Comic Book Guy: From Smallville to Metropolis
Pow! Ka-Boom! Biff! And Bop! During the 1960s, the comic book publisher’s main affiliation with TV relied more on these colourful literary noises from the camper than Christmas (Batman TV series starring Adam West, anyone?). Today however, as the mushroom cloud from the comic book movie boom continues to spread over the surface of the planet the home audiences have been, by comparison, relatively ‘Ka-Boom’ free. This isn’t inclusive of animated achievements (superheroes and cartoons go together like Batman and Robin) but the live action series just don’t have the longevity needed. Heroes, for example, debuted with a sublime first season, which was unfortunately followed by utter garbage writing and plot developments, limping along on good faith alone until finally put out of its misery with cancellation. Whether budgetary issues or just lack of ideas, superheroes just didn’t last on the small screen. That is, except one.
On 16 October 2001 Tom Welling appeared on our screens as a certain young man named Clark Kent, aka Kal –El, aka Superman. After the pompous do-gooder performance of George Reeves in the 1950s Adventures of Superman TV show and Christopher Reeves’ both glorious and disastrous movie series, it was perhaps inevitable that Smallville would take us back to the beginning. The early series had the show cash in on teen angst and, coupled with a ridiculously catchy opening theme song, it placed itself firmly within the weekend morning TV schedule. But something unusual happened: instead of continuing its villain-of-the-week plotlines and 2D characters, Smallville, like Superman’s information-gathering nemesis Brianiac, became attuned to feedback and DC lore, eventually transformed itself into critically acclaimed prime time viewing.
Currently wrapping its 9th season in the UK as the 10th (and final) debuts in the States, Smallville has been a huge success. With its successful combination of incredibly engrossing story arcs, a bevy of heavy hitting villains straight from the tombs of DC’s best titles and a supporting cast who all deserve the limelight, it’s important viewers don’t mistake Smallville for what it used to be. Unlike Heroes, it has become intelligent, involving and constantly entertaining, flourishing over the years. Season 10 is set to be a finale worthy of TV’s greatest Superhero success and will see the return of many of DC’s supporting heroes to battle the biggest villain of them all, whilst Kal – El becomes agonisingly close to finally putting on the famous blue and reds. Is it a bird? Is it a plain? No, it’s Superman!