Superman has been adapted across numerous media since 1938, yet the source argues that The CW's Smallville distinguished itself by prioritising Clark Kent's relationship with his adoptive parents as central to his moral formation. The series followed a teenage Clark growing into his role, treating Ma and Pa Kent's influence as fundamental rather than incidental to his eventual superhero identity.

Whilst early Superman comics did not initially emphasise the Kents' role, their significance grew during the Silver Age (1956–1970) through stories in Adventure Comics and Superboy, eventually becoming core to the character's broader mythology. The source suggests that subsequent live-action adaptations have failed to replicate this focus on parental influence, leaving Smallville's approach notably distinct among modern Superman portrayals.