'Smallville' rocks receptive Comic-Con crowd

It's the final day of Comic-Con 2008, but that hasn't diminished the energy of the dedicated and rather raucous fans at the Smallville panel.

Two big announcements: Justice Society and Green Lantern writer Geoff Johns will be writing an episode. "I'm really psyched to work with everybody. I'm going to be introducing the Legion of Superheroes this season."

Also, there's a strong possibility that actress Allison Mack will be directing an episode, if not this season, very soon. "We're talking. I would be honored to have the opportunity. Nothing is confirmed," she says at first. Showrunner Todd Slavkin, however, interrupts and tells her, "Let's make it official." They shake hands as the crowd cheers.

A sneak peek at scenes from the upcoming eighth season also helps kick off the festivities. Some highlights: Chloe is hooked up to a device and she kicks a guy to get away; Green Arrow has a dramatic confrontation with Clark; first looks at Davis Bloom/Doomsday and Tess Mercer; Jimmy and Chloe share a moment; Tess is seen in Lex's mansion; Clark carries Tess out of some unexplained accident.

While that's all very exciting, it's pretty vague on what exactly is going on, but the showrunners and actors reveal a few things for the upcoming season.

With our young man of steel, Kelly Souders tells us, "Clark is going to actively go out and seek his destiny as Superman and really take on The Daily Planet as his source to get involved and find the people who really need him throughout the city." He also starts thinking about needing a dual identity.

Green Arrow will also do some deep thinking, questioning what he believes to be his destiny. The show will also go back and give us a little origin on him.

Mack reveals a bit about Chloe's activities and how she feels about her powers.

"There's a lot of struggle that [Chloe's] going to be having with trying to keep her personal relationship with Jimmy going as well as sort of trying to cut the apron strings a little bit with Clark and forge ahead into her own passions," says Mack. "Like Clark, you'll see Chloe step into her own and have a lot less fear about what she's able to do now and start taking more responsibility for what she actually can achieve if she actually utilizes the powers that she's been given."

There's new (bad) blood in town too in the form of Sam Witwer, who will play Davis Bloom/Doomsday, and Cassidy Freeman, who plays Tess Mercer.

"He's paramedic, a really nice guy," says Witwer. "Eventually he's going to start blacking out, losing time. He's going to wonder what's going on during these blackout periods. What he finds out ... it's not great. Eventually the character will have to deal with that. The cool thing is we're not trashing the Doomsday backstory. We're adding to it and interpreting it. What we're adding is sort of human consequence, not just the human consequence of the people he victimizes, but the human consequence for himself because this guy is actually a nice guy."

Freeman also shares about her character: "Tess is kind of Miss Mystery. Like the Green Arrow, you're going to find out her backstory and where she comes from. She's the new girl at LuthorCorp and nobody really knows why, but she is. I think that she's going to find some inner strength within herself to run this incredible company the best that she can."

In addition, we learn that the Justice League will be "bubbling up" their activities and that other recognizable DC character will be visiting this season.

The session, however, is not just about sharing information. It's about sharing the love. At various intervals, members of the crowd bellow out questions such as "Justin, will you give me your friendship?" or encouragement, like when Freeman says she'd like her character to kiss Chloe, one fellow predictably shouts, "Do it! Do it now!"

Two question askers are dressed up -- one as pretty impressive Green Arrow complete with bow and another as Batman -- and get to visit the dais. Also, each of the actors signs and then gives up their name plaque to fans who ask for them. It's a very giving bunch here.

Other highlights/tidbits:

- The door is still open to Michael Rosenbaum, should he wish to return. One of the writers says they'll consider one fan's request for Sam Jones III to drop in this season since they're only currently working on the fifth episode of 22.
- Allison Mack would love the show to crossover with Mad Men or Heroes, while two of the writers give their vote to a Supernatural crossover. Slavkin adds, "Jensen Ackles rocks!"
- There is a true ending planned. Slavkin says, "We've worked closely with [Al Gough and Miles Millar] for many, many years, and they've shared their ideas about the ending of the series. We're hoping it doesn't happen for quite some time. But when it does happen, I think everyone in this room will be very, very happy. We've got some awesome ideas that will honor the mythology in a really great way."
- Mack doesn't know who Chloe should be happier with -- Jimmy or Clark. "I think she'd be lucky to have either of them. Clark's really high maintenance. He takes up so much time."

For more Comic-Con coverage, check out Zap2it's Misfits of Sci Fi blog, Zap2it's Comic-Con '08 photogallery and Zap2it's Live Twitter.

