Movies News Talk
Smallville may have disappointed fans with a lacking Superman costume reveal in the finale, but some fan art has finally showcased exactly what Tom Welling in the suit could have looked like. Smallville aired on The WB at the end of 2001, and continued for 10 seasons, transitioning to The CW when the channel combined with UPN in 2006. The show provided insight into the early years of the world's most powerful superhero.
Smallville did an excellent job providing an origin for the Man of Steel, and showcasing the struggles of living with superpowers as a young man in school. However, it suffered from a lack of development when the show never saw the boy wonder become the Man of Tomorrow. Even in the Smallville finale, Tom Welling's Superman is only visible in distant shots, or rapid flybys, as the show tried to cover up the completely CG suit. While it was important to explore Clark Kent's journey in the series, it would have been nice to see him suit up at the end.
Tom Welling was a perfect Clark Kent. His masculine physique, his square jaw, and his incredible portrayal of a conflicted young man makes for an incredible superhero journey in the series. But thanks to some Fan Art from Instagram user buffy2ville, the character can finally be seen as a fully realized superhero in the style of the New 52 comics. Of course, in typical comics fashion, the physique is rippling with muscles, but it offers a picture of what could have been in the show.
Had Welling actually donned the suit in Smallville, it would likely have appeared slightly more toned down than the above. Welling was an exceptionally fit man, and certainly had the musculature to pull off the look, but as seen in the final shots of the series, the suit that Welling's Superman wore was simple and classic. The suit in the show had fewer lines, and the classic red underwear featured in classic Superman comics and movies.
A brief scene featuring Chloe reading a comic titled "Smallville" to her son appears to mirror what Welling's Superman was set to wear, and it is remarkably similar to the Christopher Reeves suit from the classic Superman movies. While the artwork provides a more modern and flattering look at Welling's Superman and what could have been, it remains a dream that is unlikely to be realized. At least the Smallville animated spin-off is still on the table, which could eventually reveal Welling's Superman once and for all.