Smallville - From strip to screen, part 4

Long overdue, but it's finally here - let's look at who popped up in the final few episodes of Smallville before Clark took up his destiny as the superhero we all know and love.

Booster Gold











Booster show up in an episode where Clark is about to reveal his powers to the world. Just as he does this guy rocks up and manages to be at every crash, kidnapping and disaster to save the day ahead of the 'Blur'. After investigation it turns out Booster is a former sports star who travelled back in time to escape his gambling debts, using his companion Skeets, an AI with extensive knowledge of the 21st century he is able to be at every scene with a dramatic save, aiming to replace Clark as the hero of the 21st century. Despite his ignoble plan he still wants to be a hero and agrees to work with Clark and train his new friend Blue Beetle. In the comics Booster has a similar story, travelling back in time to escape his mistakes he revels in the opportunity to join the heroes of his past.

Jamie Reyes/ Blue Beetle












Jamie is a high school loser who inadvertantly picks up an alien weapon known as a scarab. Inspired by Booster Gold he wants to learn how to be a hero, but the alien weapkn takes over and forces him to attack his idol. Timely intervention by Clark allows Booster the opportunity to help Jamie fight the weapon and control it himself. Jamie elects to keep the technology and train under Booster to learn the path of the hero. Again Jamie has a similar story in the comics, aquiring the technology by accident, and being recruited by Superman, Batman and partnering with Booster Gold in many adventures.

And that's it - we saw Clark defeat Darkseid (a little too easily if you ask me) and finally take on the red and blue suit he's famous for. So that's it, we wave goodbye to Smallville. There will be a spot missing in my heart as well as my TV schedule for this show.

Smallville - From strip to screen, part 3

OK so I'm continuing my run through of existing DC characters who have popped up in this series of Smallville.

Conner Kent/ Superboy











Conner Kent shows up in Series 10 as one of a number of clones created by Lex Luthor to replace him in the event of his death. One of the few successful clones, he was also created from Clark's DNA, giving him some Kyrptonian abilities. He had a chequered story in the series, first beingf rescued by Tess, then running away when Lex's memories took hold of him, being corrupted by Lionel who manipulated him using red kryptonite and finally choosing to side with Clark and accept his guidance. In the comics superboy is also a clone of a very-much living Lex, who created him as a weapon against Superman, also rebelling against Lex he reluctantly accepted the name Superboy and trained with Clark, joining the Teen Titans.

Amos Fortune












Amos Fortune is the unfortunate owner of a club where Clark had his bachelor party, made more interesting by the gift of enchanted champagne donated by Zatanna. The group stole one of his trucks which was involved in a crime then battled him to get Lois's ring back, which she had lost. In the comics Fortune is also a club owner and crime lord that has frequent run-ins with the heroes.

And that's it folks - one more part to go!!!

Smallville - from strip to screen, part 2

Ok so I'm continuing to go through the DC Characters that are showing up across Clark's final journey as 'The Blur' before becoming the hero we all know and love. Here's part 2 covering episodes 5-10

The Suicide Squad













The squad made a few early appearances with Deadshot marking various members of Watchtower with the squad's symbol. It was later revealled that they were acting to stop the Vigilante Registration act and wanted to defend the heroes like Clark and Oliver from being rounded up by the authorities, of course Clark and the others don't agree with their methods - which include targeting Clark's soon-to-be father in law General Sam Lane.
In the comic the Suicide Squad is a government-assembled group of vigilantes who are sent on missions deemed suicidal and high risk. They have captured many notorious villains but also rubbed up against superman and batman and many others.

Granny Goodness












Granny Goodness has been playing a long game for Darkseid her master taking orphaned girls and raising them to be her Female Furies, then placing them in positions of power across the world. One of her orphans was Tess abandoned by her true father Lionel Luthor but who escaped her clutches. Granny tried to reclaim Tess but was unsuccessful but is still working towards Darkseid's ultimate rule.
In the Comics Granny is based on Apokolips, Darkseid's world and raises an army of super-soldiers to work for the dark one. She raised character's like Scott Free a hero who is one of the only ones to truly escape from her clutches. She also has her army of superpowered Female Furies.

Desaad













Desaad is another of Darkseid's minions, influencing the people through his underground clubs and other vices. He is significant in that he fought Oliver and in that fight Oliver revealed the darkness in himself, enabling Dasaad to brand him with the Omega symbol, placing him within his master's clutches.
In the comics Desaad is one of Darkseid's key henchmen never far from his master's side, with a muxh less down-to-earth look.

Slade Wilson/ Deathstroke













Slade Wilson is a U.S. Army General who is determined to stop the vigilantes like Watchtower and bring them under Government control. He is the driving force behind the Vigilante Registration Act, which calls for heroes to reveal their identities and join the Government, while secretly building prisons to contain them. During a conflict with the heroes he lost his eye and it was also revealed that he wears the Omega symbol on his skull, making him a servant of Darkseid, unwittinggly perhaps. During another conflict he killed Hawkman and Clark banished him to the Phantom Zone.
In the Comics Slade Wilson, or Deathstroke applied for an experimental army project which boosted his strength and durability. Taking up the life of a mercenary he has fought a number of hero groups, most notably the Teen Titans.

