Smallville Calling All Justice League Members

When the network formerly known as The WB premiered "Smallville," the creators knew they had a hit on their hands. "Smallville" is not only the story of a teenage boy’s journey to becoming the world’s greatest superhero, but the series is also one of the biggest The WB had, and that The CW now has, to its name. But, after six years, the show has not run out of surprises to pull from its vast array of DC Comics characters, relationships, and stories. The mythology that surrounds Superman has been adapted well to the life of our burgeoning hero Clark Kent, and in that, there have been some familiar names cropping up more and more over the last two years.

The Justice League is the ultimate alliance of superheroes in the DC Universe, and the creators, producers, and writers of "Smallville" are well aware of the potential that can be tapped for the present of a college-aged, wayward Kryptonian. The guest appearances are just waiting to be plucked from the inked page, and the show debuted its first of Clark’s JLA-to-be peers in Season Four with an episode called "Run." As suggested by its title, the story featured the boy who will eventually grow up to become The Flash. Bart Allen (played by Kyle Gallner) was the show’s Flash of choice, also known as Impulse or Kid Flash II in the comics. No mention of grandfather Barry. I guess they figured he already had a (short-lived) show. But, they did acknowledge the JLA connection with a joke in reference to Clark and Bart forming a League all their own to use their powers to help others.

Then, with "Run" gathering a good amount of attention, Season Five brought in its own one-shot JLAer. In another appropriately titled episode called "Aqua," Arthur Curry (Alan Ritchson) was introduced to the superhero television stage that is "Smallville" and all its players. Lois Lane (Erica Durance) even had a brief romantic connection with the show’s Aquaman, who was much further along on the path to his superhero destiny than Bart Allen was when we met him the season before. And, again there was a joke in reference to the JLA. Also, this episode placed Lex Luthor in his future role as supervillain and A.C. and Clark as teammates in the fight against the bad guys. The character was so popular and the episode so successful that before the network dissolved, The WB had an Aquaman series called "Mercy Reef" in the works starring Justin Hartley.

When The CW replaced The WB as a hybrid platform for The WB and UPN, "Mercy Reef" went down the drain, but its Aquaman star didn’t sink with the show. At the beginning of Season Six, just one episode after this Fall’s season premiere, Justin Hartley debuted on "Smallville" as Oliver Queen. As Aquaman the series became dead in the water, Green Arrow came to life on "Smallville" and Hartley caught the biggest break and stroke of luck possible, because the Modern Day Robin Hood vigilante superhero has premiered this season as not only a pretty regular guest, but a fan favorite. Critics and fans alike are praising the actor and the character, Queen’s strong emergence as the first superhero to appear on the series in full superhero regalia, secret identity and all, has garnered rave reviews and the reception could not be more exciting. Hartley is the first actor to reprise his role as a well-known DC superhero and Justice League member for more than one episode. In fact, to date, he has appeared in five episodes, and he has come very far in that time. Oliver has backstory at Excelsior Boarding School with Lex, a growing and complicated relationship with Lois (ironically drawing light allusion to her former flirtation with last season’s Aquaman), and an intense complementary juxtaposition with Clark as they have discovered each other’s secrets and continue on their journeys, at times trying to help each other find the way.

If that wasn’t enough, it seems that "Smallville" isn’t done. After all, they haven’t run out of JLA members yet. The last new episode, entitled "Static," contained a fleeting encounter with Martian Manhunter. The appearance was brief and near the end of the episode, but tell-tale signs were given for any good fan boy or girl to pick up like a trail of half-eaten Oreos. Not only because of their quality and significance, these cameos have been some of the best material the series has ever done. The Martian Manhunter thread is just waiting to be followed up now, and the continued presence of Oliver Queen as Green Arrow makes his debut in Metropolis as a superhero force to be reckoned with is comic brilliance. The improved and expanded dynamics and nuances are revitalizing the show like nothing else could. Now if only DC could cut away the rumored red tape and bring Bruce Wayne and/or Batman to "Smallville" (unless they’re just building suspense and saving the best for last), and maybe Diana or some form of Wonder Woman while they’re at it, the JLA guest list would be complete to my fangirl heart’s content.