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Lana Lang was many things inDCU’s Smallvilleand being a witch may have been one of them. Lana was businesswoman, a vigilante, and the love interest of many. But her ancestry brings up the question regarding her witch status.
Witches in DC Comics are usually descendants from a particular race of humans, Homo Magi. These are people born with the ability to manipulate magic. They often call themselves by many names, including witches, magicians, sorcerers, and wizards. Even Santa Claus appears to be a magic user. One of DC’s most powerful magicians is Zatanna Zatara, who also appeared inDCU’sSmallville. Zatanna is half-Magi, but can still wield a great deal of magic. Lana Lang, however, has a different connection to Smallville’s witches.
Witches In Smallville
Not all metahumans inSmallvillewere infected by kryptonite meteors or were aliens like Clark Kent. Witches are a sub-race of metahumans who first appeared inseason 4 ofSmallville. Their powers stem from their ability to channel magical energy to intentionally manifest a certain phenomenon or effect. This can be done in a variety of ways. Some witches chant spells, for instance, while others can use only their minds. Magic always proves to be troublesome for Clark. Bullets can bounce off him, but an enchanted blade is capable of piercing his skin.
Zatanna Zatara is the most prominent and most powerful magic wielder in the series. She typically used magic by reciting the spells backwards. Zatanna used her magic as a stage magician as well as a heroine. She had a knack, however, of causing trouble by granting people a wish. Zatanna to Clark:
“Without a dash of fantasy, life’s just life. And where’s the magic in that?”
It’s perplexing why Clark doubted the veracity of Zatanna’s magic being “real” in a world where he was an alien who encountered several metahumans weekly. It’s even stranger considering the series of episodes that introduced witches andmagic to the world ofSmallvillein season 4. After Lana Lang touches a spell book and becomes possessed by Countess Thoreaux who, like Zatanna, was also quite the trickster.
Smallville’s Lana Lang Witch Ancestry
Season 4’s Countess Margaret Isobel Thoreaux was a French witch and aristocrat who lived during the 17th century. Jason Teague once described her as a “warrior princess… who kicked a lot of ass and broke a lot of hearts.” That’s an awfully familiar and fairly accurate description of Lana Lang, who happens to be a descendant of Countess Thoreaux. The Countess possessed Lana and revived members of her coven through Lois Lane and Chloe Sullivan. While it is clear the Countess wasa witch inSmallville, it was not made explicit whether she was Homo Magi like Zatanna Zatara.
It is possible for witches to exist and not necessarily be Homo Magi. But it, unfortunately, is not always detailed how those witches came to possess their powers. If, however, the Countess was Homo Magi, then that would make Lana Homo Magi to some degree as well. The other possibility is that the Countess is homo-Sapiens and became a witch by some other means. If the latter is true, then that would render Lana Lang, a descendant of Isobel, to be at least capable of developing the samemagic powers inSmallvilleas her ancestor.
The Countess’ magic was formidable. Forcing Lex Luthor to play the piano indefinitely and bewitching an entire party, including Clark Kent, are parlor tricks for Isobel. She even managed to strip Clark of his powers temporarily. With her spell book in hand and Stones of Power, she believed she alone had the potential to rule and control the world. The Countess to Clark:
“Your magics are impressive… But so are mine.”
Lana Lang’s witch ancestry grants her the potential to manifest magical abilities inSmallville. While the series permits her to manipulate magic due to being possessed by Countess Thoreaux, there’s no reason why Lana couldn’t learn magic on her own.Smallville Season 11revealed that she lost her powers from the series. Still a warrior and capable of protecting life as a vigilante without powers, Lana Lang can reinvent herself again as a witch inDCU’sSmallvillethanks to her magical connection to the Countess Margaret Isobel Thoreaux.
