Out now on Blu-ray is Smallville: The Complete Series 20th Anniversary Edition, a collection of all ten seasons of the WB/CW series, plus digital copies. The box set contains all 218 episodes of the show that paved the way for the current CW slate of dramatic superhero TV series.

Smallville, starring Tom Welling as teenage Clark Kent, with Michael Rosenbaum as Lex Luthor and Kristin Kreuk as Lana Lang, debuted on October 16, 2001. The down-to-earth approach famously focused on “no flights, no tights”, emphasizing the pre-Superman’s humanity instead of his superpowers or costume. Over its decade-long run, the lead character moved from a Kansas high school teen to an adult working in Metropolis and teaming up with other superheroes, including Green Arrow and Aquaman.

Smallville Complete Series 20th Anniversary Blu-ray box setIn addition to the various season extras, carried over from the previous DVD releases, the set also includes two DVDs with the following bonus features:

  • The three-part “Making of a Milestone”, covering in substantial detail the making of “Reckoning”, the series’ 100th episode
  • “A Decade of Comic-Con”, 13 minutes of reminiscences and clips from appearances at the San Diego convention, with emphasis on guest stars
  • Footage of the 2004 PaleyFest event for the show, with writers and producers as well as Sam Jones III, Annette O’Toole, and Tom Welling
  • The 1961 Adventures of Superboy pilot
  • The 2006 Aquaman spin-off pilot, starring Justin Hartley
  • “A Retrospective Look at the Series With Season Featurettes”, one look back for each season, with most running seven to nine minutes
  • Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics, the 90-minute documentary narrated by Ryan Reynolds previously released as a 2010 stand-alone

It’s something of a random grouping, but overall, this set of extras captures what was key about what’s been called “the longest-running superhero series in television history” (which works if you don’t consider the Doctor a superhero). It would have been nice to have seen a “where are they now?” reunion extra, but logistics in the current world, as well as other unpleasant news, likely prevented such. We did get something close: At this past weekend’s DC FanDome, the following discussion and reunion with Welling and Rosenbaum aired, preceded by a set of highlight clips.

Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe ShusterSmallville was developed for TV by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar and featured one of the most ear-wormable theme songs of all time.