Soaring to New Heights: Clark Kent's Journey to Flight in Smallville
Flight, the ability to defy gravity and navigate the skies, is a defining characteristic of Superman. In the Smallville series, however, Clark Kent's path to mastering this power was a long and arduous one, fraught with psychological barriers and external challenges. This article explores the evolution of Clark's flight capabilities throughout the series, examining the internal and external factors that influenced his journey.
The Latent Ability
From a young age, Clark possessed the potential for flight. Kryptonians under a yellow sun are capable of achieving incredible speeds in the air, even creating rifts in the universe. While the ability comes naturally to most Kryptonians, Clark struggled to consciously access it. This struggle stemmed from two primary mental blocks. First, he didn't fully embrace his Kryptonian heritage, clinging to his identity as an Earthbound individual. Second, he harbored a fear of heights, acrophobia, which further inhibited his ability to take to the skies.
Despite these mental barriers, there were instances where Clark unconsciously mimicked flight. By combining his super strength and dexterity, he made impressive leaps. He told Jonathan that he felt as if he willed himself toward Lana when he saved her as she fell. He also told Jor-El that he felt as if he was flying when he caught the Daily Planet globe.
Early Attempts and Guidance
Kara, Clark's cousin, arrived on Earth on a mission for Jor-El and attempted to teach Clark how to fly. During one of the encounters, he flew for a short period but then fell from the sky. Kara stated that he lacked focus and that he had doubts about his powers. When Clark was slow dancing with Lois in the barn, he began to hover in mid-air. In Collateral, in the virtual world Lois gives Clark some hope and his mind focuses and he flies up, up, and away.
Jor-El's Training and Mental Trials
Clark Kent's training has been a major goal of Jor-El for years, and has driven much of the plot of Smallville over the seasons. Jor-El spent years trying to get Clark to start training for his destiny, several times using coercive methods to force Clark to train or punish him for not training. Kryptonian technology, through the training sequence, is capable of transferring or transmitting vast amounts of information at once in which Clark Kent processes.
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It appears as if there a certain safety mechanisms built into his training, as seen when Chloe enters the Fortress while Clark is training, which activates a snow storm inside the Fortress but Clark manages to save her. Such training and tasks can also create "mental trials," one of which Jor-El uses with Clark in attempt to help him learn how to fly by having him jump off of a virtual Statue of Liberty, but gets interrupted when he thinks of Lois Lane.
Jor-El's guidance was often harsh, pushing Clark to confront his limitations and embrace his Kryptonian destiny. These sessions often involved mental trials designed to test Clark's resolve and force him to overcome his psychological barriers.
Overcoming Obstacles
Clark's journey was not without setbacks. External forces, such as Brainiac and Doomsday, constantly threatened Smallville and Metropolis, diverting his attention from his training. The loss of Jimmy Olsen further weighed on Clark, making him question his ability to protect those he cared about.
Jor-El stated that, in order to fly, Clark must clear his mind and heart. Clark faced his final trials in the form of Darkseid's Planet coming towards Earth. Clark remembering Jonathan’s final words of guidance, Jor-El intervenes and shows Clark with images of his trials over the past 10 years that he has always had the power inside of him.
Embracing Destiny: The Final Flight
The culmination of Clark's journey occurred during a confrontation with Darkseid. In a vision, Jor-El revealed that Clark had possessed the power of flight all along, urging him to embrace his true destiny. This revelation, combined with his unwavering commitment to protecting Earth, finally allowed Clark to break through his mental blocks and master the ability of flight.
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Clark reawakens in the present, floating in the barn staring down Darkseid. At the Fortress of Solitude, Clark is embraced by Jor-El’s presence. Jor-El tells him that his journey has come to an end and that he is proud of him for embracing his heritage and who he is. He tells his son that he is the only one that can lift the darkness from the Earth. He returns the Superman suit to the surface and gives Clark his final words of wisdom, to not forget that even though he has Jor-El’s blood, he must remember his time in Smallville and his Earth parents and friends that made him a hero. Jonathan presents Clark the suit and tells him to always hold on to Smallville. Clark arrives just in time to save the now out of control Air Force One from crashing. He appears to Lois and nods to her, telling her that everything is alright. As he flies off to stop Apokolips from crashing into Earth, Lois takes a camera and after introducing herself, begins to interview the President. Oliver watches on amidst the crowds of Metropolis as the red and blue blur from Clark’s cape flies into the sky and moves the planet away from Earth. Oliver smiles with pride as the people are freed from Darkseid's control thanks to the efforts of his friend.
Clark and Lois fly off the rooftop of the Daily Planet.
Other Instances of Flight
While Clark's journey to flight was a central theme, other characters in Smallville also exhibited the ability to fly. Conner Kent, a half-Kryptonian, learned to fly during his time at Jay Garrick's school. Additionally, Kara's ship, which transported her from Krypton to Earth, demonstrated advanced flight capabilities.
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