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posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |

• Here's yet more on the topic of the Superman "triangle numbers" thing, this time from Tim O'Neil. He discusses the inherent downside in the interlocking continuity among the multiple Super-books, emphasized by the triangle numbering, which reduces the individuality of the titles and creative teams in favor of editorially-mandated crossover events/"sagas."
  
  I was going to respond further, but too much of what I just tried to write seemed like it was duplicating what Tim was saying, and I don't want to be That Guy, you know? I do want to make two points, though:
  
  1. When the interlocking Superbooks worked, they worked really well, and that was during the whole "Death/Return of Superman" storyline. Outside of the sensationalism and influx of magpies into the market looking to "invest" in a "collectible," the actual serialized story generated genuine interest and excitement in at least our customers, and certainly in other readers elsewhere, I'm sure.
  
  Not disputing any of Tim's points, here, mind you. I do agree that the tight continuity among the Super-books probably lasted far too long, as he says, in favor of DC's hopes that they could get lightning to strike twice with later Superman "events." I suppose one could argue that, during the industry's lean times of the post-crash '90s, that the serial nature of the titles was what was keeping the hardcore readers coming back, and DC couldn't take the chance of losing what was left of their Superman readership by cutting that last incentive to keep reading. Just a little wild speculation, is all.
  
  2. I can see the current iteration of the "triangle numbers" on the Superman books having the primary effect of raising numbers on the Supergirl title. At our store, Supergirl generally sells about 2/3rds of the Superman titles. If the Superman readers decide they want to work Supergirl into their weekly Super-reading, and depending on just how tightly the Supergirl storylines are tied in with the Superman titles, I expect sales to eventually even out.
  
  Keeping Tim's criticisms of the older Superman titles in mind, what this means for the actual content of the Supergirl comic, its individuality or lack thereof, remains to be seen. And given that a month in, we've already had those triangle numbers on two "specials," I don't know how many extra books Super-fans are going to want to put up with just to maintain an unbroken triangle chain.
  
  Anyway, Tim says he plans on saying more on the topic, so hopefully I didn't step on any toes, here.
  
  
• By the way, remember when the two Legion of Super-Heroes titles had "L numbers?"
  
  
  Related: remember when the Legion could support two monthly books?
  
  
• I'm thinking about this triangle number thing way too much.
  
  
• Pal Tom has been going through his Grimjack comics in chronological order, with commentary and images and gosh darn if it doesn't make me want to pull out my Grimjacks and read them. Here's part one, here's part two, and the man owns a Munden's Bar hat. A Munden's Bar hat. He must know what he's talking out.

posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |

As you may have heard, comics blogger and salesperson Carla Hoffman, along with her husband Lance, suffered serious burns as they were attempting to evacuate the Santa Barbara fires.

They are expected to recover, but they have lost their home. If you would like to help them out...here, from the official Montecito Fire Department web page is a press release (PDF download) detailing the Lance and Carla Burn Fund, including information on where to donate.

I've only met Carla and Lance once, but I've spoken with Carla several times on the phone, as her store and ours regularly do business with each other. She's always a treat to talk to, friendly and exuberant, and I always thought quite well of her. And Lance was quite the good guy, too, and I know Carla thinks the world of him, judging from her writing in her various blogging outlets. So please, everyone wish the best for Carla and Lance, and hope for their quick recovery...physically, economically, and emotionally.

posted by Mikester  @ 00:02 |

• And Chris thought he was joking.
  
  So I was looking in the most recent issue of Comic Buyer's Guide, and happened across a letter from a reader, who was wondering about DC Comics' publishing strategies re: Watchmen, what with the new movie coming out an' all. To wit:
  
  

  "For Watchmen, there should be reprints of the original Alan Moore series or one-shots of each Watchman character by today's hottest writers and artists. The only things I've seen from DC on this epic series are the trade paperback, the Absolute edition, and a Millennium Edition reprint of the first issue. And outside of Rorschach's cameo in The Question some years back, nothing else. Why is that? I know Alan Moore wants nothing more to do with DC Comics, but, since they're company-owned, why not showcase the characters in one-shots or Hypertime team-ups?"

  
  Okay, I promise I'm not posting that excerpt from the letter to make fun of the guy. (Well, except for the Hypertime comment. That reference is a few years out of date.) Because, while on the face of it, it does seem ridiculous that new comics featuring the Watchmen characters would even be considered...I have to admit, I am at least a little surprised that DC hasn't published new material based on the original mini.
  