What are you looking forward to this season? Which DC characters would you like to see on the show?

Comments

everything i would like to see him fly and i really hope this season won't be the last the way it sounds it looks like they want to continue it after the 8th season which is great this season sounds awesome on what they have planned out i like the lois and clark idea i do wish lex would come back but that is ok if he doesn't i like it that doomsday and the new girl is coming on and i like that more justice league stuff and the green arrow will be on here more i like they way this show is going and has been going i would like to see kara back she is one of my favorite characters

taylor | Jul 27, 2008 4:52:27 PM | #

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No disrespect to Mr. Witwer, but Doomsday is a blood thirsty murderer. Who cares about his conflicts as he discovers the history of serial murder in his background.

I won't be watching season 8 until the show gets to it's final 5-6 episodes, then I'll tune in to see the battle between he & Clark. This show will never get me to sympathize with a Kryptonian creature who murders human beings in clood blood. What a waste.

leothelion | Jul 27, 2008 6:20:05 PM | #

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"they've shared their ideas about the ending of the series. We're hoping it doesn't happen for quite some time"

They really are giving off the impression that this in NOT the last season. That scares me silly.

bkwurm1 | Jul 27, 2008 7:12:27 PM | #

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Smallville should have ended 2 seasons ago, & Erica Durance is the worst version of Lois Lane ever - she did not even graduate from High school & banged the Luthor clone who hired her unqualifed @ss to get in the DP.

What a disappointment.

Matt | Jul 27, 2008 9:32:43 PM | #

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WHAAAT??? Another season? That would be horrible! I really hope this is the last season. Eight seasons is long enogh... we deserve to see the ending soon. As for Chloe being happy--- definitely Clark. Jimmy is a dimwit who eyes every girl he comes across: Kara, looking down dumb!Lois' shirt! Chloe deserves better than that!

| Jul 27, 2008 9:47:09 PM | #

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A Supernatural crossover would be awesome! And Dean should hook up with Chloe if that happens-- forget Clark! Or Chloe should team up with the Supernatural Winchester boys to do some investigating! Now that would be cool. I agree with the person who said SV's LOIS LANE IS THE WORST LOIS LANE EVER! High-school drop-out, college-drop-out, tabloid reporter, lacks integrity, lacks any journalistic talent, is tactless, insensitive and well, just survives on dumb-luck. What sort of female Icon is she when she slept her way into the Daily Planet? On that note, how does Clark even get hired at the DP? He's not qualified at all... I just hope this do not forget that Chloe is actually still a student!

jimmy4 | Jul 27, 2008 9:53:35 PM | #

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Dean hooking up with Chloe would indeed be great! I want her to be hAppy. she's the only one who actually worked to get a job in the DP and has been fired from it; that's unfair... Nois just showed her boobs, insulted Lex&Lionel and got to keep her job and Clark will be taking Chloe's place while he never showed any interest in writing.
Just hope that Kripke will offer AM a job in Supernatural so that she'll work in a good show for once.

Kate | Jul 28, 2008 5:04:53 AM | #

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Great comment from Mr. Slavkin on Jensen Ackles. It's nice to hear that his talent is still appreciated on a show he left 3yrs ago. :D

Would love to see Allison Mack do an SN episode with the boys. That's one latch-on I wouldn't mind seeing.

smellynelly | Jul 28, 2008 5:14:44 AM | #

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I like the show the way it is. It remains my favorite series currently on television. I can't wait to find out how Tess fits in to the storyline and mythology. Davis sounds like an interesting character and none of the characters based from the comic books start out with the same story as they have there so that doesn't bother me. I like all the characters that are returning too. Clark, Lois, Chloe, Oliver and Jimmy's roles have appealed to me ever since each of them started on the show.

Good luck to the new executive producers. I wouldn't mind seeing the series go on as long as everyone is willing to continue and no one is burned out.

T | Jul 28, 2008 7:02:46 AM | #

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Well, I am one Smallville fan that would never watch season 8 if Allison Mack had not returned as Chloe. She is my favorite character on the show, and one of the best female characters on any TV program. It would be cool if Chloe could crossover into Supernatural and help out those Winchester brothers. Dean and Sam are more exciting than Jimmy Olsen any day! ;-)

I hated to lose Lex, but I'm excited to see the new characters and the Justice League again. Personally, it would be nice if The CW ended the series after season 8, but this network doesn't have a lot of other hit shows besides Gossip Girl.

