‘Smallville’ puts new spin on familiar Man of Steel

Between the George Reeves version in the ’50s and “Lois and Clark” in the mid-’90s, not to mention the string of movies starring Christopher Reeve, one would think that the Superman mythos had been pretty thoroughly explored.

Still, “Smallville,” debuting at 9 tonight on WB, has found a creative new angle, examining young Clark Kent before he became the Man of Steel.

The debut starts out with the now-familiar story of how Clark came to Earth from Krypton. But in “Smallville,” the meteor storm that accompanies his arrival has lasting fallout on the town and its residents.

Jonathan and Martha Kent (John Schneider, Annette O’Toole) find the child they’ve always wanted in the middle of a cornfield. The young Lana Lang loses her parents. Lex Luthor, then 9 years old, sheds his hair and becomes prematurely bald.

Cut to 12 years later. Clark (Tom Welling) has grown into a strapping teen boy, albeit one with special abilities that he doesn’t understand. From afar, he worships Lana (Kristin Kreuk), and grows weak-kneed whenever he’s around her (that may have something to do with her Kryptonite necklace). He barely registers on her radar. Instead she’s dating the arrogant high school quarterback Whitney Fordman (Eric Johnson).

Clark makes Lex’s acquaintance when he saves him from drowning after a car accident. Despite their different backgrounds, and Jonathan’s misgivings, Clark and Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) become friends, with little hint of a future as arch-enemies.

Although there’s plenty of action and special effects, “Smallville” is first and foremost a character study, as Clark copes with normal teen concerns in addition to his great powers. Fortunately, the producers keep the melodrama turned down, so that it doesn’t become “Dawson’s Creek on the Plains.” Instead the show manages to pull off a delicate balance.