Clark Kent (Smallville) and Ethan Cohn: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox actor
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| image = <!-- NOTE TO EDITORS: Do not introduce any fair use images in the infobox. Any fair use photos (i.e. promotional photos or pictures from films) are copyright violations and will be deleted. Also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Fair_use_criteria -->
|-
| birthname = Ethan Cohn
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; background-color: #D6D6FF; color: #ooo;"| ''[[Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]]'' character
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1979|4|18}}
|-
| birthplace = [[New York City, New York]], [[United States|USA]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Image:ClarkCommencement.jpg]]
| occupation = [[Actor]]
|-
}}
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; font-size: larger; background-color: #D6D6FF; color: #ooo;"|Clark Kent
|-
! Location:
| [[Smallville (DC Comics)|Smallville]]
|-
! Creators:
| '''Developed for Television'''<br>[[Alfred Gough]] & [[Miles Millar]]<br>'''Character'''<br>[[Jerry Siegel]] & [[Joe Shuster]]
|-
! First appearance:
| "[[Pilot (Smallville)|Pilot]]"
|-
! Portrayed by:
| [[Tom Welling]]
|-
! Species:
| [[Kryptonian]]
|-
! Abilities
| [[Powers and abilities of Superman#Smallville|Indestructability, superhuman strength and speed, super breath, heat vision, and X-ray vision]]<!--Please do not modify this list. It has based on powers Clark constantly exhibits, and not subjective abilities like endurance, longevity, or flight (since "Clark" has never actually flown).!-->
|}


'''Ethan Cohn''' ([[April 18]], [[1979]] in [[New York City]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[actor]] best known for his role as [[List of Heroes characters with special abilities#Zane Taylor|Zane Taylor]] in [[science fiction]] [[serial drama]] [[television series]] ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]''. He has worked in many films or television series, having small roles in ''[[Cry Wolf]]'', ''[[CSI: Miami]]'', ''[[Head Cases]]'', ''[[Huff]]'' and ''[[Lady in the Water]]''. However, he advanced rapidly in his career and had a recurrent role in ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'' as Glenn.
'''Clark Kent''' is a [[fictional character]] on the [[Television program|television series]] ''[[Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]]''. The character, first created for [[comic book]]s by [[Jerry Siegel]] and [[Joe Shuster]] in 1938 as [[Clark Kent|the alternate identity]] of [[Superman]], was adapted to television in 2001 by [[Alfred Gough]] and [[Miles Millar]] &mdash; this is the fourth time the character has been adapted to a [[live action]] television series. Clark Kent has been played continually by [[Tom Welling]], with various other actors portraying Clark as a child. The character has also appeared in various literature based on the ''Smallville'' television series, none of which directly continues from or into the television episodes. As of 2007, <i>Smallville</i>'s Clark Kent has appeared in eighteen [[young adult novels]]. Tom Welling has been nominated for multiple [[Teen Choice Awards]] and [[Saturn Award]]s for his portrayal of Clark Kent since the show began its [[Smallville (season 1)|first season]].


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohn, Ethan}}
In ''Smallville'', Clark Kent attempts to live the life of a normal human being, and struggles with keeping the secret of his alien heritage from his friends.<ref name="Tom">{{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Paul|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 1|year=2004|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|location=London|pages=8–17|isbn=1840237955}}</ref> He has a series long on-again off-again relationship with Lana Lang, the trials of which are based on his lack of honesty about his secret.<ref>Episode in which the pair start and end their relationship: Season two's "Exodus", season three's "Phoenix", season five's "Arrival" & "Hypnotic", season seven's "Fierce" & "Arctic"</ref> In contrast to previous incarnations of the character, this Clark Kent starts out best friends with Lex Luthor, whom he meets after saving the latter's life.<ref name="Pilot ep">{{cite episode|title=Pilot|series=Smallville|credits=[[Alfred Gough]], [[Miles Millar]] (writers) & [[David Nutter]] (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2001-10-16|season=1|number=1|minutes=42}}</ref> The pair's friendship eventually deteriorates into hatred for one another. In this series, Clark's powers appear over time. He is not aware of all of his powers at the start of the show; for instance, his [[heat vision]] and [[Powers and abilities of Superman#Smallville|super breath]] do not develop until [[Smallville (season 2)|season two]] and [[Smallville (season 6)|six]], respectively.<ref name="Heat ep">{{cite episode|title=Heat|series=Smallville|credits=Mark Verheiden (writer) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2002-10-01|season=2|number=2|minutes=42}}</ref><ref name="Sneeze ep">{{cite episode|title=Sneeze|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Paul Shapiro (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2006-10-06|season=6|number=2}}</ref>
[[Category:1979 births]]

[[Category:American actors]]
''Smallville'''s Clark Kent has been stripped down to the "bare essence" of Superman;<ref name="genesis"/> he is fallable, which allows the audience to see his humanity, but also "good to the core".<ref name="Core"/> He has even been seen, and intentionally portrayed as a symbolic representation of [[Jesus Christ]]. For his portrayal, Tom Welling has won and been nominated for consecutive years for [[Saturn Award]]s and [[Teen Choice Awards]].
[[Category:American film actors]]

