It's hard to find a better superhero origin story than the one in Smallville. The series gives DC fans a detailed look into Clark Kent's earlier years before he finally becomes Earth's greatest hero aka Superman. There's much to love about young Clark Kent, including his work ethic and moral code. There are also his powers too, which seem to be ever as the superhero discovers a new one with each passing season.
This paralleled perfectly with the DC Comics history as new issues have seen Superman has acquired plenty of new powers. After all, he has been around for centuries. But what can a young Clark Kent do? Or rather, what is it that Clark can and 'kent' do? The following are questions to answers that fans have about the extent of Clark's powers in Smallville.
Can Clark Fly?
For most of the series, Clark is yet to learn how to fly. He can only perform what has been described as the "Super Leap." By combining his dexterity and strength, Clark is able to leap from one location to another that's far away.
He has been able to control his leaps more efficiently as he grows older. For example, he leaps to save Chloe after she was blasted off the roof-top by Zatanna's spell. He also leaps off a taxi to catch the Daily Planet Globe. The leaps can be described as a learning phase for flying, something he manages to do when he finally becomes Superman.
How Many Types Of Kryptonite Are There And How Can They Harm Him?
There are over 15 different types of the Kryptonian radioactive element but the series only touches on a few. The worst form that young Clark gets exposed to is Green kryptonite. It makes him physically ill and the pain he gets from it is unbearable. He mentions that it hurts more than broken ribs. Red kryptonite doesn't harm him physically but it makes him lose his conscience and allows his inhibitions to run free.
Blue kryptonite robs Clark of all his powers (albeit briefly) when he comes into contact with it but doesn't harm him physically. Gold kryptonite has the ability to take away his powers permanently. Black kryptonite separates him from his Kryptonian identity, Kal-El, and Silver kryptonite doesn't harm him but makes him paranoid and hallucinate. Clark can protect himself from all forms of kryptonite radiation using lead.
What Gives Clark His Powers?
Clark's powers are as a result of his bodily cells' absorbing solar energy from Earth's yellow sun. His cells act as veritable organic solar batteries. They metabolize solar energy and convert it to superhuman powers. In outer space, his powers become even greater because he is much closer to the sun. Emil once mentions that Clark would become the most powerful being in the universe if he entered the sun.
However, when Clark gets exposed to red solar radiation from Krypton’s red sun, Rao, he becomes weak. This is because the radiation replaces the yellow solar radiation from the Earth's sun in his cells. This thus eliminates the key ingredient which he needs to be powerful. As a result, he becomes immortal.
What Is "Clark Time?"
This is how Clark sees Time when he acts or moves much quicker than anyone else. Even if events are happening too fast, it all appears normal to him. Clark can don the suit of The Flash if he wanted. In the series, he is able to move at superhuman speeds from the age of six. He is also said to be faster than sound.
In one scene, he runs from the barn to the Smallville library, then comes back before Chloe can turn her head. In season 5, Clark runs from Metropolis to Honduras in just a few seconds. His speed also improves with time. In season 4, he couldn't run on the water while going after Bart but in season 10, he can. He is also able to move from London to Metropolis in 2 seconds.
How Does He Control His Powers?
Having as much power as Clark has can be overwhelming. So, how does he manage to control them? Since he was a child, Clark was taught how to use mental limiters by his adoptive parents. As a result, Clark never kills anyone directly using his powers or the entirety of the series.
These "limiters" are meant to prevent him from harming innocent citizens. That's why unlike the Clark in BvS who destroys buildings, the Clark in Smallville is extra careful. Clark has several of the "limiters" within his mind and can remove one of them while fighting a superior opponent in order to be more powerful.
What's The Importance Of The Speed Force Suit?
In the season 11 episode "Haunted," Clark wears the speed force suit to control his speed better. Why does he need it? The suit is created by Emil Hamilton and Clark uses it to fight the Black Flash.
Instead of sending Clark to the sun, Emil figures that Clark could collect his own energy. He thus creates a containment suit that enables him to collect and store all his speed energy. This enables them to become stronger and move fast enough to fight the equally quick Black Flash. The costume is half black and half electric-blue.
How Intelligent Is Clark?
Clark's mental capacity is limitless. He has a photographic memory and can easily remember everything that happened. He can also process information much quicker than any other living being on Earth. For example, he manages to calculate his parent's financial status within seconds.
Clark's brain can also process several different trains of thought at the same time, enabling him to multi-task efficiently. He can read minds too. He is shown reading Lois' mind and finding out she wishes to be taken to a monster truck rally on a date.
What's The Extent Of His Invulnerability?
Clark has a force-field aura that makes him invulnerable to the most dangerous things under the yellow sun. Bullets? Bombs? Lightning? Lasers? Nuclear bombs? None of those can harm him. He has much thicker skin (literally) and can't get ill from any of the earthly diseases. Even Clark's hair is steel-like. When Margaret Isobel Thoreaux tries to cut it, the scissors break.
However, Clark has no defense against magic. His biological structure is not equipped to deal with the supernatural. Apart from Kryptonite and the red sun, the only other things that can harm him outside the Earth are alien weapons such as Starblade, the Kryptonian dagger, and the Persuader's atomic ax.
How Good Is His Vision?
A genuine question since he wears glasses. But those are just meant to conceal his identity. Clark would never need to visit an optician. He can see through most things, except the metal lead. He has electromagnetic perception, which enables him to see X-ray, radio, and television signals. This enables him to avoid being detected by radar.
He also has microscopic vision that enables him to see tiny things, such as bacteria. His telescopic vision adheres to the laws of physics, meaning he can see something that isn't within a range that could be spotted via a telescope or powerful camera. As for his heat vision, he eventually manages to control it.
What About His Super Hearing?
Clark can hear all kinds of sounds, including whispers. He is able to hear conversations and sounds as he is moving at high speed. This is how he manages to hear when someone is in trouble and goes to rescue them.
However, high-frequency noises have been shown to bother him. While his super hearing makes him pick up low sounds easily, it makes him extremely sensitive to high pitch sounds. Black Canary's sonic scream almost makes him lose his mind. Such is also the case with Silver Banshee's loud scream.