  I suppose a lot of it has to do with not wanting to dilute the perception, or the sales, of the original with new, and almost certainly inferior, material. And of course there's not wanting to tick off Alan Moore or Dave Gibbons (more Gibbons, now, since it's pretty clear hell will freeze over before Moore comes back to DC), and then there's the possible fan backlash, and the attendant bad publicity, and so on.
  
  But that letter shows that there very well may be a market for such things, now...people who don't care, or even remember, the whole brouhaha involving Moore and Watchmen and DC...who just want new adventures of the characters, and aren't interested in the creators behind them. A Batman/Rorschach team-up comic would find a pretty welcoming audience, I'd imagine. Hell, even I'd want to check it out, just for the sheer "what th--!?" factor.
  
  I don't expect any such thing to actually happen, of course...if it were to happen at any time, right now, with the movie adaptation on the horizon, would be the time for it. Though we have at least one or two more rounds of solicitations from DC Comics for books that would come out before or around the movie's release date...there's always a slim chance we'd have a shocking surprise. ("The NEW Birds of Prey #1...starring Silk Spectre!")
  
  We are getting new story material, of a sort...original Watchmen editor Len Wein is writing the script for the prequel video game (while noting in the interview that a sequel to the original story is very unlikely). And Gibbons has done a few new illustrations, for bookcovers or movie promos or what have you...not new story material, by any means, but still, they are new pics.
  
  I suppose this is one of those times we should be thankful for comics' general irrelevance in relation to Big Hollywood Promotion/Money-Making (aside from being R&D for new films). One memo handed down from Warner Brothers asking DC for more new Watchmen comics to capitalize on the film could be all it takes, Mike said cynically.
  
  
• Following up on the whole "triangle numbers" thing from yesterday...Tom reminds me that the triangle number did eventually get enclosed in a Superman shield-shaped pentagon. A quick glance at the books reveal that this happened, at least in Action Comics, with the March 2000 issue. So there you go, in case you were wondering.
  
  
• Speaking of my comments, JET asks
  
  

  "So, just how long are you going to hold off commenting on the fact that your president-elect is a comics collector?"

  
  Well, it's neat, assuming it's true. But I haven't brought it up because, really, I don't know what to add. I've not seen any pics of him kicking it on a beach somewhere, reading an issue of Conan. But if he gives a speech after he takes office, recommending the solution to the troubled economy is slabbing all of your professionally-graded comics...well, make space in the guesthouse, Steven, because I'm comin' to Canada and movin' in!
  
  
• Would you like to know what is the awesome? An eight-page preview of El Gorgo #2, that is what is the awesome. The first comment in reaction to that preview over there is "El Gorgo! you are fantastico!" -- and there's nothing I can add to that.
  
  
• PLEASE NOTE: one of my favorite writers on comics, a certain Andrew W., has moved from his old Blogspot digs to the new address of www.armagideon-time.com. No more freebie MP3 downloads (he explains why in his initial post, though you can probably guess the reasons), but it still remains some of the smartest writing on popular culture you'll find. He gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION...and you know me, I don't like anyone, so you know that recommendation really means something.

posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |

• So apparently the revival of the "triangle number" on the Superman family of books is having its intended effect. (For the uninitiated, the "triangle number" is like a secondary issue number that appears on the covers of the multiple Superman books, indicating in which order they are to be read; e.g. Action #871 is triangle #4, Supergirl #35 is triangle #5, etc.) I had a number of requests over the last couple of days for people wondering where "triangle #3" was, since the regular Superman books appeared to skip over that number. It was in fact Adventure Comics Special, and once pointed out to the folks who'd missed it on their first pass over the rack, we sold quite a few of them.
  
  Okay, you'd think a big green "NEW KRYPTON" banner across the top of the cover would help draw attention to it...but really, when you stand back from the rack and look at the whole beautiful gory layout, it does sort of get lost in there, so I really can't blame anyone for missing it.
  
  And yes, it's not really a "triangle number" anymore...when they first introduced the concept in the '90s, the number was in a triangle. Now it's in the Superman-shield outline, which really makes a lot more sense.
  
  And in "can Mike get any more pathetic" news, it's not the triangle number that's going to get me to pick up the next issue of Supergirl...it's the fact that the cover of that issue is the third part of a larger image spread out over two previous Superman covers, and I don't want to have 2/3rds of the image in my collection.
  