[[Category:American television actors]]

[[Category:People from New York City]]
==Appearances==
[[Category:Jewish actors]]
===''Smallville''===
[[Clark Kent]] is a teen with [[superhuman]] abilities, which he uses to help others in danger, who was adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent ([[John Schneider (television actor)|John Schneider]] and [[Annette O'Toole]]) when he crash landed to Earth. Twelve years later, he is trying to find his place in life after being told he is an alien by his adoptive father. After saving the life of billionaire [[Characters of Smallville#Lex Luthor|Lex Luthor]] ([[Michael Rosenbaum]]), the pair become quick friends.<ref name="Pilot ep"/> In season one, Clark struggles with the burden of keeping his powers a secret from those close to him; he is afraid to open up to [[Characters of Smallville#Lana Lang|Lana]] ([[Kristin Kreuk]]) for fear that she will not accept him if she knows the truth. Clark just wants to be normal.<ref name="Tom"/> In season two, Clark learns of his [[Kryptonian]] heritage, including his native language, his birth name "Kal-El" and that his birth father, [[Jor-El]] ([[Terrence Stamp]]), intends for him to rule the world.<ref name="Rosetta ep">{{cite episode|title=Rosetta|series=Smallville|credits=Alfred Gough, Miles Millar (writers) & [[James Marshall]] (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2003-02-25|season=2|number=17|minutes=42}}</ref> The fear that he will not be able to control his own destiny forces Clark to run away to Metropolis, leaving Lana, whom he had just started to develop a romantic relationship with, alone.<ref name="Exodus ep">{{cite episode|title=Exodus|series=Smallville|credits=Alfred Gough, Miles Millar (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2003-05-20|season=2|number=23|minutes=42}}</ref> Three months later, Clark is brought home by his father,<ref name="Phoenix ep">{{cite episode|title=Phoenix|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2003-10-03|season=3|number=2|minutes=42}}</ref> who makes a deal to let Jor-El take Clark when the time arrives. A girl, referring to herself as "Kara", arrives at the Kent farm and claims to be from Krypton. Kara warns Clark that all of his friends will leave or betray him, and that it is best for him to come with her so that he can begin training for his destiny. While assisting Lex in making sure that Lionel goes to prison, Clark discovers that Lex has been investigating him for the three years that they have been friends; with this knowledge, Clark effectively ends their friendship. With Kara's prediction coming true, as Lana and Pete are also leaving Smallville, Clark decides that it would be best if he also left. When Jonathan attempts to stop Clark from leaving, informing Clark that Kara is actually human, Jor-El threatens to kill Jonathan if Clark does not leave with him; to save Jonathan's life, Clark agrees.<ref name="Covenant ep">{{cite episode|title=Covenant|series=Smallville|credits=Miles Millar, Alfred Gough (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2004-05-19|season=3|number=22|minutes=42}}</ref>

Months later, Clark returns to Smallville, "reprogrammed" by Jor-El to seek out the three stones of knowledge so he may fulfill his destiny; Clark, with Martha’s help, regains control over his actions and refuses to look for the stones.<ref name="Crusade ep">{{cite episode|title=Crusade|series=Smallville|credits=Miles Millar, Alfred Gough (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2004-09-22|season=4|number=1|minutes=42}}</ref> A "great evil" is awakened in space after Clark defies Jor-El’s instructions obtain the three stones of knowledge. With a new meteor shower hitting Smallville, Clark finds the remaining stones and is transported to the [[Arctic]],<ref>{{cite episode|title=Commencement|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2005-05-18|season=4|number=22}}</ref> where the three stones create the [[Fortress of Solitude]].<ref name="Arrival ep">{{cite episode|title=Arrival|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer(writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2005-09-29|season=5|number=1|minutes=42}}</ref> When Clark interrupts his training he is stripped of his powers. Human, he finally begins an honest relationship with Lana, but is killed trying to save the town from a resident who hopes to kill all of the "meteor freaks". Jor-El resurrects his son, but warns him that someone he loves will eventually have to take his place.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Hidden|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & Whitney Ransick (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2005-10-13|season=5|number=3}}</ref> Clark worries about who will be sacrificed, and when Lana is killed Clark turns back time to save her, only to have Jonathan become the sacrifice.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Reckoning|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writers) & Greg Beeman (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2006-01-26|season=5|number=12}}</ref>

