The world of the TV series “Smallville” will continue in a comic-book series from DC Comics, it was announced today.

The series, which focused on the adventures of a young Clark Kent as he learned how to deal with his origins and amazing powers, ended after 10 seasons.  It starred Tom Welling as Clark Kent.  At series’ end, Kent had donned a Superman costume and become the familiar Man of Steel.  That story will now be picked up in a new comic-book series.

According to DC Comics’ Source blog, the series will be written by former Smallville show scribe Bryan Q. Miller. The series will hit digital first, with an April 13 release, with new chapters weekly.

The online chapters will be offered in a print periodical, along with an episode guide to TV series.  The first print issue is set for a May 16 release.

“Six months after Clark Kent donned the cape and took to the skies to save Earth from Apokolips… enter Season 11!” Miller told the Source.  “New allies abound!  New enemies afoot!  And old friends return where they’re least expected!  Pere and colorist Chris Beckett have done a fantastic job of capturing the look of the show and the players, and Gary and Cat are knocking it out of the park on covers. I couldn’t be more excited to help give seasoned viewers and new readers an all-access pass to Clark’s first year in the cape.”

- Matt Price

Erica Durance dons a Wonder Woman costume — in fact, the costume that was used for the Adrianne Palicki pilot — in an upcoming episode of “Harry’s Law.”   Durance played Lois Lane on “Smallville,” and in one episode donned “Amazon Princess” garb.

She’s even closer to Wonder Woman in the “Harry’s Law” episode, where she plays a psychologically damaged woman who retreats into a Wonder Woman persona.

She tells TV Guide it was “a little daunting.”

“I’m really very respectful of the people that love this character,” she said. “I do take it very seriously. As a side note, just to be light about it, any woman wearing tight pants is not super excited the first time she puts them on. [Laughs] I wasn’t exactly, you know, tight pants- or underwear-ready.”

She said, in fact, she was happier to wear the long pants of Wonder Woman than the more traditional short-shorts.

“I’m very grateful for the pants,” she told TV Guide. “I know that people were very excited about the underwear and seeing them. To be quite frank, I don’t know if I could’ve done the underwear justice at this point in time and it might have been more upsetting for people to see me in them than to not, so I think the pants are a safe bet for me.”

Durance’s episode of “Harry’s Law” airs Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. Central on NBC.

- Matt Price
Click past the cut for another photo of Erica Durance in the Wonder Woman outfit from “Harry’s Law,” and her “Amazon Princess” costume from “Smallville.”

Tom Welling (AP)

Tom Welling, who for 10 years played Clark Kent on the TV series “Smallville,” comes in at No. 2 on Nerdage’s list of actors with geek appeal.

“Smallville” concluded after its 10th season in May.

He has also worked as a producer and director, executive producing the show “Hellcats” and co-executive producing “Smallville.”  He directed seven episodes of “Smallville” during its run.

There was some controversy over no iconic shot of Tom Welling in full Superman regalia in the finale of “Smallville,” but producers told The Hollywood Reporter that such a shot wasn’t needed.

While Welling’s future projects haven’t been announced, he told the Los Angeles Times in May that he was ready for the next stage of his life.

“I feel so grateful. But I also know it’s time to move on.”

- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more Tom Welling and Smallville images.

Cassidy Freeman (AP)

Cassidy Freeman, who starred as Tess Mercer in the CW series “Smallville,” comes in at No. 9 on Nerdage’s list of actresses with geek appeal.

Freeman’s film “Yellowbrickroad” recently screened in Oklahoma City at AMC Quail Springs, and will have a midnight showing Friday at the theater.

According to IMDB, Freeman is currently filming the TV movie “Longmire.”

- Matt Price

Alaina Huffman, who comes in at No. 18 on Nerdage’s actresses with geek appeal, has a long resume of geek-friendly projects.

She guest starred as Black Canary on the series “Smallville,” and had a regular role as Lt. Tamara Johansen in “Stargate Universe.”

In March at the Planet Comicon, we reported here at Nerdage that there was hope of finishing that series with a movie, but she recently reported on twitter that the sets are struck and “it’s over.”

She’s writing her own comic book, “Agent Mom,” which appears on the MTV Geek web site.

Back in 2007, she appeared in the TV series “Painkiller Jane,” based on the comic book by Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti.

- Matt Price

“Smallville” came to a conclusion tonight, after a 10-year run that spotlighted Clark Kent’s young adulthood as he grew into the man who would be Superman.

By series’ end, Tom Welling has played Clark Kent for more episodes of television than anyone else.

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD

Tonight’s episode was emblematic of “Smallville” as a whole – some charming actors, some cheesy dialogue, some unfilled promise but some great moments.

Welling and Erica Durance, who plays Lois Lane, have absolutely great chemistry.

While there were plenty of nits to pick about this episode, it was worth it for me just for a final Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum)-Clark Kent scene, and for the closing moments of the Man of Steel.

Series finales can be difficult – and often end up as kind of a mess – but this one did manage to give closure to most of the characters who were still part of the show’s 10th season.

“Smallville” changed a lot over its 10-year run, and I probably enjoyed it more over the past couple of years as it became more explicitly “comic-booky,” and the focus shifted more to Lois and Clark than Lana and Clark.

