When discussing the Superboy TV series from the late 1980s, the name John Haymes Newton often comes up. He was, after all, the first actor to don the cape and tights for the show’s inaugural season. However, the series’ journey to the small screen, and even its title, were paved with interesting behind-the-scenes decisions, largely influenced by the Superman franchise’s complex history at the time.
The title “Superboy” itself wasn’t a first choice. Producers initially aimed to utilize the full roster of Superfamily characters from Warner Bros., then the parent company of DC Comics. However, due to the less-than-stellar performance of Superman III, the rights to “Superman” had been sub-licensed to Cannon Films. This legal situation meant the television show had to navigate around the “Superman” moniker, ultimately leading to the adoption of “Superboy.” For many long-time comic readers, the “boy” suffix wasn’t particularly jarring, given the prevalence of similar names in titles like Legion of Super-Heroes.
Beyond the name, the show’s early seasons were also defined by the realities of 1980s television syndication. Syndication at that time often meant operating with tight budgets. It wasn’t until shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation demonstrated the financial potential of syndicated programming that budgets began to increase. The producers of Superboy have acknowledged that the first 13 episodes were produced with limited resources, which is reflected in some of the more rudimentary villains and action sequences. Many of these villains were portrayed by performers sourced from Disney World, essentially extras rather than seasoned stunt professionals.
Into this production environment stepped John Haymes Newton. His casting as Superboy marked his first professional acting role. While he only stayed for the first season due to a salary dispute, some viewers and commentators have expressed a preference for Newton’s portrayal. The actor who replaced him in subsequent seasons was notably older, which shifted the dynamic with other characters like Lana Lang and Jimmy Olsen, who were established as younger in the first season. Despite the budgetary constraints and behind-the-scenes complexities, John Haymes Newton’s portrayal left a lasting impression as the original Superboy on television.