In the season five finale, Clark battles [[Characters of Smallville#Milton Fine|Milton Fine]] ([[James Marsters]]) in his attempts to release the Kryptonian criminal [[General Zod|Zod]] from the [[Phantom Zone]].<ref>{{cite episode|title=Solitude|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Paul Shapiro (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2005-11-17|season=5|number=8}}</ref> Clark fails, and in the process, Zod imprisons Clark in the Phantom Zone and sets out to conquer the Earth.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Vessel|series=Smallville|credits=Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2006-05-11|season=5|number=22}}</ref> Clark is able to escape the Phantom Zone—inadvertently releases several of the prisoners in the process—and returns to Smallville to defeat Zod.<ref name="Zod ep">{{cite episode|title=Zod|series=Smallville|credits=Steven S. DeKnight (writer) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2006-09-28|season=6|number=1|minutes=42}}</ref> The Phantom Zone escapees become Clark's primary focus in season six,<ref name="Static ep">{{cite episode|title=Static|series=Smallville|credits=Shintaro Shimosawa, James Morris (writers) & James Conway (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2006-11-16|season=6|number=8|minutes=42}}</ref> as well as Lana's relationship with Lex, which eventually turns into marriage.<ref name="Promise ep">{{cite episode|title=Promise|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson (writer) & Rick Rosenthal (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2007-03-15|season=6|number=16|minutes=42}}</ref> The last of the Phantom Zone criminals turns out to be a genetic experiment created by Kryptonian scientists. The escapee attacks Clark, cloning his DNA, and becomes Clark's [[doppelgänger]].<ref name="Phantom ep">{{cite episode|title=Phantom|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2007-05-17|season=6|number=22|minutes=42}}</ref> Clark, with assistance from [[Characters of Smallville#John Jones|John Jones]] ([[Phil Morris]]), defeats his double.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Bizarro|series=Smallville|credits=Brian Peterson, [[Kelly Souders]], (writers) & [[Michael Rohl]] (director)|network=[[The CW Television Network|The CW]]|airdate=2007-09-27|season=7|number=1}}</ref> In season seven, Clark meets his biological cousin, [[Characters of Smallville#Kara|Kara]] ([[Laura Vandervoort]]). While trying to help Kara blend in to society, Clark discovers more about his biological family, and that a secret society known as Veritas—with members included [[Characters of Smallville#Dr. Virgil Swann|Dr. Swann]] ([[Christopher Reeve]]), the Luthors, the Teagues, and the Queens—was aware of his landing in Smallville during the first meteor shower and that they knew of a means to control him.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Veritas|series=Smallville|credits=Kelly Souders, Brian Peters (writers) & James Marshall (director)|network=The CW|airdate=2008-02-13|season=7|number=15}}</ref> Clark is eventually confronted by Lex at the Fortress of Solitude, who has the device and knows his secret. Lex uses the device, which brings the Fortress down around him and Clark.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Arctic|series=Smallville|credits=Don Whitehead, Holly Henderson (writers) & Todd Slavkin (director)|network=The CW|airdate=2008-05-15|season=7|number=20}}</ref>
{|class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 95%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:35em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5"
|style="text-align: left;"|"With 'Red Clark' he's ''completely'' aware of the consequences of his actions at the time, but he doesn't care! He doesn't care what happens to you, and he certainly doesn't care what happens to himself, because he probably realizes that nothing can happen to him. It's always fun to be that way, even in real life, because we're not allowed to be that way all too often."
|-
|style="text-align: left;" |— Tom Welling on the effect of red kryptonite on Clark.<ref name="TW2">{{cite book|author=Simpson, Paul|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 2|publisher=Titan Books|date=2005-03-01|page=116-119|isbn=18400239476}}</ref>
|}
Throughout the series, Clark gains and adjusts to new abilities. In season one it was [[X-ray vision]],<ref name="X-ray ep">{{cite episode|title=X-Ray|series=Smallville|credits=[[Mark Verheiden]] (writer) & [[James Frawley]] (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2001-11-06|season=1|number=4|minutes=42}}</ref> [[heat vision]] in season two,<ref name="Heat ep"/> and super hearing in season three.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Whisper|series=Smallville|credits=Ken Horton (writer) & Tom Wright (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2004-01-21|season=3|number=10}}</ref> Clark unofficially flew in the season four premiere, when he was reprogrammed as "Kal-El" by his biological father; upon regaining his memory he forgot how to use the ability.<ref name="Crusade ep"/> It would be season six before Clark would gain a new ability, this time it was his super breath.<ref name="Sneeze ep"/> Clark also learns of new vulnerabilities as the series progresses. In the first season it was the "green meteor rocks" ([[kryptonite]]) that would weaken and potentially kill him.<ref name="Pilot ep"/> Various other forms of kryptonite appeared as the show continued, each with a different effect. Red kryptonite removed Clark's inhibitions.<ref name="Red ep">{{cite episode|title=Red|series=Smallville|credits=[[Jeph Loeb]] (writer) & Jeff Woolnough (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2002-10-15|season=2|number=4|minutes=42}}</ref> It allows Clark the chance to get things off his chest, without worrying about whether he should bring them up to people.<ref name="TW2">Simpson, Paul, (Season 2 Companion), pp.&nbsp;116&ndash;119</ref> Black kryptonite separated his Kryptonian personality from his humanity into two distinct physical forms,<ref name="Crusade ep"/> silver kryptonite made him paranoid to the point that he believed everyone was out to reveal his secret to the world,<ref>{{cite episode|title=Splinter|series=Smallville|credits=Steven S. DeKnight (writer) & James Marshall (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2005-11-10|season=5|number=7}}</ref> and blue kryptonite completely stripped him of all his abilities for as long as he stayed in contact with it.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Blue|series=Smallville|credits=Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer (writers) & Glen Winter (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2007-11-15|season=7|number=8}}</ref> Subsequent seasons also revealed that Clark is vulnerable to alien weapons and magic.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Wither|series=Smallville|credits=Tracy Bellamo (writer) & Whitney Ransick (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2006-10-12|season=6|number=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|title=Spell|series=Smallville|credits=Steven S. DeKnight (writer) & Jeannot Szwarc (director)|network=The WB|airdate=2004-11-10|season=4|number=8}}</ref>

===Literature===
''Smallville'''s Clark Kent has also appeared in various [[young adult novel]]s. There have been two series of novels published since the second season of the show began airing. One series was published by [[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect publishing]]. They published eight young adult novels in total, beginning in October 2002 and ending in March 2004. The second series was published by Little, Brown Young Readers, beginning in October 2002, alongside Aspect’s series of novels. Ten young adult novels were published until April 2004.