  I told pal Dorian this, and he laughed at me and called me stupid. And then he pushed me down and took my lunch money.
  
  
• ALSO SELLING: That Justice Society by Alex Ross and Kingdom Come Tie-In Superman Sequel Follow-up Book by Alex Ross or Did I Mention That Already? comic I was complaining about the price on a couple of days back. Flew off the shelves...nearly out!
  
  NOT SELLING: First issue of Push, apparently tying into a movie I haven't heard of. Luckily we didn't get that many of them.
  
  WHAT I'D LIKE TO SELL: That new Joker graphic novel. Currently unavailable from our distributor. Multiple requests from customers every day. Ah, well.
  
  
• COMMERCIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Have some Disney books on the eBay...just clearing out some redundancies in the collection, and frankly, I won't say no to any money that it'd bring. So bid early, bid often! (And more stuff to come on Monday!)
  
  
• Every once in a while, I just go back to this page Kevin Church put together, based on this post of mine from last year, and sit and stare and let it soak in. I half-suspect Kevin is using this to somehow brainwaMUST DESTROY THE HU-MANS

posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |

posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |

• Rich from Roots of the Swamp Thing e-mailed me about this interview with Guillermo del Toro, in which the interviewer asks del Toro if he could consider making a Swamp Thing movie. And in response?
  
  

  "I would love to make a Swamp Thing movie...."

  
  Of course, that doesn't mean he is going to make a Swamp Thing movie...he's got a few years' worth of projects to tackle first, but at least he's got the idea in his head.
  
  After seeing the giant plant monster in his Hellboy II flick, I imagine his Swamp Thing would work quite nicely.
  
  
• Blah blah new Watchmen trailer blah blah gravely Rorschach narration blah blah finally gives uninitiated an idea of the plot blah blah Dr. Manhattan talking blah blah bullet time ahoy blah blah parts look straight out of the comic blah blah blurred blue penis blah blah cgi human bean juice blah blah Civilian Dan looks good blah blah Manhattan freaking out = cool blah blah sorry folks that one part is actually from a dream sequence blah blah.
  
  
• A new comic or two: Batman: Cacophony #1 is Kevin Smith's first new comics work since the aborted Daredevil mini and the horrendously-delayed Spider-Man/Black Cat. Funny, our customers don't seem to be going out of their way to pick up this new thing. Can't imagine why not.
  
  The comic itself is a mixed bag...while there's some cleverness involving Deadshot, there's also a lot of leaden dialogue that's apparently meant to be witty and/or outrageous and just comes off as "trying too hard." Or maybe I just don't have the patience for it any more. Your mileage may vary, as they say.
  
  Justice Society of America: Kingdom Come Special: Superman, or something like that - I think we could have safely lost the extra sketch pages, and just published the 23-page story in the standard format for $2.99 and saved everyone a buck. Art's nice, though...not quite as mannered as Ross' usual painted work.
  
  The Black Terror #1 - latest installment in the ongoing Project Superpowers Golden Age superhero revival thing, and...not quite sure what the point of it all is, really. Feels like one of those comics that I like more in concept than in execution. While I enjoy seeing some of the off-brand Golden Age superheroes in action, and it all looks nice, the actual stories themselves have yet to grab me.
  
  Fall of Cthulhu: Godwar #3 - I don't have much to say about it, really, other than I've been enjoying this ongoing serial involving Lovecraft's space monster mythos. The shorts Boom! Studios have been doing in their Cthulhu Tales books are fine and all, but I appreciate the longer-form stories of Fall of Cthulhu a bit more, if only because there's more space to get to know the characters, and of course to build the creepiness and the horror. Perhaps part 3 of a 4 part series, following up on a previous dozen or so issues, may not be the best time to recommend a series, but at least look for the trades if you're big on the Lovecraft thing.
  
  Stephen King's The Stand: Captain Trips #3 - Issue #3, and we're only how far into the story? This adaptation is going to be ONE MILLION ISSUES LONG.
  
  
• Hey, once former and now part-time employee Kid Chris is on the Twitter. Add him to your Twitter list, and maybe he'll post something on there again.

posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |

Well, it was just a joke, really, making fun of my bit of recent overkill discussing the Smallville TV show. But good gravy it started some discussion, which I really wasn't expecting.

