the wider DC Universeof characters.But for many of these characters, their time on the show was brief and underdeveloped.
10Jor-El
A Missed Opportunity
In most versions of the Superman origin story, Jor-El is a pivotal character.The biological father of Kal-El, and the man who sends his son away from their dying planet to protect his future. Jor-El may view himself and the other people of Krypton as significantly superior to humans, but he was never heartless or cold, except for the version that appears inSmallville.
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With a large and dynamic cast, Smallville featured an incredible assortment of characters, both adapted and original, some of which were underserved.
Despite having highly advanced Kryptonian technology, Jor-El is only heard in the fortress of solitude, with no projection or holographic image of Clark’s birth father ever presented. In addition,Smallvillechanges Jor-El to be an antagonistic figure in Clark’s life. Clark learned humanity and compassion from Jonathan. Meanwhile, Jor-El appears to be interested in Clark only furthering and honoring his Kryptonian heritage.
9Slade Wilson
A Faded Villain
TheSlade Wilson seen inSmallvillewas largely a shadow of the characterfrom the comics, or even in other TV shows.Rather than the menacing and powerful Deathstroke, who presents an incredible threat to DC’s strongest heroes, this version is an old general, whose fear of powered people leads him to act in rash ways. But even more frustratingly, the character is disposed of with relative ease.
His time on the show is short, and he is incredibly underwhelming, which just makes it all the more disappointing.
Clark Kent, a teenager who has yet to even learn he can fly, is able to exile Slade Wilson to the Phantom Zone with relative ease. His time on the show is short, and he is incredibly underwhelming, which just makes it all the more disappointing. Fortunately, the character had a much better development arc in theArrowseries a few years later.
8Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle’s Bugged Potential: A Wasted Chance
AsSmallvillewas nearing its end, the show began leaning more and more into using other comic book characters.This was likely an attempt to find potential for a spin-off, but it resulted in some stories that briefly introduced characters that felt underdeveloped. One of these episodes included both Blue Beetle and Booster Gold.
Blue Beetle has since been introduced as a lead in his own movie, which goes to show the potential this character had, rather than being a minor element in one episode who also shares the screen with another new hero.Blue Beetle could have had a longer run on the show, becoming an ally to Clark earlier on his journey, but instead, it feels like the character was shoehorned in and it ultimately felt disappointing.
7Booster Gold
A Diminished Hero
Another superhero who got criminally little time on screen was Booster Gold.Booster is a hero from the future, whose primary concern is earning money and fame through his heroics. He appears in the same single episode with Blue Beetle in the final season, and despite this version of the character being praised, it was too little and too late.
There was a lot of potential to explore this kind of superhero in 2011, when the episode aired.
Today, there are comparable examples of these profiteering superheroes portrayed in shows likeThe Boys, and it has proven to be a popular and interesting concept.The comics don’t give enough attention to Booster Gold, but this version could have changed that for the character going forward. Instead, he came and went with very little impact.Thankfully, theDCU has confirmed that they will be adapting Booster Gold for a TV series, which means the character will finally get some of the spotlight they deserve.
6Doctor Fate
A Forgotten Sorcerer
Doctor Fate is absolutely one of the most intriguing heroes to come out of DC, with the character’s powers stemming from a mystical helmet that has in many ways altered and torn apart their life. The version introduced inSmallvillearrived in season 9, and their story was resolved after a two-part episode which introduced the Justice Society of America.The entire team had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it was never meant to be.
The DCEU’sBlack Adambrought another version of this hero to life with Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate, but arguably there was more potential for development in theSmallvilleversion.Unfortunately, like so many of the other prominent DC characters introduced inSmallville, they were added to the series far too late, and crammed into a one-off story. Doctor Fate had a lot more story to tell, and the entire Justice Society could have led a spin-off, but this was ultimately another missed opportunity.
5Mister Mxyzptlk
A Limited Role
Despite Mxyzptlk being introduced much earlier in the show’s run, the adaptation from the comics suffered some of the worst alterations ever seen to these iconic and mythical characters.Mxyzptlk is a trickster, and someone who derives joy from tormenting Superman.The show got that much right, but they turned him from a godly fifth dimensional being with reality-warping powers to an immature teenager who influences people to be clumsy.This was a huge downgrade, and it’s a good thing the character only appeared in one episode.
