Smallvillebrought a unique perspective to Superman and his world, both adding to and twisting the wider DC mythos to suit its story. As a result, many of its characters are original as opposed to adaptations. While franchise mainstays like Clark Kent, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, and Jimmy Olsen are all prominently featured, new characters often receive as much screen time. In fact,some ofSmallville’smost popular heroes and villains originated from the series.
Across 10 seasons, it introduced many, many characters, ranging from bit roles to major supporting players. While some, like Clark’s girlfriend Alicia orthe resurrected teen Adam Knight, leave an impact on viewers, others show up for one episode. Even so, there are a few who stick out as especially memorable.Here are 10 ofSmallville’sbest original characters:
10Dax-Ur Parallels Clark
Portrayed By Marc McClure
Appearing in season 7, Dax-Ur, played bySupermanalum Marc McClure, is an original character who borrows his profession from the DC Comics character Jax-Ur. Their names and careers as Kryptonian scientists are where the similarities stop. Jax-Ur is a villain, while Dax-Ur is well-intentioned. InSmallville, he created the technology that led tothe invention of the Brain InterActive Construct, or Brainiac. After he realized Brainiac’s destructive capabilities, Dax-Ur exiled himself to Earth out of guilt. Once there, he attempted to study the effect of sunlight on Kryptonite but instead discovered it gave him abilities.
Though he could have used his powers for good, Dax-Ur decided to use blue Kryptonite to dampen them.He married a human and had a son named Max. His story is a mirror of the life Clark could have had if he decided not to become a hero. This decision comes back to bite him, though, as Dax-Ur is unable to protect himself when Brainiac discovers him. Despite his short screen time, Dax-Ur is an interesting presence onSmallville, and he ties in well with Clark’s inner conflict throughout the series.
9Jason Teague Is A Threat To Both Clark And Kal-El
Portrayed By Jensen Ackles
Jason Teague is an unusual character for a show likeSmallville. He shares traits with Lex as well as the series' previous secondary antagonist, Whitney Fordman.Jason is Clark’s primary romantic rival for Lana Lang’s affections,but he also poses a significant threat to the teen hero because of his search for the Stones of Power. These Kryptonian artifacts form together to create the Crystal of Knowledge, which contains both all of Jor-El’s information about the galaxy and the ability to erect the Fortress of Solitude.
He inherited this mission from his mother, Genevieve. His relationship with Lana is all manipulation, as her ancestor ties into his family’s search for the Stones. Though he develops feelings for her, Jason cares more about his goals. His character is somewhat hard to like. He and Lana are only two years apart, and they meet in Paris. However, when he returns to Smallville for her, he works as an assistant football coach at her high school. Combining that with his using her casts his character in an icky light.
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The saving grace of Jason is that he’s played by Jensen Ackles.Supernaturalhad yet to begin, but his star power was already evident by how he made an unlikable character more fun to watch.Jason was created as a result of the network asking the writers to create another boyfriend for Lana,and he was written out because Ackles needed to be free forSupernatural, meaning his arc didn’t resolve as the writers intended. All things considered, the minds behindSmallvilledid a good job crafting Jason as a foil to Clark.
8Genevieve Teague Is A Force To Be Reckoned With
Portrayed By Jane Seymour
Genevieve Teague is Jason’s mother and the primary antagonist ofSmallvilleseason 4. As mentioned, she is searching for the Stones of Power, like her ancestors did before her. However, she has much deeper ties to the conspiracies surrounding Clark’s arrival on Earth.Genevieve is a member of the Veritas Society,which believes that an alien known as the Traveller will arrive and save humanity. She’s the real puppetmaster in Jason’s manipulations, orchestrating his meeting Lana.
The Luthors are the standard against which all of the show’s other antagonists are measured. By that metric, Genevieve succeeds; she’s a well-acted, believable threat who fulfills her purpose entertainingly.
Genevieve is played by the legendary Jane Seymour,and her performance is a huge part of why the character is an effective villain.Smallville’siteration of Lex and his father, Lionel Luthor, are extremely compelling characters. As a result, the Luthors are the standard against which all of the show’s other antagonists are measured. By that metric, Genevieve succeeds; she’s a well-acted, believable threat who fulfills her purpose entertainingly.
7Steven Hamilton Aids Lex’s Kryptonian Research
Portrayed By Joe Morton
Introduced in season 1, Steven Hamilton is played byfutureJustice Leaguestar Joe Morton. He is a scientist obsessed with the meteor rocks (Kryptonite) that arrived during the same meteor shower that brought Clark to Earth. Before the series, he sold fake meteor rocks to tourists, but he resumes his scientific studies with funding from Lex after he discovers evidence that the rocks alter humans' cellular makeup.Steven’s actions directly lead Lex to establish Cadmus labs in order to keep their experiments under wraps.He also discovers the Key, which Clark later uses to transport to the Fortress of Solitude.
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Smallville’s initial villain-of-the-week structure meant the show had many guest stars with bit parts, some of whom went on to bigger superhero roles.
Steven is named for Dr. Emil Hamilton, a supporting character for Superman in the comics,but he is a distinct character as Emil appears in later seasons of the show. His time of the show is short, but Morton plays the role well, and his impact is felt for the remainder ofSmallville.
6Whitney Fordman Rivals Clark For Lana’s Love
Portrayed By Eric Johnson
When comparing Lana’s love interests aside from Clark, season 1’s Whitney Fordman may not be as interesting as Lex or Jason, but he was never meant to be. Whitney, played by Eric Johnson, was the quarterback for the Smallville Crows who dated Lana. He was a bully to Clark, largely because he knew about his interest in his girlfriend.Whitney was not a deep or complex character at first, but that worked because season 1 was meant to show Clark dealing with normal teen problems, not just alien threats.Smallvilledid, however, make Whitney more complex over time.