I'd like to contribute to the discussion, somehow, except I really don't remember much about Misfits of Science. I know I watched an episode or three, and seem to have some vague memories of it. I remember the ice-powered guy, who, according to the Wikipedia article, vanished after the pilot episode due to objections by Marvel Comics over similarities with its X-Men character.

Aside from that, I remember suggesting this show to a former customer of mine who worked for a DVD company that specializes in producing cult/special interest TV DVD boxed sets. I think I suggested they could capitalize on the publicity over the Courteney Cox TV show Dirt, which was on the verge of starting at the time and being advertised incessantly. Marketing a old TV show featuring Courteney Cox could...well, not drive sales into the stratosphere, but at least grab an extra pair o'eyes or two. Well, that's what I thought.

Didn't happen...I also suggested Run Joe Run, and The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty, with mostly equal results. (Waldo Kitty, apparently, did get an episode or two onto some boxed DVD set.) Ah, well.

So, sadly, I have only two posts about Misfits of Science (including this one) in me, rather than twelve. Sorry about that, but feel free to talk about it in the comments section.

And someday I'll talk about comics again. You know, just for a change of pace.

posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |

from Dell Giant #34 (September 1960)

posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |

...the first of twelve consecutive posts about Misfits of Science:

posted by Mikester  @ 20:50 |

Oh, sure, you could settle for reading some lesser comic site, with useless junk like "reviews" and "current news" and "interesting content." But only I -- I -- have the courage to dare bring you a third post discussing Smallville. Can your heart handle the excitement?

Joshnunn wishes

"During seasons 2 and three I kept wishing that one of the pay-offs for watching all the way through might be that Chloe gets put in witness protection or something and takes the name Lois Lane."

I think a number of people thought sort of along the same lines...including me, half-jokingly suggesting that eventually she'd have to take a "pen name" or something (perhaps to separate herself from her tabloid-esque reporting) for the Planet. You know, "Chloe Sullivan" -- "Chloe S." -- "Chloes" -- "Chlois" -- "Lois" -- well, that works better speaking it than writing it, but maybe she would have compressed her real name like that, then grabbed "Lane" from, I don't know, a street sign or something, and vee-ola, "Lois Lane."

I have a rich fantasy life.

Michael-Sensei is in Japan, and he says he's a few seasons behind over there (where he just endured the witchcraft episodes, the poor guy). But he also says (and if the the kanji in his comment does strange things to your browser, I apologize)

"...The series is called 'ヤング・スーパーマン' or 'Young Superman' over here. I wonder if DC's lawyers thought of that to get around the Superboy thing."

Maybe that's part of it (someone more familiar with the ins and outs of what DC does and does not want to do with Superboy can chime in here, if they wish), but I seem to remember hearing that there was some concern whether folks would "get" that this was about a pre-Superman Clark Kent. (A couple of the titles in other countries use the name "Superman" as well). I really don't know. I do like the name "Young Superman," though perhaps it promises a bit more than the show itself actually delivers.

Anonymous cracks wise about Superman's secret identity in the show

"And if all else fails, there's time-travel, or the Super-Kiss he used on Lois. Can't wait to see him use it on Lex in the series finale!"

You know, they've got to break that sexual tension between Lex and Clark somehow.

Old Bull Lee puts in a third appearance (he's a trooper!) to explain

"I might be wrong, but I thought Clark went to college for a few months (including a short stint on the football team), then dropped out because decided he needed to help out back on the farm."

That sounds right. I don't go back to rewatch the show, and...I don't recall every single detail. But I'm sure it was something like that. Which reminds me...now that Clark is working at the Planet, who's running the farm? Is Clark just doing all the chores at super-speed before leaving for Metropolis in the morning, and not worrying about "keeping up appearances," leaving the neighbors to wonder how the work's getting done on the Kent farm?

Pal Nat gets in a joke, then says he

"...Stopped watching the show after about season 3"

You know, I think that's about as far along as I got into Lois and Clark before it just got too dumb. Just thought I'd mention that.

Mr. Allison Blaire is awesome

"I think 'Smallville' Clark should start wearing the glasses and fedora in his everyday guise, like the old school Siegel and Shuster version, when he's making the transition to full fledged Superman. Or maybe he can gel his hair back like Dean Cain"

Oh, God, Clark in a fedora. I'm not going to be happy now until I see this regularly happen on the show. And since Dean Cain's been brought up...I always thought Cain as Clark and as Superman looked reasonably different enough to make the dual identity thing work. 'Course, plenty of time in the make-up chair helps, but still....

Ah, Laura clears it up for us

"To answer your college question, Clark dropped out after his dad died. That was season 5.

"Lois didn't graduate high school, went to college after Clark had Lex pull some strings for her, then got kicked out for drinking or something, all of which happened way back in season 4."

Ah, okay. Thanks, Laura!

Former employee Josh chimes in

"I'm not sure if you covered this, but any hints that he's using his super mass hypnosis?"

No, not yet, but I suspect hypnosis of some kind will be part of whatever likely Jor-El-caused "whammy" is going to make the Clark/Superman ID probable, as I mentioned a couple of posts back...assuming this ID thing is even going to be given closure on the show.

Suedenim has some good things to say, including

"Better [revealing your secret to your friends], IMO, than have everyone think you're this secretive and unreliable weirdo who *clearly* has *some* deep dark secret, but won't confide in anyone."

Quite a whole lot of Clark's problems stem from not being honest about who he is...he has good reason, certainly, but had he owned up to Lex early on, it seems to me Lex might not have gone down his eventual villainous path. The secret-keeping just seemed to feed Lex's continued obsession, so Clark had a hand in creating his own arch-nemesis...which is in line with the comics (well, the Silver Age version) to a certain extent.

Your (my?) Obedient Serpent corrects me on Clark's actual position at the Planet (copy boy), and also says

"Aaron Ashmore was BORN to play Jimmy Olsen."

Come to think of it...physically I think he comes closest in appearance to the classic version of the character. I think Ashmore's version of the character is a little more together than the one from the comics, however.

Pj Perez sez

"OK, I try usually to avoid reading about any "new" Smallville developments, as I am watching the series fresh on DVD and just now have gotten to season 4, but I enjoyed these comments and your replies nonetheless"

Thanks, Pj! I worried about going on about this as long as I did, but, hey, people seem to be interested in talking about it, and others are finding it good readin' as well. (But I think this'll be the last part, anyway...no need to push my luck!)

Pj also notes, from personal experience, that a college degree isn't necessarily required to enter a career in journalism, re: my concern over all the folks on the show who didn't appear to finish college but went on to successful jobs anyway. So I guess Clark and Lois' positions on the Planet are at least plausible.

Juisarian says

"I think that's the most Supes we're going to get in our Smallville for the near future - this show is all about infinitely approaching Superman. It's a surface tension which they can't always maintain and still make the show worth watching."

Yeah...despite my wish for more fun superhero action on the show, actually putting Clark into the suit would violate the spirit of Smallville. It's not about Clark fighting crime as Superman...it's about Clark learning how to become Superman. Though I still think as the ultimate payoff for the series, we need to see at least a little Superman in Action...er, action, if only just for part of the last episode.

Tomy, he of the first comment for these Smallville posts, notes

"...I'm more of a fan of silver age Superboy/Legion era, where he picked it all up as a kid and then was suddenly superman. i guess that's why this transitional phase the show is stuck on grates me a little."

That's one of the things that sort of bothers me a little, though I realize the realities of having to fill so many hours of TV each season. I sit there watching the show, and thinking to myself, "boy, they're making Superman's origin so unnecessarily convoluted," with all the crystals and conspiracies and Indian cave paintings(!) and is Jor-El evil or not, and how'd Lex's father get involved in this, and wait, Green Arrow is a cast member now?

Okay, moving on to one last comments section, from yesterday's post...I'm only going to note a couple of the remarks, to show you all some mercy.

Suedenim returns with some more info re: the "Smallville" nickname

"The question comes up periodically, and the last time I saw it, it was conclusively shown to have shown up first on the animated show."

Okay, I Googled it, and over at The Fortress of Soliloquy, there's this comment going over the history of the name, and agreeing with Suedenim's note. I could have sworn it appeared in the mid-'80s revamp, but looking through my issues of the Man of Steel miniseries (which kicked off the revamp) I didn't spot it. Lois did repeatedly call Clark "Kent," which felt a bit on the harsh side.

But I really do like the nickname "Smallville" for Clark. It's dismissive in a goofy but not terribly insulting way, and plays into the perceived differences between Clark and Superman.

Patrick C asks

"Would it be worth it to netflix the old seasons and catch up?"

Ooh, I don't know. Maybe you can pick 'n' choose, just watching the ones that look interesting to you. KryptonSite has an extensive episode guide you can check out. Overall I like this show, for all its problems...it's mindless action entertainment with an attractive cast and only occasionally dips to offensively stupid levels (as opposed to its usual level of inoffensively stupid). Your mileage may vary, as they say. If you do decide to watch all the episodes, at least skip the vampire one. Woo boy.

Okay, and for the sake of my sanity and yours, that's the last post on the show for a while. At least until they decide to end it, at which point I may do a final wrap-up. So thanks for reading all that, and thanks for your interesting comments and questions and such.

So, aside from Smallville...what'd I miss? Say, I hear that Bat-Manga book is somethin' else...anyone talking about it out there?

posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |

Cartoonist and swell cat (and one of the inspirations for this very site) Scott Saavedra recently revealed some serious health issues he's facing. If you folks could go to his site and buy something through his Amazon links or even just donate a few bucks through PayPal, I'm sure Mr. Saavedra would appreciate it.

I'm sure you'll join me in sending Scott our very best wishes.

posted by Mikester  @ 00:02 |

Okay, as threatened, here's part II of "Mike Goes On and On re: Smallville and Watches His Web Site's Traffic Plummet." But, what the hell, I used to talk about each new episode of Smallville on this site, but fell out of the habit. I guess this is me making up for lost time.

And awaaaaay we go:

Wilfredo hammers

"...The final nail for me was when Lois was insisting calling Clark 'Smallville'... in Smallville! I'm more than sure I'm not the first that's noticed that."

Yeah, that does seem a little peculiar...mostly it just grates a bit that Lois is...well, not that she's in the show at all, but that she's in the town of Smallville as much as she is. In the comics, Lana was the quintessential "small town girl" in Clark's life, whereas Lois was the "Big City Gal," and the show sort of maintains this. But with Lois being in Smallville so much feels like crossing the streams a bit.

Also, the whole Lois calling Clark "Smallville" thing...that came out of the mid-80s comics revamp, I'm pretty sure.

David Z kids

"Never tried watching Smallville. I never watched the Birds of Prey show, either. Was that any good?"

And yes, as he said, he was joking. But I did want to take the opportunity to repeat my belief that had Birds of Prey received a second season, I think it might have improved a bit. There was potential there...an attractive cast, an interesting premise...but it was just a bit too rough around the edges, a bit too dopey, which was too bad.

Longtime Customer Jo had a lot to say in defense of the show...I'm not going to quote it all, but she pretty well sums up, I think, why people seem to be enjoying this new season a lot more than the last three or four dozen seasons. In short, it feels a lot more superhero-y, and it's a relief to finally be moving in that direction after years of just sort of running in place.

Jonathan Miller supposes

"Supposedly, this is the 'last' season, which would make sense. Which means it'll get strung out another few years anyway."

Eight years feels like an enormously long time for this type of show, and I don't know that this story (and Clark's putting off "his destiny") can realistically go on yet another year without driving us all crazy. I'm guessing without spending the fifteen seconds it would take to Google this up that the show's ratings are still strong, so it's still making money, so there's incentive to keep the show on the air.

Pal Tom barks out

"I understand Lana and Lex are gone now. What's the point of even keeping it going? Please tell me it's ending this year."

It should end this year, yes, but I suspect we're getting one more year. But Lana leaving was probably necessary, as Clark makes the transition from young man in Smallville to adult in Metropolis. And Lex...we needed a break from Lex, and the show hasn't suffered much with his absence. But it feels like the show is building to a big return to the character, and I suspect that the actor not wanting to shave his head for a guest appearance may put the kibosh on that.

Poor Mojo reveals

"I want Clark to man up and develop the morals, intelligence and conviction of character we expect of him."

It feels like that this is the end goal of this season...we're taking some small steps in that direction so far, which will accelerate as we approach the end of the season...and hopefully will pay off if this turns out to be the end of the series.

Jim notes

"I like the Remy Zero 'Save Me' theme song. And then it's on to Survivor."

I like the theme song, too. Which reminds me, we haven't had as much blatant WB musical product placement this season. I suppose there's a reason for this which I missed and someone will bring up in my comments section eventually.

Speaking of the comments section (as if I haven't been), "Anonymous" nags off-topically

"I just found out there's a "Swamp Thing" still appearing in Ambush Bug!
Is it the purple one of Earth-6 from the first issue, or the real deal?

"******* SCANS, PLEASE!!!!!!"

