After Ten Years, Why is Tom Welling Still in Superman Denial? #TomWelling
Smallville is a shocking teen drama that debuted on the old WB Network, surprising audiences with its non-African-American cast headlined by Steve Harley or the Wayans Brothers.
Smallville was to be something new, a look into the life of a teenaged Clark Kent — the future Superman of tomorrow — with teenage angst of a small town life.
As the show progressed, so did its core audience. Its target 16 – 32 year old demographic aged, going from college into the deep throes of mundane adult life, looking to their decade old show to bring them one hope: the day Superman will fly.
Welling, however, is a pretty boy and is not concerned about fans. In fact, when the show started Welling insisted on a “No Flights, No Tights” rule because he refused to be typcaseted as the hero of America and the man of tomorrow.
Last week, DC Comics announced Superman would become the Red Son. He would literally denounce America in a comic and show that he is a true alien traitor. DC Comics may think the symbolism is smartsy and a great political statement, but I posit that is proves exactly why we must never trust illegal Mexicans.
On point, Tom Welling.
As we can see, Tom Welling is a knock-off pretty boy of Twilight persuasion. Opting to take photo ops in a grayscale, the sin of this man’s libido is evident by his juggalo opening in his zoot suit. Is this a true savior for mankind or a savoring womanizer?
Superman is a character whose supposed to be all about power and inspiration. Superman is the mighty Executive arm of America, waiting to slap down with an unpredented strength upon any evil that dares challenge our sovereign rule over mankind.
That is what the Shuster Brothers wanted to create when creating Superman. A symbol for America crushing the Nazis, striking fear into the Soviets and letting all of Europe know that the world had a new savior, and its name was America. Superman is not a Christ symbol, as some atheists will try to say. But rather, Superman is a patriotic symbol.
But sadly, we see the latest Supermen have failed to live up to George Reeve.
George Reeves Superman
George Reeves Superman had the build of your father after a heaping plateful of Thanksgiving dinner. Beyond the belches of stale whiskey and mashed potatoes, with the slightest hint of a turkey leg disappeared, you knew a drunken tango with father would only end in pain and suffering. Drunk and stuffed, he could still put a good ol’ fashioned country by whoopin on any back talker.
George Reeves symbolized the man strength of America. There was nothing chisled or dramatically vampirish about his build. He was just brawn: steak and taters cornfed midwest beefcake. That is why the Shuster brothers created Superman as a Midwest farmboy. He’s a testament to the conservative values of middle America and the muscle that is built from strong work ethic and dedication to enforcing decency in morality.
Tom Welling shies away from this image, opting for tight leather pants and black tshirst with the Superman symbol adorning it in emo fashion.
Christoper Reeve Superman
Reeve was a class act of Superman. Acting in Superman I and II, Christopher Reeve sat in motion the greatest movie franchise of all time. Fans of all Marvel and DC films should thank Reeve for his making everyone believe ” a man could fly” and furthermore “a man does not really need to have a complex costume to hide from the public if he has 100 powers, one of which includes crazy laser eyes.”
In the movie, Reeve wasted no time becoming the Man of Steel. He left Smallville, hopped into a learning chamber and in what can only make sense to the members of Pink Floyd after falling nose first in a vat full of cocaine laced acid dust, went through a space montage of infinite knowledge that was narrated by Marlon Brando.
And then Superman emerges. He scrogged Lois, smiled for the camera and superpunched a bully at a diner. That is how it’s done. He also made friends with Richard Pryor, who is a way better Pete Ross archetype as ‘random black friend in the Midwest’.
Again, we see Welling falls short. Reeves ruggedness capped off by an icy blue stare is patent American machisimo personified. Welling, again, is up there wearing his Team Edward suit and trying to make his face more gaunt than a Russian model.
John Haymes
No many of you young fans out there are going to cry and coul shenanigans. You’ll alrady be in an adolescent rage because we’re calling Tom Welling out on some longstanding douche behavior.
