Tom Welling’sSupermanseems to have found his powers again. As mostSmallvillefans know, Welling and his co-star Erica Durance reprised their roles as Clark Kent and Lois Lane for the CW’s massivecrossover eventCrisis on Infinite Earthsin 2019. However, it arguably came as a shock to many when Clark revealed that he’d given up his Kryptonian abilities in order to live a normal life and have a family. Check out Welling clad in his Superman suit in the brand-new fan art posted on Instagram by @superblurman and credited to @buffy2ville below:
During theBatwoman: Crisis on Infinite Earths — Part Twoepisode, it’s revealed that Lois and the former Man of Steel have daughters. This must certainly be a source of inspiration for this particular piece of fan art. “What’d the girls make?” Clark asks his wife. “A mess,” Lois responds during the CW show. So, the lovebirds have at least two children, which is captured beautifully in the four frames. Like her girls, Lois is sporting overalls, or at least suspenders. Meanwhile, Clark has donned his iconic Superman outfit. So, unless it’s Halloween out at the ole Kent Farm, it seems like Kal-El from Earth-167 is operating at full power again. In the comments, @huang.he.2022 wrote:
Yes, he gonna remove the blue ring soon.
The Instagram user is referring to Blue Kryptonite. In theSmallvilletelevision series, the radiation omitted by this particular mineral stripped Kryptonians of their powers. Unlike Gold K, which also took away their powers, the effects were not permanent. The problem is that in the aforementioned scene from theCrisis on Infinite Earths, Clark isn’t wearing a Blue K ring — only his wedding ring. So, there’s a more logical explanation for Superman’s full-powered appearance in the fan art, and yet another source of inspiration.
Related:How Smallville Redefined Superman For The 21st Century
Crisis Clark is From Earth-167
The Last Son of Krypton has lost his powers multiple times across many mediums over the years. In the filmSuperman II(1980), Clark (Christopher Reeve) uses a crystal chamber in the Fortress of Solitude, which utilizes the rays of Krypton’s sun, to strip away his abilities. Like theCrisis on Infinite Earth’s versionof Clark (Tom Welling), Reeve’s Superman gave up his powers to be with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). But the Man of Steel pictured in this brand-new fan art is likely not the character Welling portrayed onBatwoman.
Here’s where it gets a little complicated, thanks so much Elseworlds and multiverses for the confusion. The fan art is clearly inspired by CW’sCrisisstoryline because of the mention of Clark and Lois' “girls.” But its inspiration clearly comes from the television seriesSmallville, too, which exists outside ofBatwoman’sArrowverse. Grab the Tylenol, this is where it gets tricky — and the headaches begin becauseSmallvilleClark andCrisisClark are two totally different people who just happen to be portrayed by Welling.
Yes, Welling and Durance take on the roles of Clark Kent and Lois Lane again in the CW’sCrisis on Infinite Earths, but they are not the same characters fromSmallville. Same actors — yes. They look the same — obviously. But theCrisisversions of Clark and Lois are from Earth-167. The television seriesSmallville, which aired first on the WB and later the CW, existed within the confines of Earth, aka Earth-1. Fans of Arrowverse are probably typing right now: “No, the Arrowverse is Earth-1.” Yes, and so isSmallville. Technically, that meansSmallvilleexists in the same universe asSuperman & Lois?" Wait, what? Thanks again, CW.
Regardless, of the multiverse mess, the fan art is terrific, and it’s a wonderful nod to the Superman mythology, particularly the characters fromSmallville. And it’s always nice to seeWelling wearing the Superman suit since it was such a controversyon the television series. During the second half of theSmallvilleseries finale, Clark battles Darkseid in the vessel of Lionel Luthor (John Glover). During the fight, Kal-El takes flight and defeats the ruler of Apokolips. He then becomes Superman after receiving the iconic suit from a ghostly Jonathan Kent (John Schneider) later in the Fortress of Solitude. “Always hold on to Smallville,” Jonathan implores.
And if the fan art is any indication, Clark is fighting crime still, but his home base is the Kent Farm inSmallville,and that’s where he enjoys married life and raises two wonderful daughters. Coincidentally, that’s exactly how the Man of Steel is portrayed on the CW’sSuperman & Lois, but Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois (Bitsie Tulloch) have two sons rather than daughters. Those who enjoyed the fan art, please visit@buffy2villeon Instagram to see even moreSmallville-inspired creations below:
