Smallville is the childhood and adolescent hometown of
Superman in comic books published by
DC Comics. Smallville is the setting of many
Superboy comics, which depict the original Superboy (Superman as a boy) defending Smallville from various evils as well as occasionally, the young
Lex Luthor. Smallville is also the setting of the television series
of the same name which similarly depicts the young
Clark Kent. Smallville was first named in
Superboy (volume 1) #2 in 1949.