Paige | Jul 28, 2008 9:22:48 AM | #

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I've been an avid Superman fan since I was 4 years old when watching the old black and whites of George Reeves and I thought I too could fly and landed on the floor with a broken leg!
I loved Christopher Reeve as Superman and as the film poster said "You will believe a man can fly". It was very well done with the special effects they had at the time.
I sincerely hope "Smallville" doesn't end anytime soon,but when it does I hope they blend what liberties have been taken as opposed to what fans learned in the movies:None of the people at the Daily Planet seemed to have ever met Clark Kent before he began working there,whereas everyone knows him from teenage years here...so something in the plot giving memory loss seems to be the only way the two can "jive" after it's end.
Again,Kudo's to "Smallville" and the top actors who make it my favorite show each week!

sillydreamboy | Jul 28, 2008 10:04:31 AM | #

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I love Allison Mack but honestly, why on Earth would she think Chloe would be lucky to end up with Jimmy who helped put her in jail due to his deal with Lex, Jimmy who oogled another girl in front of her, Jimmy who acts like a whiny, jealous jerk half the time?

Chloe deserves Clark, the hero on whom she has waited for seven years, to fly back to her. Nothing else would make any sense at all. There IS no comparison between Clark and Jimmy and the whole Chloe accepting Jimmy's proposal after the things he's done makes Chloe look foolish. Perhaps there was Kryptonite KoolAid somewhere nearby!

The Chloe and Jimmy relationship is almost universally hated; we want it gone for good.

Margroks | Jul 28, 2008 12:13:27 PM | #

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Smallville is one of the best superhero shows ever. It rocks. I have liked all incarnations of Superman. I was not around when the Adventures of Superman with George Reeves originally aired, but caught the reruns years later. I liked watching that show back to back with Batman starring Adam West and Burt Ward. And in 1978, when Christopher Reeve made us all believe a man could fly I flew right to the movie theater to see that movie. I also flew back to the movie theaters for the sequels, although the last two were not the best. I later tuned in to Lois and Clark, although that show was campy at times. I even returned to the movie theater when Brandon Routh took over from Christopher Reeve (I still think that they should have waited for Smallville to end and do the movie with the cast of Smallville. Brian Singer said he was doing a Superman movie, not a Smallville movie, but I disagree. The Smallville cast would have worked because Smallville is a Superman show). Smallville is great because of its great cast, superior effects, great storylines, and introduction of other DC superheros.

Smallvile star Tom Welling deserves to be the big screen Superman. He has the Chris Reeve looks even more than Brandon Routh does.

Allen | Jul 28, 2008 6:54:49 PM | #

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"Smallville" and the first two Superman-movies starring Chris Reeve are my favorite filmed versions of SUPERMAN.
I really hope, that the show will end (after season 9 or 10 ;) with Clark finally flying! And give us fans at least ONE (final) scene, Clark (TOM) wearing the Superman-costume!!!
btw: I really want TOM WELLING (Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance, Alison Mack & Co.)
starring in a new Superman - movie (based on situations from the "Smallville" tv-show). -sorry, but imo "Superman Returns" was an awful movie and I don't want to see a sequel to this craptacular! Warner should give us the real deal: TOM as Clark/Superman in a movie!

Mike (from Berlin/Germany) | Jul 28, 2008 11:41:29 PM | #

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I agree there Mike from Berlin.
I'm not saying that I think Brandon Routh did badly because I think he did as well as he could given the fact he had big shoes to fill(Reeve).
Yet I think the Lois role should have been a tad spunkier like Margot Kidder was...yet I would ultimately like to see all of "Smallville"'s cast be in a big screen production with Tom Welling finally donning the Man of Steel's suit as after 8 seasons he deserves that chance.

sillydreamboy | Jul 29, 2008 7:24:30 AM | #

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Smallville needs to end. The storyline is so tortuously screwed that it makes it hard to watch--since Season 4. While I love my eyecandy, I hate to see actors struggling to work w/ the dregs. They deserve better.

elleesttrois | Aug 11, 2008 11:16:11 PM | #

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Smallville needs to end. The storyline is so tortuously screwed that it makes it hard to watch--since Season 4. While I love my eyecandy, I hate to see actors struggling to work w/ the dregs. They deserve better.

elleesttrois | Aug 11, 2008 11:17:15 PM | #

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i would love to see chloe and clark hooking up at the end,it would be a really wasted effort for chloe if she doesnt hook up with clark after waiting up on him for a whole lot of years.

kella | Sep 25, 2008 2:47:40 AM | #

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