Ditching your fans and trying to claim you’re not a Superman typecast after acting as the title character of Smallville, for ten years, is just pretty lame. Puckering lips and squinting your eyes as you look into the Sun is meant for Zoolander, not the show that details the life and times of the Man of Steel.
Yet, Welling refuses to relent. He is relentless in his quest to not let Superman fly. But what is not flying is the stuffed mimis of what we have above, John Haymes.
In the late 80s – 90s, there was a show called Superboy. Superboy liked to stuff tube socks down his pants and show off skills that were better fitted to an After School Special’s everyone is a thespian day marathon.
That is to say, the show had poor acting and a worse budget. But it is classic. It is during this time that Superman went from a farm boy rugged prettiness to a Mexican Meztizo look. He looks like he might have some Spanish tainting and the demise of the character into a Twilight pretty boy wins. Did Jacob manage to back straddle Edward and this abomination popped out. Who knows?
It would have been a better plot turn in Superman Returns than seeing the ‘action ponit’ being Superman lifting a giant chunk of island and Lex’s lack of toupe inducing crystals leaving another bald plot to annoy us all with mundane criminal antics.
But before we can get there, we must make one crucial pit stop.
Dean Cain Superman
It was very hard to find an image of Dean Cain with his shirt on. A plot point of Lois and Clark, the New Adventures of Superman, was to have Dean Cain find new and creative ways to answer his door or start a scene somewhat dripping wet, as he is wearing only a towel.
That is one sign of being a pretty boy Spaniard. Answering anything in just a towel and dripping wet is a common site in the barrios of LA and the Bronx. You’d think America had a Superman army if slick haired, squinty eyed Sanchos flying around were the golden knight standard of being a super hero.
If I were a fine citizen of fair Metropolis, and the big mariachi bird was above was flying overhead, I’d run and scream in panic. When did the Mexicans learn to fly and shoot cold breath from their mouths!
It’d be very scary, until Lois started eating frogs and it cloned her. One Terri Hatcher is more than enough for society. This Dean Cain was somewhat whipped by Hatcher’s moist massager, but hey, who would’t be. She was not that desperate back then. Plus, if we’re to believe the plot of the next movie, combing a Mexican Superman with Hatchers thighs would produce us 100s of little Superheros for dead beat dad Man to come home to.
I wish Batman were somehow secretly hiding behind the white light of this photo, emerging a strong kryptonite laced arm and smacking the pretty face of this Soap Opera model until he agreed to not sign the contract.
Yes, he managed to look the part of Reeves, if you consider shopping a Kmart and Bloomingdales the same experience. This is a generic, Kmart special Superman.
He was a deadbeat dad. He was a stalker. He didn’t look Mexican though, but oh, he was also bested once again by a hairless, no brainer scheme by Lex Luthor.
This Superman had no heart for action and Kate Beckinsale must have been a surprisingly stiff lay for, you know, giving up being the most powerful being on Earth, capable of reversing time itself by just flying around the world really fast, all topped off by being able to yell in the vacuum of space.
Maybe that’s why he is a deadbeat.
Henry Cavill. Clenched jaw. Angst filled chin juts. Cheeks ridgier than Steven Tyler after a plastic surgery binge to hide geriatric age. Lips that pout.
This is the upcoming face of Superman. “The Man of Steel”, also being billed as “Superman for the Twilight Age” is flying into a theater near you in 2012.
That image above should scare any traditional Superman fans. Again, Batman is likely shaking his head in disgust and figuring out new ways to Bogart Superman’s powers. Frank Miller is always just a penstroke away from erotica and finding new ways to make Superman get bested by the bat.
And that’s what we need here. Bats for everyone, to knock these pretty faces up a bit and return some rugged grittiness to Superman. Why is Tom Welling not donning the suit?
It is because he’s a pretty boy, concerned about his modeling career. How this hurt his film career that’s consisted of mediocre family movies and ten years of puckering his lips as Tom Welling masquerading as a misplaced farm boy in the Big City.
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Author: Thad Connely
The gentleman of choice, Thad Connely brings experience of two familial generations of news coverage and hard biting reports.
