How true is the Smallville TV Series to the Superman Comics?

Question

Obviously they arent identicle but how much do they differ?

Answer 1

not to true as lex never knew Clark till the reporter days

Answer 2

They differ quite a bit from what I've seen. The parents are younger in the show than in the comics. The oh-so-overdone story angle with a new human granted superpowers from kryptonite is unique to the show, as in the comics kryptonite, at least the green variety they used, doesn't give people superpowers. "Smallville"'s take on red kryptonite is completely wrong, too. I think they got some of the names right, & that's about it. They actually added a lot of characters for the show that aren't in the books, which is understandable. All in all, if you are a major fan of the comics, don't take "Smallville" with a grain of salt. Use a salt lick, instead.

Answer 3

I have seen every episode of Smallville and kept up on the comics, and there are similarities, but more differences than anything else. Smallville has kind of picked and borrowed some things from the comics and taken "artistic liberties" with the rest, and that is putting it mildly. For example, Chloe never existed in the comics, Pete Ross was his best friend, and Lois didnt meet Clark until he went to Metropilis.

Answer 4

I have never seen it, but I keep hearing (and reading) over and over that it is complete crap. There is very little similarity between that show and either the Superman comics, or other Superman TV shows/Movies.

From everything I have seen, they have basically taken small snippets from different eras of the Superman/Superboy storylines, as well as from the various movies, cartoons and TV shows. I will tell you that the 'Pre-Crisis' (prior to the 1986 DC revamp of all the comic book titles), Superman HAD known Lex in Smallville, Lex even knew that Superboy and Clark were one and the same (even before Lana Lang or Pete Ross knew). They were classmates and best friends. Then, one day, Lex was conducting chemistry experiments in his parent's barn. There was an accident and an explosion, with Lex being trapped in the back of the barn. Superboy came to his rescue, and saved Lex by using his Super Breathe to simply blow out the fire. However, chemicals inside the barn blew all over Lex, making his fire-red hair fall out (which he had been very vain about). Being bald and still in high school made Lex a laughing stock, which he blamed entirely on Superboy. Over time, Lex went from being angry/resentful at Superboy to being obsessively revenge minded. For many many years, Lex was a mentally unbalanced lunatic criminal who was also a genius. He devoted all his intellect to outlandish schemes designed to kill or injure Superboy (and later Superman)in one way or another. It was not until after the 1986 revamp that Lex was changed into a sadistic, power hungry meglomaniac that saw Superman as someone standing between him and his goals of world domination. Click the link below to learn more about Superman!

Answer 5

Look at it like the Ultimate storylines from Marvel, they're just retelling the story of young Clark Kent in a modern setting. You gotta remember, Supes would've grown up in the 30s or 40s, and who would watch that show? I didn't like the whole "kryptonite gives you powers" thing, and I absolutely HATED Clark meeting Lois in Smallville, but they have to get ratings. If it followed the comic exactly, there would be no show, it'd just be some hick kid with powers that moved to the city and became a superhero.

Answer 6

There have been numerous Superman - Clark Kent continuities in the comics including ones in which Jonathan Kent died when he was a teen and Lex Luthor was seen in Smallville pre-Superman.

The biggest difference is Kryptonite does not cause "freak-of-the-week" type superpowers.

Also, Jor-El is not evil, nor does Superman have some kind of Evil Kryptonian heritage.

Answer 7

well they do share some things alike, but the thing is that smallville is when clark was younger not yet becoming superman all together, the comics tell the superman story but when he's already superman, even though smallville does have somethings like lois lane showing up when she doesnt meet him until he leaves for metropolis, but most likely there different since its in a different time in his life.

Answer 8

It depends on wither your reading the Smallville comic if so the they are exactly the same but if your read the true Superman comics then there are more differences then similarity's

Answer 9

well smallville is supposed to be when clark was a small child and growing up with his foster mom and dad and the comic book is when he was much older just fighting lex luthor and saving the world from other things and creatures

Answer 10

the only element that Smallville does to the Superman comics is crap throughout them, and if that wasn't adequate, they then used them as bathroom paper, then flushed them down the bathroom.