You've posted about a half-dozen of these comments nagging me about this, regardless of whatever the post is about that you're commenting on. It's a bit annoying, and I don't want to ban your IP from the comments section...so please stop it.

Back on topic, Sarah sez

"I know two people who have watched Smallville from day freaking one, and are still watching it. I am kind of in awe of those people. I hit the eject button somewhere in season five. I stand by the sweetness, sense of wonder, and nods to the epic of the early years, despite the clunky writing, but even I can only take so much."

I am one of those people who watched it from Day One, and...yeah, I probably could have skipped a couple of those dire middle seasons. The novelty of the premise, while causing some consternation at first ("A Superman TV show? Without Superman in costume? WHA--??"), certainly carried the show early on as we saw, as Sarah says, "nods to the epic." But one can't help but think "oh, for God's sake, move on already! Fly! Catch planes!" after a few years of enduring the show.

Brian Smith notes

'I follow the comics, he follows the show and he sends me a lot of "Did this happen in the comics like it happened in the show?' e-mails."

My girlfriend and I sort of go through this, too. She'll ask me if something in the show happened in the comic, and I'll go on and on in excruciating detail with issue numbers an' all and she immediately regrets asking.

Well, I'm not quite that bad, honest. I've mostly weaned myself from the "ooh, you're asking me about comics! Here comes the info dump!" urge. Except here on the site.

Adam Horovitz observes

"Some of [the show's actors] look older than me, though."

I think it was Peter David who noted that he was okay with a Clark Kent that looked older and was a foot taller than his high school classmates, because it's freakin' Superman. But really, Clark's gettin' a bit long in the tooth by this point....

Adam also says

"I'm told season 8 is better, but I'm still not quite recovered from season 7."

Well, Adam...it's still kinda dumb, but the overhaul of the cast and the show's direction does freshen up the program a bit. It's a bit more light, and seems to be headed in a specific, if distant, direction.

Old Bull Lee returns to say

"...But another thing great about this season is they've been largely staying away from the magic crystal/Jor-Ex Machina stories."

The Krypton stuff is necessary, I think, but yeah, they've had a bit of an overkill with it in the series. Plus, it's a little too much "here's more stuff and people from that dead planet you came from so let's chase after them for most of the season." It's like an endless series of MacGuffins to string along Clark and keep him occupied for several episodes. It's a map, a crystal, a "key," etc.

Philip says

"I drop in on 'Smallville' occasionally for some of the 'Justice League' episodes. Not interested in a show about Clark Kent getting all Peter-Parkery. I am probably being unfair, but I prefer my Superman punching meteors and fighting volcanoes with his bare hands."

Yeah, it's as if the creators of the show almost did their job too well. Smallville was built around the idea of a youthful Clark Kent learning the superhero ropes, perhaps attracting viewers that otherwise wouldn't be interested in a standard Superman TV show. But I suspect we're at the point that the fans have had enough build-up, now they want the payoff: i.e. full-on superheroic action.

Baal amazes

"Season six is where I think I'd had enough. I just couldn't take the formulaic meteor freak of the week, the constant pain of any man's relationship with Lana, and the limitations of certain cast members' talent. Seven I sampled the season opener and couldn't even finish it. This year? Whoa. I am still watching and no one's more amazed than me."

Again, I think that's indicative of the show's retooling with its Metropolis-heavy setting and reshuffled cast. It feels like a lighter, more fun show, no longer weighed down by subplots and character relationships from seasons past.

Mike Loughlin gives up

"I was ready to give up a couple seasons ago, but they brought in Green Arrow, then Martian Manhunter, my 2 favorite DC characters. With all the crap they flung at the screen, I think the writers actually did a good job with those two. They kept Ollie's origin the same! And Martian Manhunter is now Detective John Jones, and mentoring Clark on occasion! And there's a Justice League! And Clark's starting to be a hero!"

The fanboy in me wishes for the apparently non-existent possibility of Batman and Wonder Woman guest-appearances, but that ain't happenin'. But I do like that Clark doesn't exist in a vacuum, that the show is acknowledging a wide DC Universe is out there. So my fanboy side isn't entirely disappointed.

I am kind of wondering if we'll ever see the Martian Manhunter in his actual Martian appearance. I mean, we did get a blurry glimpse of his cape a season or two back, but perhaps a big green man walking around Smallville may be pushing the envelope just a little too much.

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Hoo boy. There's gonna be a part III to this, I think. I'm very, very sorry.

posted by Mikester  @ 00:01 |