Teen Ink

When it comes down to anything Superman-related, people are hesitant to check it out for fear of ruining the image they have of the ­original, but don’t be too quick to write this off just yet. The television show “Smallville” takes you on a journey through the early years of Clark Kent, played by Tom Welling, when he was just a simple farm boy living at the Kent Farm in the remote town of Smallville, Kansas.

Producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar do a fantastic job taking viewers through Clark’s experiences as he learns to control his emerging powers, and his friendships with Lex Luthor and his love, Lana Lang.

Welling delivers a spot-on performance down to the physical and true essence of the young Clark. The show hits on the high and low points of Kent’s life and illustrates how his experiences shaped him to become the “Man of Steel.”

Before actually watching “Smallville,” I was skeptical about the idea of a show based on Clark’s early life. But from the moment I started watching, I was amazed at how well the producers captured how Clark felt knowing that he was not a normal person. I have dutifully continued to watch and managed to turn my family into fans as well. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised at how compelling “Smallville” is.