Before Superman

A series

This series imagines Clark Kent's life before he was Superman. He goes back and forth between attending college and making time to visit family and friends in Smallville, Texas. Clark also dips his feet into big city crimefighting while developing a love for journalism. He begins interning at The Daily Planet, where he meets and develops feelings for senior associate and shining star, Lois Lane. But he is still hooked on his high school crush, the one that got away: Lana Lang. Along his journey, he meets future friends like a younger Bruce Wayne and Jimmy Olsen. It also follows Lana, who has political aspirations in the deeply traditionalist hometown, and Lois, who struggles to escape tensions in her military family. Season 2 delves deeper into Clark's tricky balance between journalism and superheroing. It follows his relationships with Lois, Lana, Jimmy Olsen, and Pete Ross. It also introduces his tense but evolving relationship with young billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, who is on his own journey to cope with the trauma of losing his parents, and the younger Lex Luthor who struggles to find his place in his power-hungry family. As he moves closer to becoming the superhero we all know, Season 3 further explores Clark's relationship to his parents and to Smallville itself, and sees him grapple with new truths about his Kryptonian origin that Martha and Jonathan kept from him and meets his cousin, Kara for the first time. His relationship with Lois deepens as he contemplates his long-term prospects. Lana campaigns for mayor against Pete. Lex moves to oust his father from the company. Bruce learns new secrets about Alfred, grows concerned about the rising crime and gang activity in Gotham, and meets a mysterious woman from a mysterious land. Similar to the show 'Smallville', he won't formally become Superman until the very end.

Story added by justincasts on June 18, 2025