Mxyzptlk has so much potential to be a great comic element of a Superman story, or to be an incredibly powerful villain, or both. However,Smallvilletook the idea behind the character, scaled it down to fit into a grounded Superman origin story, and completely annihilated any shred of character from Mxyzptlk. It’s a huge shame, because having the character arrive early on,he could have returned later on and revealed that his first appearance was actually in disguise, but instead, it was another one-hit, no wonder.
4Doomsday
A One-Shot Villain
This one is a bit of a mixed bag.Doomsday is an iconic villain in Superman comics, who has incredible power, and presents a huge threat to even the most powerful versions of Superman. As a Kryptonian creature, they share many powers in common with Superman, but Doomsday also has a unique ability that stems from his death. Every time Doomsday dies, it is able to come back, having evolved and adapted to be able to withstand the last thing that killed it. The character has been adapted many times, and they are a great rival to the Man of Steel.
In season 8, a paramedic named Davis Bloom joinedSmallvillein a pivotal role.
However, when Doomsday appeared inSmallville, it was a very different version of the creature to what audiences were familiar with.In season 8, a paramedic named Davis Bloom joinedSmallvillein a pivotal role. Over the course of the season, Bloom could be seen struggling with an inner demon, and things eventually reached a fever pitch when Doomsday rose to the surface and took over Bloom completely. The portrayal was solid, and the acting from Sam Witwer was great, but when all was said and done, it felt like a totally different character, and the resolution was too simple. Not very Doomsday in any sense.
3Martian Manhunter
A Hidden Hero
Interestingly, Martian Manhunter appeared in just under a dozen episodes ofSmallvillefrom season 4 to season 9.Phil Morris was cast in a recurring role to play the familiar alien who is so often tied to Superman and the Justice League, andSmallvilledecided to bring these characters together in a unique way. The issue wasn’t their closeness, or the fact that the story set these heroes up as less contemporary, it’s the fact that Martian Manhunter essentially became a surrogate father to Clark.
Yes,Martian Manhunter is incredibly wise, they are a dear friend to Clark, and they form a strong bond in many iterations, but he is not Clark’s father.Jonathan Kent was inspirational, and helped Clark understand and appreciate humanity. But on the other hand, Jor-El is supposed to lead and direct Clark after his adoptive father’s death. Martian Manhunter inSmallvillewas a friend of Jor-El, sent to watch over his son, but it doesn’t make sense for Clark to not simply visit with and learn from his father in the Fortress of Solitude.
2Vandal Savage
A Neglected Nemesis
Technically speaking,Smallvilledoesn’t legitimately introduce Vandal Savage. However, there is a character, played by a prominent actor, who portrays a character that appears very similar to the Vandal Savage of the comics. Dean Cain, who famously played Superman for five years in the 1990s as part of the show,Lois & Clark, appears inSmallvilleas the mysterious and evil Curtis Knox. Knox, like Savage, is an immortal, harvesting organs from people to prolong his wife’s life, and thus extend his own.
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As a modern take on Superman, Smallville created many new major and supporting characters to help bring the character into the 21st century.
This is no coincidence, and it’s generally accepted that this isSmallville’sversion of Savage, who is living with an alias to protect his identity.However, the depiction would have been stronger had it leaned either further into the character of Vandal Savage, without ambiguity, or if it was more original. It was a nice touch to cast the former Superman actor as a tribute, but the story suffered by toying with the idea of being Savage, and never fully committing to it.
1Darkseid
A Distant Threat
Anothericonic villain who frequently contends with Supermanis Darkseid.This villain’s popularity has seen them adapted in several iterations, with the DCEUJustice Leaguedelivering a fair, if not a little underwhelming, version of the supervillain. The alien warlord who frequently brings the universe to its knees got a very different adaptation when it came toSmallville.
Despite using the name Darkseid, the version seen inSmallvillewas basically an angry cloud. Instead of a hulking behemoth monster with rock-like skin, this alien overlord was downgraded to fog. Yes, it could infect people, like Lionel Luthor, and cause them to act under its influence, but the power and weight of the character was nothing compared to what it should have been. WhileSmallvilledid a lot right, it struggled to connect Clark Kent to the rest of DC, and it typically thrived when it stuck to the small town storyline, without trying to introduce complex rivals in disappointing and reduced ways.
Smallville
Cast
Smallville chronicles the journey of Clark Kent, portraying his origins from Krypton to his teenage years on Earth. The series explores his challenges and development leading towards his destiny as the iconic hero, Superman, set against the backdrop of Smallville, Kansas.
