Defending ‘Smallville’

I have to disagree with Mitch Kohn’s letter that the WB’s “Smallville” kicked off Oct. 16 with a display of homophobia (Saturday Letters, Oct. 20).

He addresses two particular points: (1) Clark is quick to defend his heterosexuality to Lana. That’s not a homophobic slant; that’s a teenage boy trying to make time with a girl! The fact that the reference was included without disparity is open-minded. (2) Clark is hung in a cornfield and branded as a scarecrow. Kohn’s analogy was Matthew Shepard. Someone else might have said Jesus Christ. Someone else, Ray Bolger’s “brainless” Scarecrow. Well ... they were all outcasts, just like Kryptonian Clark.

Time will tell, but so far “Smallville” seems anything but small-minded.

NELSON ASPEN

Los Angeles