The Maybe File: Smallville High's Coach Walt

Smallville arguably used more original characters than any other comic book adaptation. Especially early on, when we get characters like Coach Walt Arnold in "Hothead" (September 2001). Arnold is a football coach with a temper who gets anger-related fire powers after he uses meteor rocks - Kryptonite, for anyone who hasn't seen the show - in his sauna.

In Action Comics #791 (May 2002), a Coach Walt Andrews writes Clark to ask him to come to his Smallville class reunion.

I know. The name's not the same. But let's look at the evidence. Smallville debuts in September 2001 and becomes an instant success. Then Action Comics #791 comes out right in time for the Smallville season finale and features an extensive flashback to Superman's high school days, the essential premise of the show. The story definitely introduces the Smallville Crows to canon and possibly Granville. It's also the first appearance in comics of a Coach Walt A., and Smallville just so happens to have also introduced a Coach Walt A.

Is it meant to be the same character? If it is, did they change the name by accident or is it for legal reasons? I don't know the answers to these questions. I can't say for sure Coach Walt is a canon immigrant, but here's what I can say: if he is meant to be one, he's certainly not the one to have changed the most during the journey.