8:13 am
I cannot believe that someone could be so cynical to write this pathetic article. The constant Twilight references are atrocious. And yet you are an adult?
Tom is no pretty boy. At 34, he is a MAN. A gorgeous, humble, sexy MAN.
Tom did NOT insist on the ”no flights, no tights” rule. That was show creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar’s idea. Smallville has and always will be a show about the JOURNEY Clark Kent makes to BECOMING Superman. That will stay true right until the very end of the two hour finale. Tom has played Clark Kent for 10 years, not Superman.
Saying that, why would the show get the suit from Superman Returns and not have Tom wear it at the very end? Have you seen the finale yet? No, I didn’t think so.
”As we can see, Tom Welling is a knock-off pretty boy of Twilight persuasion. Opting to take photo ops in a grayscale, the sin of this man’s libido is evident by his juggalo opening in his zoot suit. Is this a true savior for mankind or a savoring womanizer?”
Let’s put things into perspective here. Once again, Tom is only playing Clark Kent, ABOUT to become Superman. Secondly, the Twilight reference is ridiculously childish. Thirdly, and most importantly, don’t bash Tom as if its the be all and end all.
”Tom Welling shies away from this image, opting for tight leather pants and black tshirst with the Superman symbol adorning it in emo fashion.”
That is just a temporary suit. Emo? Even the black outfit he wore in Season 9 was anything but Emo, as you put it. Don’t bash Tom about it for goodness sake. It was just an outfit to show the darkness that Clark had reached in his journey. The red leather jacket in S10 shows the step forward he has made since then to becoming Superman. Again, its just an outfit. Besides, it’s not the outfit that defines Superman.
”Welling, again, is up there wearing his Team Edward suit and trying to make his face more gaunt than a Russian model.”
Again, why all the Twilight references? And his face is anything but gaunt.
”No many of you young fans out there are going to cry and coul shenanigans. You’ll alrady be in an adolescent rage because we’re calling Tom Welling out on some longstanding douche behavior. Ditching your fans and trying to claim you’re not a Superman typecast after acting as the title character of Smallville, for ten years, is just pretty lame.”
I’d take a good hard long look at yourself before calling any of us adolescents and Tom a douche. From what I gather from his interviews, Tom is anything but a douche. He is a respectable, very grown-up individual who I respect very much. It is refreshing for such an actor to not want to be in the spotlight all the time and I think not wanting to be type cast is completely understandable. Once again, he has not played Superman for 10 years. He has played Clark Kent in a show that has just happened to last so long because of its popularity and success. He is not ditching anything, especially not his fans. Gather some proper facts about him, watch his interviews and you’ll see what I mean.
”Why is Tom Welling not donning the suit? It is because he’s a pretty boy, concerned about his modeling career. How this hurt his film career that’s consisted of mediocre family movies and ten years of puckering his lips as Tom Welling masquerading as a misplaced farm boy in the Big City.”
Again, have you seen the finale?! Watch before you judge. Tom is not concerned about his modeling career. He is a fine, no, brilliant actor who is very underrated. I think he has big things ahead of him after Smallville. He is an extremely talented individual, who can also act and produce. He has stated numerous times that he hopes to continue to do all three, act, produce and direct. I don’t think the three films he was in has hindered his career at all. I can’t wait to see what he does next, and look forward to seeing him in new and exciting roles.
That is all.
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4:04 pm
Tom Welling is a lucky model. I watched the show around Season 6 and was shocked by how atrocious he is. Can’t even fly. Pathetic.
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10:45 pm
Christopher reeves in a wheelchair was 10 times the man this Tom Welling will ever be. He should go wear a euro-thong on the Riviera and stay there.
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5:23 am
@Adam Nelson – You’re blaming Tom’s acting because Clark hasn’t flown yet? Tom has grown a lot since season 6. He was a great actor then, and an even better one now. Clark will fly at the end of the finale. The show has pretty much sticked to the core of it’s essence with its ”no flights, no tights” rule and that has not changed, only in the last few minutes of the final episode will you see Clark fly for real and become Superman, that I am certain. As I have already stated many times, Tom has played Clark Kent on his journey to becoming Superman, this means that he won’t fly until he has and then that is the end of Smallville. I understand everyone has their own opinions, and are entitled to express them, but it would be of benefit to explain your opinions better.