His father suffers from a heart condition and eventually dies, turning Whitney’s world upside down. As a result, he struggles to maintain his football scholarship and gives up on his dreams of playing football professionally. He and Clark slowly become more friendly with each other as well. After he graduates,Whitney joins the Marines and is tragically killed in action.
His character may not have the most dramatic or flashy story, but his arc from bully to friend to hero worked well for the high school years of Smallville. A lot of teenagers go through the same struggles as him. Additionally,Whitney was later included inMan of Steel, played by Robert Gerdisch.
5Tess Mercer Does What Lex Never Could
Portrayed By Cassidy Freeman
Tess Mercer is a unique case study in adaptation. She’s both an original character and three different Superman villains all at once.Her name is derived from Eve Tessmacher and Mercy Graves, Lex’s two most common henchwomen. This makes sense as she is introduced in season 8 to replace him by acting as his emissary and later becoming an antagonist in her own right. However, the last season revealed that Tess is actually Lex’s sister, and her birthname is Lutessa Lena Luthor, meaningshe is theSmallvilleequivalent of Lena Luthor.Consequently, she’s more like a new character entirely.
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Tess is a wonderful addition to the cast and helps fill the void left afterLex exited the series. Her journey is a fun watch as she follows the opposite trajectory of her brother, going from villain to ally.Tess' story is an interesting inversion of Lex’s,which bolstersSmallville’sthemes of legacy, identity, and what makes someone a hero.
4Ryan James Is The Brother Clark Always Wanted
Portrayed By Ryan Kelley
Ryan James is the most tragic character inSmallville.He’s introduced in season 1, episode 16 “Stray” as a young boy with telepathy, who is forced to help his abusive stepfather commit crimes. After Ryan crosses paths with Martha Kent, he stays with the family for a few days and learns Clark’s secret. He’s later sent to live with his aunt, but in the second season, Clark discovers he’s been sent to the Summerholt Research Facility. The doctor there is experimenting on him, so Clark helps him escape, and Lex aids the Kents in getting temporary custody of Ryan.
Consequently, his powers are revealed as the result of an inoperable tumor in his brain. Clark does everything in his power to save Ryan, who he sees as his little brother, but even Superman doesn’t have the power to cure cancer. Ryan spends several days at home with the Kent family, then passes away. His story is a tearjerker, butit’s important in Clark’s journey, as Ryan is the first person he simply cannot rescue.
3Virgil Swann Reveals Superman’s Heritage
Portrayed By Christopher Reeve
Dr. Virgil Swann is a wonderful addition toSmallville,both within the narrative and in a meta sense.Swann is played bySupermanactor Christopher Reeve as a tribute to his time wearing the cape.He is a founding member of the Veritas Society, who actually uncovered the truth of Clark’s heritage. However, he kept his knowledge secret until Clark revealed himself. Swann viewed himself as a protector of the Traveller and sought to equip him with the knowledge needed to save humanity.
Reeve was tragically injured in a horseback riding incident that left him quadriplegic in 1995, and he became a philanthropist and disability activist thereafter.His return to Superman media withSmallvillerang triumphantas a result. Reeve gave an emotionally resonant performance that passed the torch from his Superman to Welling’s. He only appeared twice on the series despite being planned for a larger presence in Season 4 due to Reeve’s passing.
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Swann is an excellent character who brought a lot of intrigue toSmallville, and it’s a shame the writers' original plans ever came to fruition.Christopher Reeve is a legend,so more screen time with him would have been amazing, but his appearances were iconic and helped cementSmallville’slegacy.
2Chloe Sullivan Became Clark’s Closest Ally
Portrayed By Allison Mack
Very few original characters achieve the same level of popularity as Chloe Sullivan did onSmallville.Chloe initially served as the series' resident journalist,with her investigations both pushing the story forward and supplying a more organic source of exposition. She was quirky and often cracked one-liners, providing a sense of levity to the show. Earlier seasons featured Chloe’s crush on Clark, which was their primary source of conflict as he waffled on whether he liked her at all. Once the series dropped this idea, the two became the closest friends. Chloe was his ally, secret-keeper, and eventual guy-in-the-chair.
Chloe was also the only main character aside from Clark to appear as a regular in all 10 seasons ofSmallville.However, actress Allison Mack did not reprise her role in every episode. Because she is the second most prominent protagonist of the series, Chloe is a certified fan favorite, and she’s even made the leap from screen to page.Smallvillemay have originally created her as a Lois-type character for Clark to bounce off of - she and Loisarecousins after all - but Chloe more than earns her title as Clark’s best friend throughout its 10 seasons.
1Lionel Luthor Redefined Lex’s Origin Story
Portrayed By John Glover
While Lex Luthor’s parents had appeared sporadically in DC comics prior toSmallville, the series was the first project to really delve into Lex’s father as a separate character.Lionel Luthor, played by the talented John Glover, is a ruthless, self-made businessman who teaches his sonThe Art of Warthrough manipulation and abuse. He’s an interesting antagonist and the kind of guy you’d cross the street to avoid. The dynamic between Lex and Lionel is a perversion of that between Clark and Jonathan Kent. The latter is a more loving relationship, but both instill their morals into their sons.
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Smallvilleinvests a lot of screen time on how Lionel turns Lex into a villain, and it works spectacularly. In the earlier seasons, Lionel pushes Lex to the dark side. Later on,as Lex becomes more evil, Lionel becomes an ally to Clark.Their arcs are foils to one another, with Lex finally embracing his evil side by murdering Lionel.Smallvillesimply would not be as successful without Lionel, and that shows in how the character was integrated into the mainstream DC universe.
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.
