My knowledge of the Smallville TV series is kind of limited. I rather enjoyed its first two seasons; they were a bit formulaic but the characterization was solid.
I dropped out somewhere between the third and fourth season, where the plots were already stupidly convoluted and characterization was inconsistent.
As you probably know, the series was pitched as “Superman’s adventures as Clark Kent before he became Superman”. My main exposure to what happened after I stopped following it is the sheer amount of characters that Clark ALREADY meets before taking the costume.
A list that includes, but amazingly IS NOT LIMITED TO… very deep breath… Perry White, Lois Lane, Impulse, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Brainiac, Aquaman, Zod, Cyborg, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Bizarro, Supergirl, Vandal Savage, Black Canary, Maxima, Doomsday, Zatanna, Parasite, Jimmy Olsen, Speedy, Hawkman, Doctor Fate, Stargirl, Star-Spangled Kid, Sandman, Atom, Wildcat, Flash, Green Lantern, Starman, Amanda Waller, Maxwell Lord, Granny Goodness, Superboy, Darkseid, Deadshot, Hawkgirl, Deathstroke, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle.
By the end of the series, Clark already met ALL OF THE ABOVE before ever wearing the cape.
In addition to the ABSURD idea that Clark already met them, none of these characters seem appealing to me.
Although as a massive Stargate SG1 fan, I have to smile at the casting choice to have Michael Shanks play Hawkman… an archeologist whose backstory involves dying a lot.
If you know, you know.
I was so dissatisfied with Smallville that I didn’t even check out the appearance of the Legion of Superheroes until I had to research it for this review!
Before we tackle the episode properly, first let’s have a look at the recap of the previous episodes.
And since I’m dropping by after at least five seasons I missed, I’m already shocked to see that Chloe… a character original from this series, who started out as Clark’s friend and potential love interest… recently married Jimmy Olsen.
Chloe (played by Allison Mack) was my favorite character when I was still watching the series; I felt she was a good addition to the lore.
Don’t look up what happened to the actress playing her.
As for Jimmy Olsen, this was eventually revealed as the older brother of the Jimmy Olsen that will work at the Daily Planet… who will ALSO meet Clark before he becomes Superman.
Later, Chloe’s mind was taken over by Brainiac… who is EXTREMELY lame in this incarnation, as we will eventually see… and healing her at the Fortress of Solitude (because OF COURSE Clark already has access to it in this series), he makes her forget his secret identity.
Oh and DOOMSDAY (who in this version is just some guy turned into a monster) then kidnaps Chloe.
Because of course in a series taking place before he ever becomes Superman you really want to introduce the guy only known for killing Superman.
This series doesn’t ANYWHERE NEAR the budget needed for Doomsday, so he’s barely visible in the shadows.
And that’s really all we are supposed to need for the episode, so… let’s start properly.
Somebody saaaaave meeeee
Season 8, Episode 11
“Legion” (2009)
Written by Geoff Johns
Directed by Glen Winter
Original release: January 15th 2009
After the wedding has been crashed by Doomsday, we meet Clark Kent as he informs Lana Lang (by this point she knows he has powers) that he hasn’t been able to find Chloe.
Clark is of course played by Tom Welling, who I think is generally pretty good considering the scripts he’s given.
They’re still keeping Doomsday’s connection to Krypton, even if like I said he’s ultimately just a dude who transforms into Doomsday.
I was SO not looking forward to see this version of Lana Lang (played by Kristin Kreuk ) again.
One of the big reasons why I quit following the series is that she was UNBEARABLY ANNOYING and all the scripts were always bending over backwards to hype her as this amazing person while she was Just. The. Worst.
I won’t go into the specifics considering I’m already way off topic, but yeah I HOPE Lana is different from how I remember her character.
This is the problem with dropping in after five seasons because I have absolutely no idea what the “Isis Foundation” is supposed to be, but it’s apparently related to a database on superhumans.
And then Persuader teleports in the Kent farm, to retrieve some kind of Kryptonian technology!!!
Smallville can look VERY low budget when it’s trying to do characters straight from the comics, but all things considered this isn’t a bad Persuader.
Clark is so not accustomed to someone able to hurt him so easily that he would probably lose the fight…
…if it wasn’t for someone magnetically stealing his Atomic Axe.
That would be Cosmic Boy of course, played by Canadian actor Ryan Kennedy.
I haven’t seen anything else he’s played.
