 Martha Kent , Clark 's adopted mother , is portrayed by Annette O 'Toole . Martha , along with her husband Jonathan , gives Clark sage advice about how to cope with his growing abilities . In season two , Martha becomes pregnant with her first child — in the season two episode " Fever " , Clark 's spaceship heals her body and allows her to have children , something she physically could not do when she adopted Clark — but in season two 's finale she suffers a miscarriage after an automobile accident . In order to help the family financially , Martha takes a job as Lionel Luthor 's assistant in season two , but quits her job the same season in the episode " Suspect " for undisclosed reasons . She eventually takes over management duties at the local coffee shop , the Talon , in season four . She continues to manage the Talon into season five until Jonathan dies from a heart attack , which ultimately leads to her taking his state senate seat at the request of the Kansas Governor in season five 's " Tomb " . This eventually paves the way to a job in Washington , D.C. in season six 's " Prototype " , and the character 's exit from the show . Martha would return in the season nine episode " Hostage " , where it is revealed that she has been going under the code name " Red Queen " while she attempts to keep Clark off of the government agency Checkmate 's radar . She ultimately leaves Clark with a means to send the season 's threat , cloned Kryptonians , to another plane of existence . In the season nine finale , it is revealed that before Martha traveled back to Washington , D.C. that she left Clark a new costume to wear while he defends Earth . 