@August Weisz – That was a bit harsh don’t you think? Christopher Reeve will always be remembered as a great icon in the history of Superman. But Tom, once again, has only played Clark Kent. If you had watched Smallville (and to me it sounds like you haven’t – correct me if I’m wrong) you would notice that Christopher has appeared twice in the show, playing Dr. Swan, showing Clark where he comes from and such in one episode in season 2 and one episode in season 3. I think I remember in an interview Christopher said he approved of the show and the story they started and of Tom as Clark in his younger years. I’ll have to dig that interview out sometime. Again, you are entitled to your opinion, but please, explain your statements.
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5:49 am
I’m confused, I thought that The Great One, President George W. Bush, put an end to this travesty of a television show on his first day in office. Is it actually still airing? Are there people living that are so mentally incapable of realizing what a horrible show this is, that they still watch it? I will be praying for all the “fans” of this show and also praying for the parents of these 6-8 year olds who do watch it, to keep a better eye on their children.
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6:10 am
Liv, my opinion is pretty basic. Tom Welling is a horrible actor and is very arrogant. The audacity to think he can play Clark Kent by his own rules is reprehensible. He plays Kent as some Euro pretty boy. There is nothing moral or Kansan about Tom Welling. He doesn’t have a drawl or is not omphish enough to be a good Clark Kent.
He’s whipped and the women on the show drag him around, teaching him how to use his powers. He’d be better of playing Pinnochio while he still has the strings attached.
Ten years to learn how to fly. Why is it every other Kryptonian but Tom Welling can fly on the show? It’s becuase he’s an arrogant schmuck. The last few minutes of the finale? You’ll be lucky to even get that. Michael Rosenbaum and Kristin Kreuk did the right thing in not wasting their time on the final season. Diaper boy is still running around in pleather suits.
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1:46 pm
@Adam Nelson – Well, thank you for explaining your opinion a little better. However, I still don’t understand how you are blaming Tom and calling him arrogant on the basis of his character. He doesn’t write the show. If you want to blame someone for Clark not being able to fly yet, blame the writers. He may have had a lot more input into the show recently, such as directing and being an executive producer, but I don’t think he has much input into how his character is written.
Also, I do not think that he plays Clark by his own rules per say. You’ve got to remember that Smallville started out Clark as a young, high school attending boy who only ever wanted to have a normal life. It showed the human side of Clark, and that’s what attracted Tom to the role. Technically, that has never been done before, so you can’t compare it to anything. As he grew older, he learnt more about his life, where he came from, how to control his powers and begin to understand his destiny. The show had to move forward in its story and therefore could not keep a young Clark Kent forever. Season 10 has made radical steps forward and has shown the well known bumbling, glasses-wearing Clark that he has had to become in order to protect his identity. I think Tom has played that very well. Yes, the writing of Clark may have been shaky at times. I know what you mean about others teaching him to use his powers and being told what to do, that has been a frequent occurrence on the show. But Tom has always been able to bring out some fantastic performances no matter how bad the writing may have gotten. He is a very subtle actor in many ways, and perhaps some people cannot see the talent behind it. He has grown up alongside Clark in these 10 years.
Just wait and see, you might be surprised. Yes, Kristin Kreuk has not returned since her final departure in Season 8, but, Michael Rosenbaum has returned for the finale.
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10:53 pm
Thank you for pointing out the obvious-in-retrospect subversive morphing of superman from a proud white man to a sneaky sex filled Mexican trying to impregnate our pristine white daughters. Sometimes the water boils so slowly that you don’t feel it, but Thad’s loud warning has caused this frog and family to jump out of the pan and into the safe loving arms our savior Christ. A timely warning indeed.
No Mexican supermans in our Christian home.
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12:13 am
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