Smallville at Comic Con

The journey into the Comic Con panel for Smallville was not an easy one. It started out with my friends and I getting in line to enter the convention center at 7 AM. We then worked our way upstairs to the line that was formed outside the entrance hall to the ballroom for which the panel would be held.

When that line was finally allowed down the entrance hall, we were ushered into yet another line that wound its way down several hallways then outside to a tented area, where we stood waiting for roughly 2 hours before the line eventually moved into the ballroom.

Clark's Superman suit, updated for the 21st century, makes its first appearance this season.

Once we were all seated, the excitement slowly started to boil to the top; and once Jeph Loeb, former Supervising Producer and Writer on Smallville, took the stage, you could cut the anticipation with a knife. The thrust of the excitement was mainly due to the first-time ever appearance by star Tom Welling. The other cast members in attendance included Justin Hartley (Oliver Queen), Erica Durance (Lois Lane), Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan), Cassidy Freeman (Tess Mercer) and new cast member Callum Blue (Zod). Executive Producers Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson finished off the panel table.

Before the cast and crew took the stage, however, an exclusive Comic Con only Season 9 sneak peek was aired. As the last scene faded in the clip, the audience went – in a word – crazy! Each cast member and the Executive Producers were then introduced with Mr. Welling being the last to take the stage. The applause grew louder as each took the stage and reached a deafening roar for Mr. Welling.

Once the cheers subsided, attention was given to the writers who were in the audience with Mr. Loeb asking them to stand and get the credit they deserved. Shortly after that Mr. Welling made mention he was told 6000 people were in the room (and while that may have been the amount of people trying to get into the room that particular ballroom can only accommodate about 2000 people, but the large number certainly made the cast and crew very pleased).

The audience was then told that Mr. Welling is now a producer on the show and he enjoys the new title very much. Mr. Loeb then asked if the actors could give some insight into where each of their characters are at in terms of development this new season with Ms. Durance stating that Lois is “very smitten with the red, blue blur” and that it will be a “spicy and great season”. Ms. Mack added that Chloe is the Watchtower now and “I love being in control”. And, new cast member Mr. Blue stated, he is “having such fun playing an evil character.” The Executive Producers also informed that the cast is now a few episodes into the new season (as was confirmed by numerous clips from the exclusive footage).

A very long line had formed for the question and answer session, including audience members dressed as Batman and Superman as well as some very eager and excited fans. Among the things learned during the Q&A included:

• Ms. Souders stating they’re “gunning for Season 10”;

• Mr. Peterson confirming they do read the blogs and that Lex may not necessarily be dead (which received quite a positive response from the audience);

• Ms. Mack stating that she would be directing another episode again as will Mr. Welling;

• Where the “flight and cape” issue is concerned, the audience was simply told to “check out the season premiere” (which got the crowd all revved up again);

• Mr. Peterson stating that he would bring it up to the powers that be about a score soundtrack, as one has not been released (the other albums released for the show have been music featured in the show not the instrumental music);

• Geoff Johns, a former writer on the show, came up on stage to confirm that he will be writing another Justice League episode; and the Executive Producers stating they have two more seasons worth of stories to tell;

• Mr. Hartley revealed that his character Oliver will “hit rock bottom over the course of the first 8 episodes”;

• Ms. Souders stating that they have the “hardest working cast and crew, who are very dedicated”;

• Ms. Freeman explained that she is “way different” from her character Tess, but that she “loves playing her once she is in character”; she also stated that she admires Tess’s “strength and inability not to do what her heart asks her to do”;

• Mr. Blue admitted that he listens to hard core music because his “character is so intense” and he is “looking forward to getting into his skin”;

• The Executive Producers refuted the rumors that should the show return for another season beyond the upcoming 9th season, that the shows name would NOT be changed to Metropolis; and,

• Some hints at upcoming storylines were briefly discussed with a Green Arrow sidekick story possibly being explored; confirming that Brian Austin Green would be appearing as Metallo and that the return of Toyman and Roulette would be happening, but the Executive Producers would not elaborate on any other details.

Smallville will be moving to Friday nights on the CW with the premiere scheduled for 8 PM on September 25. In the meantime, if you would like to get show information, learn about the music featured on the show, visit the photo page or even see a video of Mr. Welling at Comic Con (and much, much more), visit: http://cwtv.com/shows/smallville.