Clark first appeared in literature on [[October 1]],[[2002]], when Aspect and little, Brown Young Readers released three different novels &mdash; one from Aspect and two from Little, Brown Young Readers. In Aspect’s novel, ''Smallville: Strange Visitors'', which was written by [[Roger Stern]], Clark attempts to stop two religious con-men from robbing the town with their kryptonite-enhanced spiritual seminars.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Strange Visitors|author=[[Roger Stern]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Visitors-Smallville-Book-1/dp/0446612138|date=[[2002-10-01]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=0446612138|pages=304}}</ref> Little, Brown Young Readers's first novel, ''Arrival'', chronicles the events of the [[Pilot (Smallville)|show’s pilot]] as written by author Michael Teitelbaum.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Arrival|author=Michael Teitelbaum|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316173592/|date=[[2002-10-01]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316173592|pages=180}}</ref> Their second book, ''See No Evil'', which was written by [[Cherie Bennett]] and [[Jeff Gottesfeld]]—who have also written various episodes of the show—features Clark trying to stop Dawn Mills, a young actress who wants to attend [[Julliard]] and has the ability to turn invisible, from hurting people who spoke badly of her behind her back.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: See No Evil|author=[[Cherie Bennett]] & [[Jeff Gottesfeld]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316173010/|date=[[2002-10-01]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316173010|pages=180}}</ref>

On [[November 1]],[[2002]], [[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grant’s]] wrote ''Smallville: Dragon'', which had Clark being hypnotized into believing that he is a normal, human teenager, with no abilities.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Dragon|author=[[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grand]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Smallville-Book-Alan-Grant/dp/0446612146/|date=[[2002-11-01]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=0446612146|pages=256}}</ref> Little, Brown Young Readers’ ''Flight'' featured Clark trying to lend emotional support to a young girl, Tia, whom Clark discovers has full-sized wings.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Flight|author=[[Cherie Bennett]] & [[Jeff Gottesfeld]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Smallville-Young-Adults-No/dp/0316174688/|date=[[2002-12-01]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316174688|pages=180}}</ref> The next novel, ''Hauntings'', follows Clark and his friends as they investigate a ghostly presence in one of Smallville’s haunted houses.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Hauntings|author=[[Nancy Holder]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/Hauntings-Smallville-Book-Nancy-Holder/dp/0446612154/|date=[[2003-01-01]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=0446612154|pages=288}}</ref> ''Animal Rage'' follows Clark as he tries to stop an [[animal rights activist]] when she tries to hurt the people harming animals in Smallville.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Animal Rage|author=David Weiss & Bobby Weiss|url=http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Rage-Smallville-Young-Adults/dp/0316174211/|date=[[2003-02-01]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316174211|pages=176}}</ref> Aspect brought in [[Dean Wesley Smith]] for their next novel. ''Whodunit'' involves Clark, Chloe, Lana and Pete investigating the murder of a boy and his sister.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Whodunnit|author=[[Dean Wesley Smith]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446612162/|date=[[2003-03-01]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=0446612162|pages=240}}</ref>

Little, Brown Young Readers published their next two books in April and June of 2006. The first, ''Speed'', has Clark fighting [[hate crime]]s in Smallville.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Speed|author=[[Cherie Bennett]] & [[Jeff Gottesfeld]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316168165/|date=[[2003-04-16]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316168165|pages=208}}</ref> The second, ''Buried Secrets'', follows Clark and Lex as they both fall in love with a mind-reading, substitute Spanish teacher. In the novel, Clark and Lex’s friendship is put in jeopardy as the two compete for the teacher’s love.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Buried Secrets|author=Suzan Colon|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316168483/|date=[[2003-06-01]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316168483|pages=208}}</ref> On [[September 9]],[[2004]], Aspect published ''Shadows'', where Clark must stop a girl's scientist father, who has created a monster that is killing people.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Shadows|author=[[Diana G. Gallagher]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446613606/|date=[[2003-09-01]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=0446613606|pages=272}}</ref> ''Runaway'' features Clark leaving Smallville and living on the streets of Metropolis with other homeless teenagers. Clark falls in love with one of the girls before eventually returning home.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Runaway|author=Suzan Colon|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316734764/|date=[[2003-10-01]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316734764|pages=208}}</ref> ''Smallville: Silence'' has Clark and his friends investigating the appearance of zombies.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Silence|author=[[Nancy Holder]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446613592/|date=[[2003-11-01]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=0446613592|pages=320}}</ref> Little, Brown Young Readers' ''Greed'' follows Clark and his friends as they take jobs as summer counselors to disadvantaged youths. Pete tries to abuse Clark’s abilities by tricking him into playing in a basketball game, and then betting on the outcome.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Greed|author=[[Cherie Bennett]] & [[Jeff Gottesfeld]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316734772/|date=[[2003-12-01]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316734772|pages=176}}</ref>