Next to show up is Saturn Girl, played by Alexz Johnson. Another Canadian actress, although it seems like she’s more known as a singer.
And last there’s Lightning Lad, played by Calum Worthy; I haven’t seen anything else he’s done, but he played Speedball in a pilot for a New Warriors series that was never picked up.
He really sticks out from the others by looking considerably younger, and he was: Cosmic Boy was played by an actor who was 27 years old at the time, Saturn Girl by a 23 year old, Clark Kent by a 32 year old… and Lighting Lad was being played by an 18 year old.
Cosmic Boy sends Persuader back into the future by taking back the Flight Ring that he had stolen.
Not only this marks the first live action appearance of the Legionnaires, but I’m pretty sure this is STILL the only adaptation of any kind where the three founders are the ones to go back in time to meet a teenage Superman.
All other adaptations I’m aware of change at least one member.
Also, possibly the only adaptation where all three founders are played by Canadians.
Since this series is ridiculously rigid about NEVER using the term “superhero”, they’re technically just “the Legion” and not “the Legion of Super-Heroes”.
This is when the theme song drops. That’s right, we’re BARELY out of the teaser… can you see why it takes me so much longer to review the adaptations?
Somebody saaaaave meeeee
Clark has already seen so much weird stuff that he’s not particularly phased by time travelers. Heck I’m pretty sure this isn’t even the first time the series DOES time travel!
I’m using the codenames for convenience, by the way. Everyone uses civilian names because Smallville really, REALLY doesn’t like codenames.
To the point that Cosmic Boy has to stop Lightning Lad to reveal that Clark will one day be called Superman.
The founders have a good dynamic, and kind of a familiar one. Cosmic Boy is the no-nonsense leader and Saturn Girl is the calm and understanding one; both characterizations are fairly typical for them.
Lightning Lad as the excitable fanboy COULD get grating, but I think it’s played well enough not to overstay its welcome.
One thing that elevates this for me is that this was clearly written by a Legion fan… in fact you may have noticed that this was written by Geoff Johns.
He only wrote 4 episodes of Smallville, but he’s also the writer of roughly fifty billion DC Comics stories… including being responsible for the so-called “Retroboot”.
Which would take WAY TOO MUCH to talk now, so let’s just acknowledge that this episode has a ton of easter eggs for Legion fans… which I will be counting, because you know me.
Starting from the fact that Clark’s jacket will eventually be in the Levitz Museum.
Legion references: 1
But obviously the Legion obeys the Grampa Simpson Directive.
The whole reason the Legion was here was to stop Persuader from killing Clark, so they’re ready to just leave.
It is kind of amazing that Geoff Johns is ALREADY writing the same Legion story that he will eventually write in the comics, about a “human supremacist” movement in the 31st century.
And obviously they hate Superman because alien, so they hitched a ride at the Time Institute.
Legion references: 2
Specifically, Superman’s actions will become historically significant to inspire several alien races to emigrate to Earth.
Lightning Lad’s planet from the comics gets namedropped, but not the others… probably because they thought Saturn Girl not being from Saturn itself might have been confusing?
Legion references: 3
It would have been hilarious if the Legion actually continued with the original plan: drop by, reveal to Clark that he will change the course of human history, and then just leave without ever showing up again… but that would ALSO fit Smallville’s tone perfectly.
But no, Cosmic Boy finds another reason to stay.
Turns out that Brainiac is still possessing Chloe, and now he’s taken her to the Fortress Of Solitude.
Well she’s not THE Brainiac, she’s the lame version of Brainiac from Smallville… a shorthand for Brain Interactive Construct.
She’s facing Doomsday after he turned back into a dude.
This awkwardly results in what is likely the only universe where there’s sexual chemistry between Brainiac and Doomsday.
I’m not gonna lie, this might just be the second least interesting version of Doomsday I’ve ever seen (after Batman v Superman). And I say that even if I don’t particularly care for Doomsday.
Technically this is the SECOND adaptation, after the animated series, when the Legion ends up meeting Clark on the day he defeats Brainiac.
Clark’s moral dilemma is that, now that Persuader has destroyed the McGuffin that could have freed Chloe from Brainiac, the only way to stop him is to kill her.
Even freaking Smallville, who had a VERY strict mandate against Clark EVER flying in the show, gives the Legion their Flight Rings! Despite not having the budget for a decent effect!
