Clark Luthor

“	I can do whatever I want. I'm not going back to Lionel's world, because that's exactly what it is -- Lionel's. This world will be mine.	„
	~ Clark Luthor to Tess.

Clark Luthor, also known as Ultraman, is the Earth-2 counterpart of Clark Kent, appearing as a major antagonist in the Tenth and final season of Smallville.

Like his normal counterpart Clark Kent, he was portrayed by Tom Welling, who also portrayed Kal, Kal-El, and Bizarro in the same series, and Marcus Pierce in Lucifer.

History[]

Early life[]

In the Earth-2 universe, Kal-El came to Earth during the meteor shower that hit Smallville, Kansas in 1989. However, instead of being found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, he was found by Lionel Luthor, who adopted him, named him "Clark" and raised him as his own alongside his own biological children Lex and Tess.

The fact that Lionel was more supportive towards Clark made Lex jealous of his adopted brother, making their relationship even worse. He had a tense rivalry with Lex, who branded him with Gold Kryptonite and began an incestuous relationship with Tess. He also worked as his adoptive father's enforcer, using the alias Ultraman, and at some point became the CEO of LuthorCorp Media (the Earth-2 version of the Daily Planet). He later murdered Lex on Lionel's orders.

On graduation day at Smallville High, Clark attacked the ceremony and murdered many meteor-infected people including Justin Gaines, Jodi Melville and Greg Arkin. He was known to leave no witnesses alive once they've seen his face.

Luthor[]

When Lionel of Earth-One died, Tess inherited a Kryptonian relic that she hid away in her bag. Clark Kent discovered it and activates the mirror box, a Kryptonian device that causes him to switch places with Clark Luthor. While Clark Kent was left on Earth-2, Clark Luthor went to the Daily Planet, where he finds Tess Mercer. Believing her to be Tess from the Alternate Universe, he engages in a passionate embrace with her before commenting on how different Earth-1 is from his world, remarking it doesn't feel right that he doesn't have blood on his hands before lunch.

Tess' suspicions were confirmed when she saw a scar that the AU Lex Luthor gave Clark L. using gold kryptonite. Clark L. rejoices in the fact that Lionel was not in this universe and has been dead for years. He then questions Tess about the mirror box so he can destroy it and prevent the chance of him going back. Tess manages to evade him and he leaves.

Later, Clark Luthor attacked Tess and Lois Lane at the Justice League's Watchtower, crashing into the building through the skylight and landing on the floor, causing the two women to be blown back by the force of his landing. He orders Tess to get up. Lois, thinking he's her Clark on Red Kryptonite, tried to calm him down, but he grabbed and violently threw her across the room.

Before advancing on Tess, Clark declared he's not going back to Earth-2 and he's going to make Earth-1 his own. He then demands the mirror box, only for Tess to refuse. He then grins deviously and said if she doesn't comply, he'll kill her. By the end of the episode, Clark Kent manages to find Earth-2's mirror box and activates it, reversing the earlier switch. Upon re-emerging on Earth-1, he finds himself in a battle-ruined Watchtower with Tess, Lois, and Oliver Queen advancing on him with Kryptonite arrows and guns, strongly implying that a fight took place between the two sides.

Kent[]

Clark Luthor later returns and uses his world's mirror box to return to Earth-1 because he was now wanted for murder. Having murdered Oliver in front of everyone and his secret identity no longer a secret, Clark had to leave Earth-2 because he couldn't live in a world where everyone knew his identity, weakness and wanted to kill him. Clark Kent finds the mirror box in his loft and picks it up, after which Clark Luthor steps out of hiding and correctly guesses his good counterpart destroyed his own mirror box.

