Originally aired April 22, 2011
Written by Geoff Johns
Directed by Tom Welling
Booster Gold, a superhero from the 25th century, arrives in Metropolis, intending to take Clark's place in history as Earth's greatest hero. Meanwhile, a strange device attaches itself to a teenage boy and causes trouble.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Antagonist Title: Booster Gold plays an antagonistic role in this episode.
- Anti-Villain: Booster Gold isn't a traditional villain; he's just an egotistical jerk out to make a name for himself at the expense of Superman, of all people.
- Break the Haughty: An important plot point involving Booster Gold.
- Clark Kenting: A sub-plot deals with Clark having a hard time adjusting to his nerdy, mild-mannered reporter guise.
- Mythology Gag:
- Dan Garett, the first Blue Beetle from the comics, is name dropped as the previous host of the Scarab.
- When Blue Beetle starts attacking Booster Gold's show, Clark heads into a phone booth, where he changes out of his reporter garb and into his Blur costume.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Booster Gold's got an ego the size of the moon, that's for sure.
- Time Travel: Booster Gold traveled back through time from the 25th century using a Legion ring.