The 5YL era has no excuse whatsoever for skipping the rings.
The Legion is really surprised by Clark not knowing how to fly.
They might not be from the Smallville universe, considering they’ve never heard of Chloe.
(she will eventually be introduced in the comics the following year)
They make a big deal out of it, but honestly it’s kind of a miracle that they know ANY of the people around Clark to begin with.
After Lightning Lad mentions the possibility that Chloe isn’t in the history books because she’s going to die today, Cosmic Boy scolds him with the only use of his codename.
Since Clark doesn’t want to kill his friend to save the world (???), Lightning Lad even doubts this is the real Superman. Even mentioning the “no tights, no flights” that was the guiding principle behind Smallville.
The Legion is the one acting out of character from the comics, though, because once Saturn Girl finds Lana Lang she makes it VERY clear that they’re set on killing Brainiac’s host no matter what.
And I’m having flashbacks to the last time I watched Smallville when Saturn Girl hypes Lana Lang as a figure revered almost as much as Superman in the 31st century.
Admittedly I don’t know what Lana did in the previous five or so seasons, but if I were to base my opinion on the episodes I watched… if Lana were the Brainiac host and I had to decide whether to save her or kill billions of people, I would weigh my options.
Meanwhile Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad are doing some detective work on Chloe, who was originally Smallville’s resident expert on superhumans.
Remember the Isis Foundation mentioned earlier? That was founded by Lana and Chloe to help people with powers.
Lightning Lad has a rather good idea: if Chloe ended up helping Clark once he became Superman, he might have come up with a secret identity for her as well… and that might be why her name is not in the history books.
Cosmic Boy’s idea is also valid: Chloe might have been Clark’s Uncle Ben.
From what I’ve read about the rest of the series, both possibilities are far more interesting that what the series does with Chloe.
Meanwhile Clark has gone to the Fortress of Solitude to confront Chloeniac, who has already absorbed all the knowledge from the Kryptonian crystals there and wants to do the same with humans.
While I really don’t care for this version of Brainiac, I have to say that Allison Mack gives a hell of a performance. She’s REALLY creepy in this.
But it’s still Smallville, so it can REALLY feel silly.
While this obviously feels quite cheap from a 2025 perspective… I think a Legion TV series done like this COULD have worked. Especially since they do have a reason for not being in full costume, since they’re trying to blend in.
Also, notice the use of future swear words AND a namedrop of Polar Boy’s homeworld.
Legion references: 5
Yeah, uhm, it’s only been 16 years since this episode, but I’m afraid we’re set to miss this mark.
While the setup is really flimsy… the ONLY reason they’re doubting Clark is because he doesn’t want to murder his friend… this is a premise that I wouldn’t mind see explored more often.
The Legion knowing SO MUCH about Superman has always been a bit unrealistic, so at least SOME skepticism should be the norm in their first encounter.
Unwilling to hurt Chloe, Clark has gone back to Lana… yeah just a casual trip to the Artic and back, that’s the norm for Smallville… and apparently she has access to some crazy tech.
Clark is beginning to have some doubts about not stopping Brainiac just to save Chloe, with Lana being shocked about this.
Okay I’ve missed A LOT of Smallville but I’m calling bulls#it on this one, Clark was CONSTANTLY doubting himself!!!
Sure he would eventually go down this path, but he wouldn’t need LANA to tell him! She’s really the worst for this series all the way through, isn’t she?
And then Chloeniac… who is STILL WEARING HER WEDDING DRESS and evidently has super-speed… decides to upload Brainiac through the Daily Planet computers.
Notice the use of the Brainiac symbol introduced by the animated series, which at this point had already been a thing in the comics.
And everyone who looks at their screen is now under Brainiac’s influence.
Saturn Girl’s powers fail to stop Chloeniac.
Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy have a surprisingly high budget combined attack.
This knocks out Chloeniac, but she’s still downloading information from human minds.
In order to stop her, the Legion is ready to KILL CHLOE WITHOUT HESITATION.
Clark shows up in time to stop them, and obviously he’s not very pleased.
To save Chloe, they take her back to the Kent farm (Smallville sure loves to constantly move around the same sets over and over).
This version of Brainiac is made up of nanites, so Cosmic Boy is going to extract them and Lightning Lad is going to zap them.
WHY WASN’T THIS PLAN ONE???
Which is exactly what happens, right as Brainiac reboots.