Moving at super-speed, Clark Luthor activates Earth-2's mirror box while Clark Kent is still holding it, causing him to be sent to Earth-2. Clark Luthor then destroys his world's mirror box in an attempt to keep Clark Kent trapped on Earth-2. Clark Luthor then poses as Clark Kent, visiting Lois at their new apartment but she realizes he isn't the genuine article and tries calling Tess to warn her that Clark Luthor has returned. Tess figures out for herself what happened when Clark Luthor comes by the ruins of the Luthor Mansion and she catches him rubbing the spot where he used to wear his pinky ring.

After intimidating Tess, Clark Luthor leaves the mansion remains. Tess later saw a present from Clark Luthor in her office at the Daily Planet and finds it contains a revealing dress, shoes and an invitation from Clark Luthor for a dinner date at the Ace of Clubs. Clark Luthor suddenly appears behind her and tells her he can't wait to see her in the dress before disappearing.

Later, Clark Luthor meets with Tess at the Ace of Clubs for their date. He plays on Tess's doubts and her desire to be free from Lionel, whom he wants to kill. As he eats dinner, Clark tells Tess he wants to start a new life on Earth-1 because everyone on Earth-2 knows his true identity now as well as his weakness to Kryptonite. They armed themselves with Kryptonite weapons, and he threatens to kill Tess if she doesn't help him kill their father. They then go to Tess's office at LuthorCorp, where Tess gives Clark Luthor a device that tracks Lionel's current location.

After Clark Luthor leaves to murder Lionel, Tess re-routes the tracker to protect her father. Moments later, Clark Luthor returns bringing champagne and acts pleased, then reveals he knows that Tess re-routed the tracker. Angered that Tess chose to protect Lionel (whom he considers a "monster"), Clark Luthor grabs her by the neck, pushes her through the window shattering it, and holds her high above the ground.

Tess pleads with him to give her another chance because deep down she really does wants to start a life with him but Luthor says that he can no longer trust her. He tries to drop her, only for Clark Kent, returned from Earth-2, to arrive and save Tess.

Annoyed at the interruption, Clark Luthor turns to face his Earth-1 counterpart and charges at him, pushing him through the glass doors and knocking him into the wall in the hallway. As the two Clarks circle one another, Clark Luthor remarks Clark Kent is no match for him without his dark side. Clark Kent then super-speeds to the Fortress of Solitude, with Clark Luthor close behind. Clark Luthor tackles Clark Kent, and they crash through several crystalline portions before climbing to their feet.

Clark Kent tells Clark Luthor that their Kryptonian birth father, Jor-El, left them the knowledge of the universe, but Clark Luthor dismisses the Fortress as a "music box without the music" and maintains he made his way on Earth-2 just fine.

Clark Kent then points out that Clark Luthor became a murderous tyrant on his native world, but he can still make things right and become a hero there. Clark Kent then calls out for Jor-El, who returns Clark Luthor to Earth-2.

On Earth-2, inside his own Fortress of Solitude, Clark Luthor calls out to that world's Jor-El, who welcomes him home.

Powers and Abilities[]

Clark Luthor possesses the same Kryptonian powers as Clark Kent; however, he does not hold back any of his abilities unlike his counterpart. He exhibited the following abilities to their fullest potential:

Solar battery: His powers are affected by the yellow sun.
- Super strength: He supposedly possesses the same level of super-strength as Clark Kent. He effortlessly slaughtered the meteor-infected students during the Smallville High School graduation, including snapping their necks and even karate-chopping their bodies in two with his hand. When he attacked Tess Mercer and Lois Lane, he forced Lois and Tess into opposite ends of the room by creating a shock wave with his impact. He then threw Lois into a desk where she was knocked unconscious. It can be presumed that Clark Luthor was stronger than Clark Kent at the time of their meeting due to Clark Kent's mental barriers keeping him from reaching his ultimate potential.
- Super speed: Clark can run and fly at speeds making him appear as a blur. When Tess Mercer was using camera feed to track down who she thought was Clark Luthor he was fast enough to go unnoticed by her cameras and sneak into the Daily Planet. He is later seen to follow Clark Kent all the way from Metropolis to the arctic in a matter of seconds by flying at super-speed. ("Luthor" and "Kent")
- Heat vision: Clark used this to mark the Ultraman symbol around Metropolis. He also used this ability to murder his many victims, including meteor freaks. It is implied that everywhere he had marked the symbol was where he had murdered someone.
- X-ray vision: Clark used his X-ray vision to see Chloe hiding behind a teacher's desk during his murder spree on Graduation Day.
- Super hearing: Clark could hear Tess and Lois's conversation from a vast distance away. He could also hear Chloe's heartbeat while she hid under a desk.
- Invulnerability: When he broke into Watchtower, he was uninjured when he crashed in, even though he broke into chest first.
- Flight: Clark flew to the top of Watchtower, as well as later flew toward the Fortress while chasing Clark Kent. Luthor learned to fly years earlier than Kent because he was taught to not hold back any of his powers and abilities by Lionel.

In other media[]

Clark Luthor appears in the Smallville Season 11 comic book series published by DC Comics where he murders Justin Gaines and Jodi Melville.

Gallery[]

Quotes[]

Part 1[]

“	It's adorable, seeing you at my desk like you own the place.	„
	~ Clark Luthor's first lines, "Luthor"

“	I like making you wait.	„
	~ To Tess, before kissing her, "Luthor"

“	It still bothers you, doesn't it? There's no take-backs when it comes to Gold K. Lex sure knew how to leave an impression, didn't he?	„
	~ To Tess, after she sees his scar, "Luthor"

“	I am shocked, as disinterested as you were in finding the mirror box that you would bring us here.	„
	~ To Tess, "Luthor"

“	Hardly any trace of Lionel at all. It's refreshing, actually being out from under our father's shadow.	„
	~ To Tess, "Luthor"

“	I guess Lex did something right in this place.	„
	~ To Tess, after learning that Lex murdered Lionel on Earth-1, "Luthor"

“	I got to tell you, sis...this alternate earth, it's a blast. Doesn't feel right, though...not having blood on my hands before lunch.	„
	~ To Tess, "Luthor"

“	This world won't know what hit it.	„
	~ To Tess, "Luthor"

“	Get up, Tess. GET UP!!	„
	~ To Tess, "Luthor"

“	I wouldn't worry about Lane, sis. It's remarkable what you can hear when you stop to listen.	„
	~ To Tess, "Luthor"

“	I'll kill you.	„
	~ His reply to Tess asking what happens if she doesn't hand over the mirror box, "Luthor"

“	Home sweet home.	„
	~ After returning to Earth-2, "Kent"

“	Talk about nature versus nurture. I'm assuming you destroyed yours? That explains why we didn't switch places. Seems that makes this a one-way trip.	„
	~ Ambushing Clark Kent in his loft, "Kent"

“	Like they say, you can't go home again.	„
	~ After destroying the mirror box, "Kent"

“	You're kind of cute when you squirm.	„
	~ To Lois, "Kent"

“	Tearing this place down won't change the fact that you're a Luthor.	„
	~ To Tess, "Kent"

“	Angel or devil is in the eye of he who beholds it.	„
	~ To Tess, "Kent"

“	Considering our undeniable chemistry, I'd be a little hurt if you didn't recognize me, sis.	„
	~ To Tess, "Kent"

“	The only thing that matters in this world is you...and dear old dad. [...] Don't worry. We have all the time in the world.	„
	~ To Tess, "Kent"

“	You have feelings for Clark Kent. If you were meeting him here, you wouldn't be so nervous, and you'd be in control.	„
	~ To Tess, "Kent"

“	[Earth-2 Lionel] has a hold over us. And you need someone to come in and save you. That's what you want. I'm guessing you stay awake at night, scared of nightmares, of being abandoned. You picture the day when you defeat him. I can give you that. And once Lionel's out of the picture, you can finally live the life that you're too afraid to even dream about...with me. You've had a lot of second chances here, Tess, and I'm only asking for the same. People know about the meteor rock where I'm from, and they all know how to kill me. The whole world knows how to kill me there. But here I can have a fresh start. I can enjoy all the things that this world has to offer without the attention, because that was my mistake in the other world. But this isn't about us. Unfortunately, the situation here is kill or be killed.	„
	~ To Tess during their dinner date.

Part 2[]

“	That's certainly not my preference.	„
	~ To Tess, after she understands his threat to kill her if she does noyt help him find Earth-2 Lionel.

“	Now, don't tell me that you're actually wrestling with the morality of whether or not the old bastard should die or not.	„
	~ To Tess.

“	Really? I knew a Luthor would die tonight. And when you reprogrammed the tracker, I couldn't find Lionel, so that leaves you. You chose him over me, Tess. [...] He's our father. And no one knows what a monster he is more than me. And I thought you understood that.	„
	~ To Tess, preparing to drop her out of a window after she re-routes Earth-2 Lionel's tracker.

“	How good of you to join us.	„
	~ To Clark Kent, after Clark Kent rescues Tess.

“	I guess without the darker side, you're no match for me.	„
	~ To Clark Kent, during their brief battle.

“	This is nothing but a cold music box without the music. Don't kid yourself.	„
	~ To Clark Kent, after being told that Jor-El is in the Fortress.

“	You may have needed your hand held, but I made my way just fine.	„
	~ To Clark Kent, rebuffing Jor-El's guidance.

“	Redemption? Looks like the two of us have different preoccupations.	„
	~ To Clark Kent, after Clark Kent tells him he has a chance at redeeming himself.

Trivia[]

Clark Luthor fulfills the literal meaning of Jor-El's message from his spaceship: "On this third planet from this star Sol, you will be a god among men. They are a flawed race. Rule them with strength, my son. That is where your greatness lies." Using his powers, he rules Metropolis with strength.
His relationship with his adoptive mother Lillian Luthor, if there was any, is unknown, as there is no mention of Earth-2 Lillian's fate.
Ultraman is traditionally empowered by Kryptonite in most portrayals, while it seems that Clark Luthor is empowered by solar energy.
Clark Luthor turned against Jor-El after being convinced by Earth-2 Lionel, something Clark Kent did after listening to Brainiac in "Solitude."
Clark Luthor did not have the mental barriers that Clark Kent had on his powers, meaning that he likely was more powerful than his Earth-1 counterpart at the time of their encounter.
It is unclear why Earth-2 Lionel would name his son "Clark". On Earth-1, Martha Kent named her son "Clark" after her maiden name.
Lois and Tess are the only two main characters to interact with Clark Luthor in "Kent" and "Luthor."
- Oliver also interacts with Clark Luthor, but this is unseen when Clark Kent suddenly arrives back at Watchtower and about to be shot.
In Season 8's "Eternal", Clark wondered what his life would've been like if Lionel Luthor had found him instead of the Kents.
It is never mentioned if Doomsday made an appearance in Clark Luthor's universe.
Clark Luthor is Smallville's version of Ultraman, an alternate universe's evil Superman.
Clark Luthor is the first live-action incarnation of Ultraman, as well as the first live-action incarnation of the founding members of the Crime Syndicate of America (i.e. Ultraman, Superwoman, Owlman, Power Ring, and Johnny Quick).
According to Bryan Q. Miller, there was a scene that did not make it into the final script, featuring Clark Luthor's demise, as one of Chloe's flashes. It was going to take place right after the events of Season 10's "Kent." There, it would have been revealed that Earth-2 Chloe attacked Clark Luthor at the Fortress right after he had first communicated with Jor-El, along with that Earth's versions of Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and Cyborg with Blue Kryptonite weapons. Clark would have tried to show his enemies that he had changed, but they still would never care, with Chloe giving the final shot against him.

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