Vengeance shows Clark how to have a bumbling, bespectacled secret identity at the Daily Planet and a costumed, crime fighting identity as well.
Clark says he heard Jonathan's voice. Later, we hear it but this is because Martha is watching a home video, John Schneider's last performance as Jonathan Kent.
It is more likely that the mugger was lying than that Lionel Luthor ordered him to commit murder. See "Notes," here.