Mera













Mera is an Atlantean like Aquaman, capable of breathing underwater and controlling water and joined him in his quest to keep earth's oceans safe, they fell in love and were married. When they discovered that Slade Wilson was building prisons for heroes in secret oil rigs they teamed up to fight back.
Mera's origins are a little unclear in the comics, with various stories. She is Atlantean, was once an enemy of Aquaman but they fell in love and married and now she is the queen of Atlantis.

Clark Luthor/ Ultraman















Clark Luthor is from a parallel universe where things turned out quite differently. Instead of being found by the Kents he was found by Lionel and raised as his personal soldier, taking the persona of Ultraman and gaining more and more power for the Luthor name. When Clark activates a Kryptonian artifact called a mirror-box he is transported to this universe and Clark Luthor takes his place. Clark Luthor later returns in a following episode as everyone in his universe knows his weakness for kryptonite and Oliver made sure it was readily available - Clark forced him to return and begin a new the life of a hero.
In the comics Ultraman comes from a not-destroyed Krypton to Earth to rule it and test his powers against it's heroes, ultimately defeated by the Justice League he is still a threat to many on Earth.

And that's it - more soon!!

Smallville - From strip to screen, part 1

Well Smallville is well on it's way through it's final series here in the UK (I believe it's long finished in the US) and I've been struck by the amount of wider DC characters showing up. This has always been the case, but my knowledge of the wider DC universe is even weaker than my knowledge of Marvel so it's only much after the I realise the significance of a cameo part. I've noticed it more this series because of the use of characters I'm more familiar with due to being kindly loaned a whole load of Jack Kirby books so now I have more of an interest in these new villains and allies - anyway, let's see what we've got.

Cat Grant












Cat has showed up as an annoying foible in this series, fresh from a local paper, eager to make her mark, she has also picked up on the anti-vigilante vibe and is quick to badmouth 'The Blur' and the other heroes. She's had her moments, including 'finding out' that Lois is The Blur when she was possessed by Isis and there's more to come from this character.
In the comics she arrives at the Daily Planet as a gossip columnist, she is more flirty than screen Cat who plays the dumb blonde to cover the fact that she has a son she's trying to care for rather than to hit on guys, but strip Cat is just as involved in anti-hero stuff and getting into the mix of things!

Darkseid











Darkseid is the great evil alien force behind this series. He has made a few appearances, but largely working through his agents so far and not directly confronting his opponents. He has possessed a few individuals and battled Kara (Supergirl) through his minions. His power is in turning the world against the heroes and playing on the darkness in people's hearts. In the comics Darkseid is one of the New Gods, hailing from the planet Apokolips battling the other Gods and Superman I'm looking forward to seeing how Darkseid develops in this series.

Gordon Godfrey










Gordon Godfrey (or Glorious Godfrey in the comics) is a radio DJ and author who has taken up an anti-vigilante agenda and is quick to fall under Darkseid's spell. He battles Kara but loses, however he continues to draw more attention to his cause and turn the public against Clark and the others. In the comics Godfrey is similar in that he uses his powers of persuasion to convince the public to turn against the heroes.

Brainiac 5









Brainiac returns, but this time the Kyrptionian AI is on Clark's side as his version from the future returns to help Clark on a crucial day come to terms with his past and also realise his future as the superhero he will become and how he can trust Lois with his secret. In the comics Brainiac is a key member of the Legion and a master of using their time travel technology.

Isis












Yep that is Lois! Just as Clark's about to tell her his secret she picks up the wrong Amulet and transforms into the Goddess Isis, comically leading Cat into thinking she's the Blur and nearly killing Clark, thankfully it all gets sorted out and Clark does tell her (finally!!!) Isis is similar in the comics, the spirit of a goddess trying to resurrect her lost love with incredible powers.

Ok that covers episodes 1-5, more as the series rolls on!

The Wall - June '11

Bit late this month - anyway this is what went up on my wall in June.

1) X-Men: First Class












I think I've already said enough about this movie. I really enjoyed this film and can't wait for the next X-Men flick

2) Star Wars - Jedi: The Dark Side













Another new series from Dark Horse, this follows Qui-Gon and his padawan Xanatos in a time long before the Phantom Menace. I haven't really followed much pre-prequel stuff, much preferring stuff that goes forward or explores a new era like Legacy and Knight Errant. Nonetheless I enjoyed the first issue and am interested to see where it goes.

3) Smallville: Series 10













The final series of Smallville is on the air in the UK (though I'm not convinced having heard that for about 3 series now!!) and this one definitely does seem to be gearing towards making Clark our favourite red and blue hero. Things have moved fast with the introduction of Darkseid as a villain, the return of Supergirl, Clark telling Lois his secret and Green Arrow going public as well as much more. It still has it's silly moments, like Lois becoming the goddess Isis but that's well within the remit of Superman and the series as a whole is moving forward and very enjoyable.

That's it - more next month!!