Smallville
at Comic-Con: Special Report! By
Craig Byrne
Smallville
returned to the Comic-Con International
in San Diego today (July 28), and if
the enthusiasm and excitement in the
room was any sign, this is going to
be a fantastic season.
[Be
warned, spoilers may be below.]
The
panel started with a screening of clips from
the show's first six seasons. Reminiscent
of the excellently-edited "Previously
On..."s that we see before season finales,
this selection of clips was amazing.
The
biggest highlight of the clipfest was seeing
Clark flying (from "Crusade") with
the words of Christopher Reeve's Dr. Swann
in voiceover. It gave chills in the same way
"Marlon Brando as Jor-El in the Superman
Returns trailer" did.
Then,
the clipfest went into some clips from the
Season 7 premiere and possibly beyond. We
see Lionel washed ashore in some way. An angelic-looking,
flying Kara surrounded by white light. Chloe
being zipped up but then waking up from the
gurney in the morgue. More Clark vs. Bizarro.
Kara in the Daily Planet (or was it the Talon?
I can't remember..) This was the first view
of Season 7 for fans and it was great.
It
seemed that when the clips were shown, the
characters of Lois and Oliver got huge responses
(maybe from being popular, or maybe because
the actors were present). There was a scream
of "oh no!" when Chloe was seen
dead on the table, but again, that won't stick.
(Read
some season 7 spoilers)
The
guests of the panel included series creators
Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, plus actors
Erica Durance (Lois), Phil Morris (John Jones),
and Justin Hartley (Oliver Queen/The Green
Arrow). Also joining them was Laura Vandervoort,
who will be playing Clark's Kryptonian cousin,
Kara Zor-El, in Season 7.
From
the brief clips shown, and Vandervoort's general
enthusiasm, look, and demeanor, she is going
to be PERFECT for the role of Kara. I think...
or hope... that her addition will revitalize
the show in a similar way to how James Marsters
changed things up in Season 5.
Al
Gough revealed that Dean Cain will be appearing
in the season's fourth episode, as a villain
(Read more on that).
Also, Justin Hartley will be returning as
Green Arrow in the middle of the season.
Phil
Morris shared his own enthusiasm and fandom,
revealing that he had spent several hours
on the convention floor himself earlier in
the day. Morris, by the way, will be returning
for several episodes this Fall.
The
fate of Lana is still unsaid, although Laura
Vandervoort she hadn't gotten to work with
Kristin... "yet." Why would she
say "yet" if Lana is dead, hmm?
Saddening
some fans who wanted to ask about it, Al and
Miles reiterated that they still can't use
Batman, though they ask if they can use Wonder
Woman every year. One of the times that it
was said that they could not get Bruce Wayne,
there was booing from the audience.
The
first 15 fans asking questions got free t-shirts.
(Can I have one?)
Someone
commented on the chemistry between Lois and
Ollie, and they asked Erica and Justin how
they prepare for a romantic scene. They both
made mention of their respective spouses.
(David Palffy and Lindsay Hartley were both
in the audience).
Justin
Hartley proved himself to be a huge geek,
revealing his two favorite Smallville moments.
One, was having Green Arrow shooting at the,
what Justin called a "soda pop can"
(how Midwest!)... and the other, just the
general meteor-flying-before-the-logo "Somebody
Saaaaaaaaaaaaave Me!" Seriously, why
doesn't this guy have his own show?
Phil
Morris said his favorite Smallville
moment came at the end of "Labyrinth."
Al
told the audience that Michael Rosenbaum wanted
to be at the Con but he recently had a back
surgery and was unable to make it. Get well
soon, Michael!
Another
revelation at the Con was that new Smallville
action figures are coming next year, and
singular-colored prototypes were seen. Scheduled
for release are Clark, Oliver Queen, Aquaman,
Bart Allen, Cyborg, and Bizarro.
All
in all, it was a very successful panel. I
know this sounds like a lot of gushing and
kissing it up but this level of excitement
for something Smallville has not been
in a gathered place like that for a few years.
[Additional
note: KryptonSite's Craig Byrne participated
in a very brief press junket/conference with
some of the guests. Look for some of that
late Saturday night or on Sunday.]
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