Alan Grant returned for a second outing to write ''Curse'', about a grave digger that unleashes a 150 year old curse onto Smallville, and Clark’s attempt to put everything back to the way it was.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Curse|author=[[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grant]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446613614/|date=[[2004-01-01]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=0446613614|pages=288}}</ref> In ''Temptation'', Clark uses red kryptonite to try and impress Lana and Chloe after they become infatuated with a new, French foreign exchange student.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Temptation|author=Suzan Colon|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316734780/|date=[[2004-02-01]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316734780|pages=192}}</ref> Aspect released their final novel on [[March 1]],[[2004]]; written by [[Devin K. Grayson]], ''City'' chronicles Clark and Lex's trip to Metropolis. While in the city, the pair gets caught between the Japanese mafia and a secret agent who believes he has found an alien.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: City|author=[[Devin K. Grayson]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446613622/|date=[[2004-03-01]]|publisher=[[Hachette Book Group USA#Warner Aspect|Aspect]]|isbn=0446613622|pages=272}}</ref> In Little, Brown Young Readers’ final novel, written by Cherie Bennett, ''Sparks'' features Clark trying to save Chloe after she is exposed to a kryptonite fireworks display that makes her the desire of every man – for one of the men, when the desire wears off he decides that he really does want Chloe and kidnaps her.<ref>{{cite book|title=Smallville: Sparks|author=[[Cherie Bennett]]|url=http://www.amazon.com/Smallville-10-Sparks-Cherie-Bennett/dp/0316734799/|date=[[2004-04-01]]|publisher=Little, Brown Young Readers|isbn=0316734799|pages=176}}</ref>

==Tom Welling==
In October 2000, producers Al Gough and Miles Millar began their search for the three lead roles, and had casting directors in ten different cities looking at actors.<ref>{{cite video|title="Metamorphosis" commentary by Al Gough and Miles Millar|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Television]]|year=2002}}</ref> After months of scouting, Tom Welling was cast as Clark Kent.<ref name="Tom"/> [[Jensen Ackles]] was the runner up for the role of Clark Kent in the pilot, he would go on to play [[Characters of Smallville#Jason Teague|Jason Teague]] as a [[Smallville (season 4)|season four]] regular.<ref>{{cite book|author=Byrne, Craig|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 4|publisher=Titan Books|date=2007-09-04|page=124|isbn=1840239573}}</ref> Next to Welling, there have been two actors who have portrayed a "young Clark". Malkolm Alburquenque portrayed a three-year-old Clark in the [[Pilot (Smallville)|pilot episode]], and in the [[Smallville (season 2)|season two]] episode "Lineage". Brandon Fonseca would pick up the role of "young Clark" in the [[Smallville (season 5)|season five]] episode "Vengeance".

The [[Television pilot|pilot]] director, David Nutter, was looking through pictures of actors and stumbled upon Tom Welling's image. When he asked about Welling, the casting director said Welling's manager did not want him to do the role because it could hurt his feature film career. After a conversation with Welling's manager, Nutter got Welling to read the script for the pilot, which convinced him to do the part.<ref name="pilcom">{{cite video|title="Pilot" commentary by Al Gough, Miles Millar and David Nutter|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Television]]|year=2002}}</ref> Welling’s initial fear, and part of the reason why he did not immediately jump at the chance to play Clark Kent, was that the show as going to be "Superman in High School". After reading the script he realized that the show was not about Clark “being a super hero”, but more about the character attempting to live a normal life as a teenager.<ref name="TW1"/>

