When Smalvlille ran new episodes in the first decade of the 21st century, there really wasn’t a MCU. Superhero movies did happen, but not nearly at the frequency we have them now, and shared universes were just a dream. But, one great thing with Smallville is that they brought several DC Comics icons to live action for the very first time. Many of these characters were revisited for the Arrowverse, the DCEU, the DCU, or even their own projects… but Smallville got there first.
Here’s a look at some of the most prominent.
Impulse/Bart Allen (Kyle Gallner) — While many DC Comics super-heroes would make appearances on Smallville by the series’ end, the first was Bart Allen as played by Kyle Gallner. This one is a little bit of a cheat for “first” as the character had been seen in three live-action incarnations before, most famously the 1990 Flash TV series starring John Wesley Shipp, but that was Barry Allen, Bart’s grandfather (or father, if you’re watching the Grant Gustin TV series). While he was promoted as “The Flash” when we first saw promos for the Season 4 Smallville episode “Run,” Bart goes by “Impulse” and would use that name in the big “Justice” episode.
Bart would later be seen in live action on The Flash where he was played by Jordan Fisher. It might also be noted that singer Ben Jelen was originally rumored to be playing Bart on Smallville, and that right before we got the character on Smallville, a Flash TV project from Elf writer Todd Komarnicki had been in development but never reached the filming stage.
Aquaman/Arthur “A.C.” Curry (Alan Ritchson) — “Wet and ready, bro!” Before he was Jack Reacher, Alan Ritchson was the first actor to play Aquaman in live-action in the Smallville season 4 episode “Aqua.” The episode got some of the show’s highest ratings in the entire 10-season run, and work quickly began on a separate Aquaman TV series from Smallville’s creators. But there was one major difference: When it finally got time to film the pilot, it wasn’t Ritchson playing the role, nor was it tied to Smallville. This new “A.C.” was Justin Hartley, The CW didn’t pick it up to series, and we’ll read more about Justin Hartley next.
Green Arrow/Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley) — Even though we had an Arrow TV series that lasted for 8 seasons and launched a TV universe, Justin Hartley was the first to play the Emerald Archer, showing up in Season 6, guest starring in Season 7, and then becoming a series regular on Smallville for Seasons 8-10. One might argue he was the first costumed hero to appear on the show. While it may have seemed at many times that Oliver Queen was primed to end up with his own spin-off, perhaps after “Justice” or “Siren” had aired, it never happened…. but less than a year after Smallville aired its final episode, The CW had announced that they were doing a Green Arrow TV series that we previously mentioned — Arrow, starring Stephen Amell.
Also note that the Black Canary made her Smallville debut in “Siren,” but that character had already been seen in live action in projects such as Legends of the Super Heroes and Birds of Prey, the latter of which featured Lori Loughlin (Aunt Becky!) playing the part.
Cyborg/Victor Stone (Lee Thompson Young) — Cyborg was already known to audiences for his animated appearances in Superfriends and Teen Titans, but the late Lee Thompson Young was the first to play the character in live action with with the Smallville Season 5 episode “Cyborg.” This episode also got good ratings and Young came back for “Justice” in Season 6. Ray Fisher and Joivan Wade would later play the character in live action in Justice League and Doom Patrol, respectively — the latter of which had a pilot directed by Smallville’s Glen Winter. Sadly, Lee Thompson Young died in 2013.
Doomsday (Sam Witwer) — Okay, yes, Sam Witwer‘s main Smallville persona in Season 8 was that of “Davis Bloome” who could turn into Doomsday, but can you believe this was the first time the character that killed Superman in the comics was ever shown in live action? Many projects since then have revisited this character…. but Smallville was first, and “Bride” was one of Smallville’s finest hours. (The episode “Doomsday” on the other hand, though…? Maybe not.)
Also, please, don’t call this guy “Doomsday Max.”
Deathstroke/Slade Wilson (Michael Hogan) — So, yes, there was a “Deathstroke” on Lois & Clark but he had nothing to do with the Slade Wilson character from DC Comics beyond the name. Slade Wilson himself, though, appeared in Season 10 of Smallville, where he was brought to life as Michael Hogan. We love Michael Hogan. We loved him especially on Battlestar Galactica. But maybe he didn’t exactly match the “Slade” many of us know from actors such as Manu Bennett and our brief glimpse at Joe Mangianello. Unless you want to wonder why one of DC’s biggest bad-asses suddenly looked like then-recent Presidential candidate John McCain.
Zatanna (Serinda Swan) — 10/10. No notes. In all seriousness, Serinda Swan‘s performance as Zatanna is one that even the biggest Smallville hater would have to admit was pretty darn perfect. The top hat, the fishnets… it’s no surprise that no one has been able to pull this off since then.
Conner Kent/Superboy (Lucas Grabeel) — First things first: “Scion” was one of the best episodes of Smallville’s final season, and I challenge anyone to fight me on that. And while Lucas Grabeel may not have been the spitting image of the Boy of Steel that Joshua Orpin was later, he was pretty darn great. The character was quite likable and it’s unfortunate he was never seen again, as it felt at the end like his adventures and life were just beginning. Still, this was the first time this version of Superboy made it to live-action, so credit where credit’s due, and all that.
Amanda Waller (Pam Grier) — Angela Bassett. Viola Davis. Amanda Waller is a character that is required to be played by an icon, and Smallville lined up the extremely iconic Pam Grier to play the role. Looking back… just how incredible was that casting?!?! This was the first time Waller was seen in life action, and definitely not the last.
Stargirl (Britt Irvin) — The character Courtney Whitmore has always been special to her co-creator, Geoff Johns, as she was named after Johns’ real sister Courtney who passed away in the TWA Flight 800 plane disaster. Johns and artist Lee Moder originally presented Courtney/Stargirl in the comic book series Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. before making her a major fixture in Justice Society comic books. While Stargirl has appeared in live action twice since, in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and her own three-season Stargirl series on The CW, Britt Irvin’s take on the character in “Absolute Justice” was the first time we saw her in live-action.
Honorable Mention: Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) — Chloe Sullivan appeared on Smallville before she even existed in the comic books! Near the end of the show’s run, though, Chloe was finally introduced to the regular DC Comics universe of the time in Jimmy Olsen back-up stories in Action Comics. Perhaps related to actress Allison Mack’s real-life troubles, Chloe has not appeared again in recent years. She did, however, get a shout out in the very Smallville-esque Supergirl episode titled “Midvale.”
Those are ten choices, and there are surely more. Do you have favorites that you wish had been listed? Leave some comments below!