Superboy
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Superboy
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| Episodes: | 100 |
| Year: | 1988-1992 |
| Country: | United States |
| Seasons: | 4 |
| Seasons Breakdown: | (1) 26, (2) 26, (3) 26, (4) 22. |
| Category: | Superhero |
| Colour: | Yes |
| Format: | Series |
| Company: | Alexander and Ilya Salkind Productions, Lowry Productions, Cantharus Productions and DC Comics |
| Creator: | Based on Superboy by Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster and Don Cameron (Developed by Ilya Salkind and Alexander Salkind) |
| Run Time (mins): | 22 |
| Language: | English |
| Type of Show: | Live Action |
| Status: | Ended |
| Broadcaster: | Syndicated |
| First Aired: | October 8, 1988 |
| Last Aired: | May 17, 1992 |
Summary
Superboy chronicles the adventures of the Man of Steel during his youth, more precisely, his early adulthood. The series was produced by Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the same producers responsible for bringing the Christopher Reeve Superman films to the cinema. Like those films, Superboy is based on the long‑established comic‑book character who, having been rocketed to Earth from the doomed planet Krypton, was adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent in Smallville, Kansas and named Clark Kent. As he matured, Clark discovered that he possessed abilities far exceeding those of ordinary humans.
To use these abilities in service of truth, justice and the American way, Clark adopted the costumed identity of Superboy (later Superman). The series depicts two distinct periods of his early life. In the first two seasons, Clark is enrolled at Shuster University, named in honour of Superman co‑creator Joe Shuster, while the final two seasons follow his work at the Bureau, a government agency tasked with investigating unusual phenomena. In both settings, Clark is accompanied by Lana Lang, his long‑standing friend from Smallville, who gradually begins to suspect his dual identity. In the final episode, her attempt to confirm this suspicion coincides with a temporary loss of Clark’s powers. Their relationship remains limited, consistent with later continuity in which the adult Clark forms a new romantic partnership.
Superboy’s principal adversary is Lex Luthor, adapted from the comic books. In this series, Luthor is portrayed as an openly notorious criminal rather than the outwardly respectable businessman seen in other interpretations. Additional villains drawn from the comics include Bizarro, an imperfect duplicate of Superboy; Mr. Mxyzptlk, a mischievous imp from the Fifth Dimension who delights in tormenting him; and Metallo, a cyborg whose artificial heart is powered by kryptonite, the one substance capable of harming Superboy.
During his university years, Clark has two roommates: T.J. White, son of Daily Planet editor Perry White, in the first season; and Andy McAlister in the second. At the Bureau, Clark and Lana work under C. Dennis Jackson, with Matt Ritters serving as one of their colleagues.
The series integrates elements of early Superman mythology, comic‑book villain adaptation, and dual‑identity storytelling, presenting a formative portrait of the character prior to his emergence as Superman.
Cast
Clark Kent / Superboy JOHN HAYMES NEWTON (1), Clark Kent/ Superboy GERARD CHRISTOPHER (2-4), Lana Lang STACY HAIDUK, T.J. White JIM CALVERT (1), Lex Luthor SCOTT WELLS (1), Lex Luthor SHERMAN HOWARD (2-4), Andy McAlister LLAN MITCHELL-SMITH (2-4), Mark Ritters PETER J. FERNANDEZ (3-4), C. Dennis Jackson ROBERT LEVINE (3-4), Jonathan Kent STUART WHITMAN, Martha Kent SALOME JENS, Leo MICHAEL MENNO (1), Darla TRACY LYNN ROBERTS (2-4).
aka: Adventures of Superboy, the
Lists of Lists: DC Comics
Superhero, United States, 1988, English
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