Smallville Season 11, it"s happening...

[Admiral_Young]

^ Chloe has been prominent in the last couple of issues. Issue 21 was fantastic again as Miller tells a beautifully paced story. We get some terrific Batman and Superman moments in the Batmobile (we also discover that it is a hover Batmobile as well). We're getting pretty close to the conclusion of the arc I believe as well. The art continues to improve as well.

[Procutus]

^


Yup, just read your comments on the previous page. I not only had to catch-up on the issues themselves, but all the commentary since August. Looking forward to reading more over the weekend (and seeing my girl in digitized comix again!)

[Admiral_Young]

Just finished reading #23...and 22 is possibly one of my favourite issues. It is fascinating to see all of these different artists on the book, and yet it doesn't detract from the story telling. The art has remained somewhat consistent over the course of the arc. This issue focused on Babs and Lois taking on the mercs invading the boat, while Clark and Bruce deal with Loomis, and Ollie attempts to take down Fries (Boxing Glove Arrow!!!). We're coming down to the conclusion of the arc now.

[Procutus]

AY;

At long last, I was finally able to sit down with my laptop last night and catch up, plowing my way through #19 to #23. And what a ride it was. Finally, after years of us watching the show and kvetching, no make that bitching, about how this show could've been so much more than it was, at last we're seeing Smallville's potential (both the show and Clark) come into being.

The artwork is quite amazing really; I love the full panel pages, especially with the Batmobile. And one drawing in particular in all of this made me stop and stare (for quite a few seconds!): The shot of Chlo in Issue 20, Page 5, the final panel. For the first time since I began reading this back in the summer, I felt like I was really looking at the real character, or Ally herself.



That said, this has become quite the roller-coaster, and I can't wait for more. With my schedule the way it is, I most likely will let the next few issues pile up again, then read them during vacation, along with the first ish of Countdown to Darkness.

[Procutus]

Added Issue 24 to my collection yesterday, and was quite pleased with the conclusion of the 'Detective' story arc. Nice touches at the end with Bruce and Clark, setting up, I presume, future interaction between them and possibly BM becoming part of the JL. Chloe's secret did not come as a huge surprise, given what we know from the S10 finale. The timing is right, I guess.

Speaking of the JL, I hope that we get to see the other members in future stories, given that Miller pretty much bring in anyone he wants, without worrying about schedules and actors' pay. It would be great to see AC, Bart, Cyborg, Canary, John Jones and Zatana back again, and working all together.

Or am I getting ahead of myself here?

[Admiral_Young]

I was extremely pleased with the way Miller concluded "Detective", we get everything tied up in a neat bow and set up for the next arc. I agree with the art. I thought having multiple artists in such a huge arc would be troublesome, but each issue improved over the next and the last two or three issues had a nice consistency. I'm expecting a little bit of a hiatus now, haven't read anything from Miller about the next arc so this is a bit of a mystery. I think this will be collected in print form in February.

[Procutus]

Admiral_Young wrote:

---

I'm expecting a little bit of a hiatus now

Yeah, I was thinking much the same thing, being it's both the end of the arc and now the holidays. I'll be just as happy if the new story doesn't start until after the first of the year, when I'll have a bit more time to stay on top of it. Plus, it'll give me the opportunity to re-read the first 24 issues.

[Admiral_Young]

The hiatus is over as of Friday...and we have some major news from Miller who has announced a digital spin off series that will feature J'onn! Along with a change in the schedule.


http://ca.ign.com/articles/2012/12/1...justice-league

[DarKush]

^
Thanks for posting. Not too interested in the upcoming "Haunted" Impulse arc. But I am intrigued by the interludes and the Martian Manhunter/Batman story.

As for the concluding "Detective" arc, I thought it was okay. I didn't love it like I wanted to. I do wish that Miller had been allowed to make Nightwing Stephanie Brown instead of Barbara Gordon. I know this is a Smallville take, but the Nightwing character felt more like Stephanie than Barbara to me.

I liked the take on Mr. Freeze quite a bit. Prankster was okay. Though I sort of like the nod to the movies with Otis, it doesn't make much sense for Smallville's Lex to keep Otis around. Hopefully Miller will tell us the how and why Lex does.

Overall I think the "Detective" arc started out strong but I started to lose interest. And I really, really wanted to like it more than I did.

[Admiral_Young]

I agree regarding the Barbara Gordon Nightwing...she too reminded me of Steph at times. I read issue #25 which kicks off "Haunted" and wow what a start. Bart makes his return, in a pretty cool moment. We return back into the demented mind of Luthor as he attempts to make Tess reveal what she knows about Superman to him. The art was really fantastic in this issue.

[Admiral_Young]

Just finished reading part two of "Haunted" and while not a great deal happened, I swear that Miller was teasing the possible appearance of Electric Superman The art continues to improve as well. They've finally started to capture Tom's likeness in the book (as opposed to just on the covers) . I can see him as Superman.

I have come to the conclusion that this season would be almost nothing like what we're getting from Miller. If this was realized on television a hefty portion of it would most likely be cut down and even dumbed down to a degree. A lot of the issues that I had with the show in it's latter seasons have been sliced out by Miller. Just completely different writing and focus compared to Brian and Kelly, while still retaining all that "Smallville" quirkiness and uniqueness the show had.

[Admiral_Young]

Finished issue 27, and my goodness...did I just see the Smallville version of Gorilla Grodd? Yes, yes I believe I did. Also this is the best the art has been in this book since we started.

[Admiral_Young]

Just finished reading Smallville Season 11 #28, part one of the monthly "Effigy" spin off series that will be released on non regular series dates. I believe issue two will be released on Feb 1.

This was awesome. It starts off with Superman and J'onn starting the construction of what looks to be the future JLA Watchtower on the Moon. Clark hands J'onn "Double Stuffed" Oreos. Then we get a few panels where we see John Jones in his human Detective guise helping out a neighbour, and a trigger where we see the death of his family. Then we go to Gotham where Batman and Nightwing are taking down "mutant scum" (clearly a nod to The Dark Knight Returns Mutant Gang) but Babs is injured or infected by someone and is taking back to the Batcave (which we see for the first time in all it's glory...I very much doubt we would see it in the show) and Alfred. Babs is placed in a healing tank (think Star Wars) while Bruce analyses who attacked her and discovers it of alien origin, the issue ends with the appearance of John in the cave

The art was absolutely awesome in this issue. The best it's been in the book.

[JD]

I was looking through the preview pages on Comixology and I noticed they showed the Martian version of J'Onn. Did we ever see him clearly in his natural form in the show? I think I vaguely remember them showing a silhouette of his Martian form somewhere, but I was wondering if we ever saw more than that.

[Admiral_Young]

They showed J'onn in his Martian show a lot in "Justice League"/"Justice League Unlimited". Not sure about "Young Justice" since I haven't been watching it. In "Smallville" though, all we got I think is a couple of CGI shots of J'onn in his costume, not in Martian form though.