When Tom Welling came in to audition for the role he was not sure how to prepare. While waiting for his turn he realized that the character is one thing above all else – "a high school kid". To Welling, simply acting like he was a "normal kid"—instead of trying to act like a super hero—was the perfect way to embody the character. Welling realized that by doing that, the special effects and other production elements could fill in the holes that would perfect the character on screen.<ref name="TW1"/> For one of his auditions, he read the graveyard scene with Kristin Kreuk—the first actor to be cast for the show—and the network thought they had "great chemistry".<ref name="genesis">Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion) pp.8–17</ref> Judge Bryan Byun, of DVD Verdict, believes that Welling was the perfect choice for Clark Kent: "I can't imagine a more ideal actor to play this superpowered farmboy than Tom Welling, with his wholesome, honest face and heroic good looks—Welling not only resembles Christopher Reeves physically, but has all of the earnest charm that made Reeves the quintessential Superman."<ref name="Byun"/>
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|style="text-align: left;"|"Honestly, I don’t really have too much time to worry about the future. It’s almost a blessing in disguise, because in a sense Clark doesn’t know what’s going to happen [either]."
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|style="text-align: left;" |— Tom Welling on his lack of Superman knowledge.<ref name="TW5">{{cite book|author=Byrne, Craig|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 5|publisher=Titan Books|date=November 2007|page=112-115|isbn=1845765427}}</ref>
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Welling was generally unfamiliar with the Superman mythology, so much so that when an episode of ''[[Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman]]'' appeared on television that featured Clark learning about his Kryptonian heritage, Welling immediately turned the show off. According to Welling, he wanted to learn about Clark’s heritage at the same time that Clark was learning about it on Smallville. Welling believes that it is important for him to learn with the character, as it helps him be the Clark Kent that Al Gough and Miles Millar envision.<ref name="TW1">Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion), pp.112-115</ref> The actor believes his lack of knowledge of the Superman mythology helps his performance, because Gough and Millar have set up the series so that the previous mythology is not as important.<ref name="Tom"/> Welling also enjoys that he is in the same predicament as Clark with the fact that he does not know the future of his character, beyond the fact that he will be "Superman". When Welling landed the role of Clark Kent he was sent various Superman-related gifts, including books and toys, which Welling plans to leave unopened until the show is over so that he does not influence his decision making with the character.<ref name="TW1"/> Welling has also been adamant since the beginning that he did not sign on to play Superman, and has no intention of wearing the costume. The actor reiterated this point while filming season four, insisting that he is here to show how the character evolves into what could "potentially" lead him down the path to wearing the tights.<ref name="TW4"/> While filming, Welling has a lot of input into how his character responds to certain situations, which include: moving the scene from one room to another, or requesting the director film particular mannerisms he plans to give off to emphasize a particular emotion.<ref>{{cite video|people=[[Alfred Gough]], [[Miles Millar]], [[Greg Beeman]], Ken Horton, and [[Michael Rosenbaum]]|title=Commentary for season three's episode "Exile"|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Home Video]]|year2=2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite video|people=[[James Marshall]], [[John Glover]] and [[Allison Mack]]|title=Commentary for season three's episode "Truth"|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Home Video]]|year2=2004}}</ref>

In 2002, Welling was nominated for his first [[Saturn Award]] for Best Actor in a Television series, for his portrayal of Clark Kent in ''Smallville''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2002/03/14/Nominees_for_28th_Annual_Saturn_Awards/UPI-99311016139883/|title=Nominees for 28th Annual Saturn Awards|publisher=[[United News International]]|date=2002-03-14|accessdate=2008-08-23}}</ref> Following that nomination, Welling was nominated for another four consecutive years, 2003 to 2006, for the Saturn Award for Best Actor in a Television series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/email.cgi?story=2003-03/05/11.45.film|title=Rings, Minority Top Saturn Nods|publisher=[[Sci-Fi channel]]|date=2003-03-05|accessdate=2008-08-23}}</ref><!--STILL NEED 30TH AND 31ST!--><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/sith-leads-nomination-list-for-32nd-annual-saturn-awards_article_50679.html|title=SITH Leads Nomination List for 32nd Annual Saturn Awards|publisher=Mania.com|date=2006-02-15|accessdate=2008-08-23}}</ref> The same year he was nominated for a Saturn Award, Welling won a [[Teen Choice Award]] for Choice Breakout TV Star, Male for his role as Clark Kent in the first season of ''Smallville''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Rick Ellis|url=http://www.allyourtv.com/awards/awardsteenchoice2002.html|title=2002 Teen Choice Award Winners|publisher=AllYourTV.com|date=2002-08-19|accessdate=2008-08-23}}</ref> Although he has not won a Teen Choice Award since, just like with the Saturn Awards, he has been nominated for Choice Actor in television for the four consecutive years after his win, 2003 to 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://popdirt.com/2003-teen-choice-award-nominees/16313/|title=2003 Teen Choice Award nominees|publisher=PopDirt.com|accessdate=2008-08-23}}</ref><!--STILL NEED 2004, 2006, AND 2008!--><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fox.com/tca2005/nominees.htm|title=2005 Teen Choice Awards|publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]|accessdate=2007-09-11}}</ref> He was not nominated in 2007, but did receive recognition with a nomination in 2008 for Choice Male.

==Character development==
===Storyline progression===
Early in the series, Clark is still learning how to handle his life, by learning to control his powers and find the best solution for everyone. His main priority in season one is to fit in with his friends at school, and be "an average guy". Clark’s biggest problem in season one is the fact that he cannot share his secret with anyone he cares about. According to Welling, "He is burdened with a lot of responsibility. He hasn’t been able to choose whether or not he has these abilities. All this responsibility has just been thrust on him, and had has to deal with it. There have got to be times when he goes home and thinks to himself, ‘Why me?’ He wishes it could all go away and he could just be normal. That’s part of the character dilemma which makes him interesting to play." Welling notes that the show is not about Clark always saving the day, but more about how him using his powers, although help other people, "alienated him from others".<ref name="TW1"/> By that reason, Welling reasons that by the end of season three, Clark had decided that leaving Smallville and going with Jor-El was something that would save everyone a lot of pain in the long run.<ref name="TW2"/>
{|class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 95%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:40em; max-width: 42%;" cellspacing="5"
|style="text-align: left;"|"If you can't fight them, you might as well join them […] he was choosing the lesser of two evils to go with Jor-El. I think a combination of those two things would probably sum it up. A lot of times in your life, you get to a point where you go, 'I just can't fight this anymore. There's nothing I can do about it, so I better get up out of bed and go to work!' And in a sense, that's what Clark had to do. Somehow he had to try to face what it was that was causing him so much pain—and everyone else so much pain—and maybe he reasoned that by causing everyone else a little bit of pain, he could save them a lot of pain in the long run."
|-
|style="text-align: left;" |— Tom Welling on why Clark gave up and accepted his fate with Jor-El at the end of season three.<ref name="TW3">{{cite book|author=Simpson, Paul|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 3|publisher=Titan Books|date=2005-09-01|page=116-119|isbn=1840239522}}</ref>
|}
A significant moment in the character’s story came when Clark decided play football in season four; this would provide conflict between him and his father for half the season. Writer Darren Swimmer refers to his moment as a "callback to [Hothead]" in season one. To him, when Clark defies Jonathan and joins the team anyway, it signifies the moment where Jonathan finally decides that he can trust Clark to not hurt anyone. Writer Todd Slavkin views it as Clark finally emerging from his father’s shadow.<ref name="TW4">Byrne, Craig, (Season 4 Companion) pp.&nbsp; 112&ndash;115</ref> Two more significant moments came during season five. First, Clark lost his powers when he failed to return to Jor-El to finish his training; this left him human and vulnerable. According to Welling, "[Clark] learned a little bit more about what it’s like to be human, physically. Emotionally, he’s pretty close to trying to understand that. It added more weight to his abilities once he got them back, and it made him realize his responsibilities for what he has."<ref name="TW5"/> The second moment came with the show’s 100th episode, with the death of Clark’s father. The decision to kill Jonathan is season five was made so that Clark could finally step into his destiny. As Gough explains, season five was about Clark the boy becoming Clark the man, and embracing his destiny. In order to do that he would need his mentor to die, so that no one would be "buffering" or "shielding" him from the world any longer.<ref>Byrne, Craig, (Season 5 Companion) pg. 66</ref> Welling saw the series’ 100th episode as the chance for his character to evolve, and grow.<ref name="TW5"/> John Schneider sees the same catalyst for Clark’s evolution. According to Schneider, Jonathan’s death inspires Clark to make the move toward his eventual destiny. Jonathan provided such an example of sacrifice that it leaves a void in Clark. To fill that void Clark will have to become Superman. It is Schneider’s contention that had Jonathan not been the man he was then, when the time came that the world needed Superman, Clark would not be able to take on that persona because he would not realize that that world needed him.<ref>Byrne, Craig, (Season 5 Companion) pg. 132</ref>

Writer Holly Harold notes that the introduction of [[Green Arrow]] allows Clark to mature more in the sixth season. Clark was able to see how others can achieve the same goal as him, but with an alternative route that may cross the moral lines a few times. This teaches Clark to start thinking about things from his opponents’ perspective. Ultimately, season six was about Clark learning that it will be the human side of him that allows him to become the hero he needs to be; writer Turi Meyer sums this up as "soon-to-be Man of Steel".<ref name="TW6">{{cite book|author=Byrne, Craig|title=Smallville: The Official Companion Season 6|publisher=Titan Books|date=March 2008|page=112&ndash;115|location=London|isbn=1845766563}}</ref> Each season Clark gains insight into how not to use your abilities, from the kryptonite-mutated villains that he faces who gain abilities and then use them for crime. In later seasons, Clark sees how those that use their abilities for good still have questionable actions, specifically Arthur Curry and Andrea Rojas, though Clark does help them "take the high road". These episode reiterate the effect that Clark’s parents had on how he uses his abilities.<ref name="TW5"/> Clark also learns that he cannot do everything alone, even though he chooses not to join Oliver’s team of superheroes at the end of "Justice". For Meyer, season six shows that Clark is still struggling to accept his destiny, which he needs to do one hundred percent, but that he does make steps toward the day that he puts on the cape and becomes Superman.<ref name="TW6"/>

===Characterization===
The idea Gough and Millar came up with for the show's version of Clark Kent was to strip Superman down to his "bare essence", and see the reasons behind why Clark became Superman.<ref name="genesis"/> For ''Smallville'', Clark is meant to be seen as fallible – not beyond making the choice. As Gough explains, "The thing that we’ve tried to portray […] is that Clark doesn’t always make the right decisions, and by not making the right decisions, he brings further consequences on himself. Whether it’s running away from Jor-El at the end of season two, or choosing humanity over some sort of Kryptonian mission, those decisions get him in more trouble, and cause more people to suffer, or in Jonathan Kent’s case, to die." Welling agrees with Gough’s opinion of Clark’s fallibility, stating that the mistakes that Clark makes show his humanity. <ref name="TW5"/> Even though Clark can make the wrong choices, season four’s "Aqua" helps illustrate the concept that Clark is "good to the core". The episode shows how protective he can be over someone, even when that person annoys him. In this case, it was trying to warn Lois that Arthur Curry may not be the man she believes him to be.<ref name="Core">Byrne, Craig, (Season 5 Companion) pg.124</ref> Welling’s fellow actors also have their own insights into the character. Kristin Kreuk sees Clark as a “kindred spirit” who is sad, lonely, but also endearing;<ref>Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion), pg.116</ref> whereas John Schneider classifies Clark as a "special needs child".<ref>Simpson, Paul, (Season 1 Companion), pg.140</ref>

Just like with his comic book counterpart, ''Smallville''’s Clark Kent is seen as a symbolic representation of [[Jesus Christ]]. Established early on, the pilot episode contains a moment when Clark is crucified to a scarecrow post during a high school hazing.<ref name="Byun">{{cite news|author=Judge Bryan Byun|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/smallvilleseason1.php|title=Season 1 DVD review|publisher=DVD Verdict|date=2003-11-24|accessdate=2008-08-20}}</ref> The [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]’s [[Rob Owen (journalist)|Rob Owen]] noted the Christ-like imagery of the scene, stating, "Is it any wonder Clark gets tied up there since Superman, too, was 'sent to save us'?"<ref name="Owen 3">{{cite news|author=[[Rob Owen (journalist)|Rob Owen]]|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/tv/20011014smallvilletv2.asp|title=Superman revisited in "Smallville"|publisher=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=[[2001-10-14]]|accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> Echoing Owen, Judge Byun identifies the same symbolism: "Superman is, in a way, the secular pop culture stand-in for Jesus Christ, a messiah figure for our generation. The series makes this theme explicit in its pilot episode, in which Clark is symbolically 'crucified' in a cornfield. That striking bit of symbolism becomes the central preoccupation of the series; Clark is the savior who sacrifices all for the greater good of humanity, and ''Smallville'' shows us how he comes to accept and embrace that role."<ref name="Byun"/>

===Relationships===
Clark displays an ever evolving relationship with the other characters of the show. His relationship with Lana Lang is one of ''Smallville''’s central relationships. When Clark and Lana meet in the cemetery Clark realizes that he has found someone who understands him, and that he can talk to, even though it is not in as strong of a way that he would like. Although Clark feels close to Lana, his fear that she will “kick him out of her life” if she learns his secret—that he came in the meteor shower that killed her parents—is strong enough to keep him from being as close to her as he possibly could be. The lack of honesty causes issues between them.<ref name="TW1"/> Judge Byun wonders how this Clark Kent will have room in his heart for Lois Lane later in life, as the character bounces back and forth between Lana and Chloe with his love in the first season.<ref name="Byun"/> With Lana’s boyfriend gone by season two, the door opens up for Clark to step in, but Welling states that he understands why the producers continued to keep Clark and Lana apart in season two, even after Whitney was gone: "There’s the cliché that television shows with a main lover interest fail once they get it together."<ref name="TW2"/>

After briefly being together at the beginning of the fifth season, Clark’s upbringing was not enough to help him cope with the loss of Lana to Lex toward the end of season five. Welling admits that Clark has learned to let Lana make her own choices and not stand in her way, but his problem with her relationship with Lex is that Lex is a dangerous individual and it puts Lana’s safety in jeopardy. A part from that, Clark has learned to walk the lonely road of a hero.<ref name="TW5"/> His inability to cope with Lana moving on with Lex is carried over to season six. This season was the time the writers put Clark through an "emotional wringer" when they had Lana accept Lex’s marriage proposal. For writer Kelly Souders, this presents Clark’s worst fear – the woman he loves his marrying his worst enemy. <ref name="TW6"/>
Clark’s relationship with Lex Luthor is a symbolic one. Clark and Lex share a "[[yin and yang]]" relationship. In the pilot, Clark first saves Lex from drowning when they get into a car accident; at the end of the episode, Lex saves Clark when he is strung up in the cornfield and immobilized by kryptonite.<ref name="metcom">{{cite video|title="Metamorphosis" commentary by Al Gough and Miles Millar|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Warner Bros. Television]]|date=2002}}</ref> His relationship with Lex is also tested by his lack of honesty, just like it is with Lana for the first six seasons; the same can be said for Lex’s dishonesty with Clark. Both characters want to be completely honest with each other, but they know that they cannot and that inhibits their friendship.<ref name="TW1"/>

==See also==
*[[Clark Kent]] &mdash; The [[DC Comics]] version of the character
*[[Superman]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://smallville.wikia.com/wiki/Clark_Kent Clark Kent] at [http://smallville.wikia.com/wiki/Smallville_Wiki ''Smallville'' Wiki]
<br>
{{Smallville}}

[[Category:Fictional adoptees]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from Kansas]]
[[Category:Fictional farmers]]
[[Category:Fictional orphans]]
[[Category:Kryptonians]]
[[Category:Smallville characters]]
[[Category:Superman]]

Revision as of 11:21, 10 October 2008

Ethan Cohn
Born
Ethan Cohn
OccupationActor

Ethan Cohn (April 18, 1979 in New York City) is an American actor best known for his role as Zane Taylor in science fiction serial drama television series Heroes. He has worked in many films or television series, having small roles in Cry Wolf, CSI: Miami, Head Cases, Huff and Lady in the Water. However, he advanced rapidly in his career and had a recurrent role in Gilmore Girls as Glenn.

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