Review: Smallville Season 11 – Chapter 3

Green Arrow had previously lamented the lack of action since Superman showed up on the scene, but the beginning of issue three finds him arriving first to a robbery at the Port of Metropolis.  Oliver uses the chance to remind the criminals that in the Smallville universe he was technically doing costumed hero work before Superman.  Clark not being the first was something that didn’t sit well with many of the old message board users, and despite the historical existence of the JSA I can see where they’re coming from.  Still, Clark shows Ollie up and proves he’d be the first pick in the draft when he steps in front of a rocket-propelled grenade that was headed in his direction.  It reminded me of a similar situation in the season nine episode Crossfire.  The comic has ramped things up though, and these bad guys were armed for more than a Green Arrow type. I wonder if escalation is a concept that will be re-visited here at some point.  It was nice to see Oliver get some more panel time too, and artist Pere Perez renders some great superhero action.  Ollie’s acrobatics and trick arrows were all top notch stuff, contributing to a fast paced and exciting introduction to the book.  Clark doesn’t stick around to shake hands after the save, but after a quick change of attire he does have a little time to chat with Oliver.  Just like on the show Green Arrow gets all the best quips, and even though he deals with his fair share of weird he’s still kind of Smallville’s everyman.  Bryan Q. Miller works in a reference to the season four episode Ageless, and I promise you that there will be many more just like it!

Chloe is still on Watchtower duty, she just can’t seem to pull herself away, especially when strange phenomena are making big waves up in outer space.  Through her conversation over coffee with Lois, we learn several key things.  The first is that Chloe has been working hard to set up an individual Watchtower for each league member.  Every hero associated with them is going to have their own data hub.  There isn’t any mention of who will run them, or if they will maybe just be more user friendly, but it’s still a good idea and a nice shout out to all of the other characters.  Lois is still calling Clark “Smallville,” and while there’s no reason to expect that to change it was still enjoyable to read.  The wedding plans are addressed, and we also find out that Chloe has been working for The Star City Gazette.  As a fan of the show I liked seeing how Chloe’s destiny played out and all of the different places that it took her, but seeing that she’s returned to her old dream did kind of make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  The big reveal at the end of the issue is that there was another craft out in space during the disturbance, one that may have even arrived with it.  Could there have been a classic Superman villain inside?  Come back next week to find out!

As always don’t forget that you can talk Smallville with my crew and I live on Sunday nights, and please buy Smallville, don’t pirate this book.  Remember, we vote with our purchasing power, and it only costs 99 cents to flex your consumer muscle on this one.  For all you print purists out there, the first collected edition comes out May 2!  Also, let’s make sure to give credit where credit is due: