As I was reading Survivor's Quest a few months ago, I was struck by a nickname that Mara had for Luke. Farmboy. The nickname references Luke's Tatooine upbringing, but also reminds us of his naivety in A New Hope. However, I also think the nickname is an endearing term that references one of Luke's strength. His optimism and belief in people. We all know that Luke's optimism and belief that there was still good in Vader is what helped save his father in the end.

In recent days, another famous farmboy has made a triumphant return to the silver screen. This one, of course, crash landed in Smallville as an infant and became Superman. As I compare the two legends, I see a lot of similarities between Luke Skywalker and Superman, and I don't just mean the fact that both heroes share the same composer for their rousing theme songs.

For starters, both were orphaned following tragedies to their parents and raised by surrogate parents. While both were orphaned, they were raised by people who took them as their own and helped raise teach them right from wrong. In watching Smallville, I like the contrast between Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. Both have tremendous gifts, Luthor of the intellectual variety, while Kent has superhuman strength. Yet, it is Clark's loving parents who set him on the course of becoming Superman, teaching him to use his gifts to help make the world a better place. Lex Luthor, in the meantime, was trained to crave power and do whatever he could to increase the amount of it he held.

Luke Skywalker, of course, was raised by Owen and Beru Lars. They shielded the boy from his father's dark past, and also taught him right from wrong. Like Clark Kent, Luke had tremendous gifts, although in his case the Force abilities appear to lay dormant until Luke met Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Both Luke Skywalker and Clark Kent also had to deal with the loss of a mentor. Luke lost Obi-Wan and later Yoda, and Superman lost his father, although he did not know him personally. Both were taught how to use their gifts to help those around them. Both also suffered from challenges in their love life. Luke had an unknowing crush on his sister, and Clark Kent had to appear clumsy and awkward even in front of Lois Lane to keep his identity secret. I will say that Luke definitely had a tougher time here on account of the whole sister thing. At least Clark Kent knew that Lois was in love with him, even if she didn't know it.

In the end, both Clark Kent and Luke Skywalker used their gifts to save lives. Both were tempted to either deny or misuse their gifts, and both eventually chose to use their gifts for the right purposes.

This is, in my mind, another example of why Star Wars has become so popular and beloved. I don't think that Luke Skywalker was thought of as the next Superman, but the similarites that he shares with the Man of Steel do attest to the strength and popularity of some myths and legends. A major part of the strength of Star Wars is how George Lucas drew on mythology and popular legend in creating a new story to be told for generations to come. As Superman stands for truth, justice, and the American way, Luke Skywalker stands for truth, justice, and the trimpuh of right over wrong.