Yes, that thing she just spit is supposed to be Brainiac.
Obviously Chloe suffers no negative repercussions from this.
She still remembers Clark’s secret, which I guess he thinks is a bad thing?
Saturn Girl talks with Lana about being inspired by Clark’s refusal to kill and find another way.
And OF COURSE Lana is well remembered a thousand years in the future even independently from Clark. Because according to Smallville she’s basically the most important human being ever.
Lightning Lad fanboys about Superman memorabilia, using another future curse word.
Legion references: 6
Cosmic Boy making fun of him for “acting like a sub” genuinely made me smile of joy.
It’s the perfect easter egg: a casual viewer would think it’s just future slang, but to those who know, that’s priceless.
Legion references: 7
Also, Lightning Lass exists in this continuity.
Legion references: 8
Clark signs it, in his own way.
The Legion will take the Brainiac remains into the future… although it’s ridiculous they’re ALREADY making a reference to a Brainiac 5, which doesn’t even EXIST at this moment.
This will also be the origin of the Legion’s code against killing, in this reality.
The existence of MORE Legionnaires is already confirmed, but we don’t get real clues about WHO is in it.
If Smallville had the budget for it, Clark would probably visit the Legion. He’ll have to wait for the comic book that serves as the continuation of the TV series.
(I will cover those issues, eventually)
And so the Legion returns home after dropping their collective catchphrase.
I don’t know why you’re so touched by this, Clark. EVERYONE YOU MEET in this series seems to know exactly what’s going to happen with you.
Even if he was shown to be morally superior to the Legion for not taking the easy way out, it’s neat that Clark gives all the credit to his adoptive parents.
As much as I think the need to have Superman be the direct inspiration for the Legion is overblown, it’s kind of neat to frame it as him being the Legion’s equivalent to the Kents.
Something I wish to see addressed a little more in stories featuring the Legion’s relationship with a young Clark is the kind of impact it has knowing you’ll become such a legend.
That’s not a problem with Lana, of course. She MUST be the most important being in the cosmos.
The episode ends with Doomsday coming out of his chrysalis. He’ll be a factor in the future Legion cameos.
Historical significance: 6/10
The first ever Legion in live action. They only have a couple of minor cameos in the series proper, but they have a surprising number of appearances in the spin-off comic book.
Does any of this show up in regular continuity?
We will eventually get a plot about a xenophobic movement against Superman in the 31st century… written by the same writer of this episode, too!
Silver Age-ness: 8/10
A rather flimsy plot that barely holds up together if you think about it for a bit, with a couple of weird jumps in logic.
Does it stand the test of time? 7/10
While this doesn’t make me want to check out other Smallville episodes of this era, AT ALL, it was better than I expected. But it’s not without its rough patches, especially in the middle.
You can clearly see there’s A LOT of love and respect for the Legion underneath the whole episode, which makes the weakest part stand out like a sore thumb… the emphasis on the Legion needing Clark to teach them the code against killing: they’re WAY too quick to jump to murder.
Therefore the main moral conflict feels forced, and the villain is particularly weak.
There are a lot of positives, though. The cast is pretty solid: Tom Welling is a good actor and has good chemistry with the Legionnaires. Out of the three Saturn Girl is the only one who didn’t really sell me on the character; she’s playing her a little too subdued, following her “ice queen” characterization from various eras, which makes her kind of boring.
Ryan Kennedy really impressed me as Cosmic Boy. In fact I would probably rank this as the best adaptation of the character we’ve ever seen… which isn’t saying a lot: he’s pretty bland in the Superman animated series, and while he starts of really strong in the Legion cartoon he goes WAY off-character in the second season.
I was fully expecting to detest this Lighting Lad, but he grew on me: Calum Worthy’s enthusiastic performance is quite contagious!
I remember Allison Mack’s Chloe to be the best part of the episodes I watched, and while Chloeniac was a dumb idea she plays it in a delightfully creepy way.
Seriously, do not look up what happened to Allison Mack.
The less said about Smallville’s Lana Lang, the better. I just can’t stand her.
We are Legion
3 active members confirmed
-Cosmic Boy
-Saturn Girl
-Lightning Lad
We know SOME other members exist, but it’s impossible to figure out which ones.
Lightning Lass is confirmed to be in this continuity, but not to be a hero right now.
And while the term “Brainiac 5” is used, he doesn’t exist yet.