Ultraman Runs Amok in This Week's 'Smallville'

Since 1938 Superman has been inspiring hope and goodwill to the people of his adopted planet.

In 1964 comic book readers were introduced to his evil doppelganger from Earth-3, Ultraman. He inspired fear and malevolence. Earth 3 is inhabited by amoral versions of DC’s classic superheroes; the nastiest and vilest belong to a team called the Crime Syndicate. It’s leader, Ultra-Man, is a human whose powers are increased by exposure either by kryptonite (Golden Age version) or Anti-Kryptonite (the current version).

Earth-3 is one the many infinite realities that perished in the 80’s classic maxi-series Crisis on Infinite Earths. However, Ultraman and the Syndicate were granted a new lease on life thanks to Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s fantastic graphic novel JLA: Earth-2. Ultraman and the rest of the team were not only evil, they were completely depraved.

This week Ultraman makes his first appearance on Smallville in an episode featuring the return of John Glover as Lionel Luthor. In the episode, the good and bad Clark inadvertently switch realities. In the new reality we learn that evil Clark was raised by an equally evil Lionel Luthor (shouldn’t he be good?) instead of the Kents. I am especially excited that Bryan Q. Miller (Batgirl) has written the episode; Miller has an ear for witty dialogue.

The episode titled “Luthor” airs this Friday on the CW at 8 p.m./ 7 p.m. CST. See the previews below.

Good Clark

Bad Clark