What did you think about the finale and the series as a whole?   Were you satisfied by the finale?

- Matt Price

Erica Durance

As “Smallville” comes to a close tonight, Erica Durance will most likely say goodbye to the role of Lois Lane, which she’s played on the CW television series since 2004.

Durance has roles coming up in the films “Sophie” and “Tim and Eric’s Billion-Dollar Movie.”  The popular star ranks at #22 in Nerdage’s 2011 list of actresses with geek appeal.

- Matt Price

“Smallville” is winding down, but DC Universe guest-stars continue to appear!

Booster Gold and the Blue Beetle will appear on Friday’s episode, penned by Geoff Johns.  Eric Martsolf (“Days of Our Lives”) plays the futuristic pitchman/superhero.

“Interestingly enough, when I first starting reading the script, I thought of Will Ferrell’s character Ron Burgundy in ‘Anchorman.’” Martsolf tells Hero Complex.  “This is just a  guy that’s full of conceit, confidence and is just overbearing in all aspects.  That was my original opinion of him. After seeing how Geoff Johns scribed the episode, it was clear to me that he was more than just a flash in the pan,” Martsolf said.

The episode also features a Tom Welling phone booth costume change, which will be familiar to longtime Superman fans.

- Matt Price

Costumed attendees of Planet Comicon.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Bounty hunters, droids and space explorers descended on Planet Comicon last weekend for the annual comics and sci-fi show.

Thousands of fans attended the gathering, which headlined Jeremy Bulloch, the British actor who played bounty hunter Boba Fett in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”

Alaina Huffman of “Stargate Universe” and “Smallville” appeared at the convention, and spoke to fans at a panel.

Huffman plays Tamara Johansen in the series, which is nearing its end, but says she didn’t get any souvenirs from the set.

Alaina Huffman in "Stargate Universe."

“They have not struck our set. They really would like to finish up with a movie, so all of our sets are still standing,” she said.

A fan asked if she would like the Stargate itself, which allows rapid transport to Stargates at distant locations.

“I want two of them,” she said, laughing. “You can’t go anywhere with one. … Our gate is really spectacular … it really lights up. It really makes that loud, obnoxious noise.”

The convention itself was filled with lights and noise, as fans dueled with light sabers and crowded dealer booths looking for bargains.

Writers and artists from Marvel Comics, DC Comics and other publishers converged, with more than 40 creators in attendance. Writer/artist Phil Hester (“Firebreather”), who writes “Wonder Woman” for DC Comics, said he’s been attending Planet Comicon for nearly two decades.

“This might be my 19th year at Planet Comicon,” Hester said at the “DC Unleashed” panel at the event.

“I started coming here when I was about four,” Hester joked. Hester took over the monthly title “Wonder Woman” this month, and is writing from a storyline by J. Michael Straczynski (“Superman: Earth One,” “Babylon 5”).

In an interview before the show, Hester talked about the rise of convention culture. Hester said in addition to the large shows including Comic-Con International in San Diego, he also attends several regional Midwestern shows.

“It’s really strange, it’s one of the real riddles of the comic-book market,” Hester said. “Readership is kind of diminishing, but convention attendance is exploding.”

Hester said Emerald City Comicon in Seattle, which he attended, has gone from about 3,000 attendees about five years ago to 25,000 this year. Comic-Con International attendance has grown from less than 50,000 in 2000 to more than 130,000 in 2010.

Diamond Comic Book Distributors, North America’s largest distributor of comic books, reported comic book sales to specialty shops were down 3.59 percent in 2010.

“I’m sure it has something to do with comic books making their way into television and movies, but it’s a weird conundrum to see sales drop off like they have, but comics enter the larger media more readily,” Hester said.

- Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Alison Mack and Erica Durance in the episode "Fortune."

Lois and Clark go “Hangover” style in the most recent episode of “Smallville.” After Zatanna sends a magically spiked bottle of champagne to Clark (Tom Welling) and Lois (Erica Durance) for their bachelor/bachlorette parties, the gang blacks out after the toast.  The next morning, they can’t remember anything about the night before, so they must try to discover what happened.  Where’s Lois’ engagement ring? Did Clark steal an armored car? Each thread pulled reveals a little more of what happened overnight.

It’s full of fun moments – scientist Emil Hamilton becoming an Elvis impersonator singing with Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman), for example. This episode also introduces Amos Fortune from the DC Comics.

It doesn’t necessarily move the overall season plot forward, but episodes like this can be a fun change of pace.  The “Smallville” cast, including former regular and now regular guest-star Alison Mack as Chloe Sullivan, get a chance to show their comedic chops.

- Matt Price

Alaina Huffman, who plays the Black Canary on “Smallville” and Lt. Tamara Johansen from “SGU Stargate Universe” will appear at Comic Cons hosted by Wizard World in Chicago and Philadelphia in 2011. Huffman is also the creator of the upcoming graphic novel “Agent Mom.”

The Philadelphia Comic Con is June 17-19, 2011 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Chicago Comic Con is Aug. 11-14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Click past the cut for more photos of Huffman.

- Matt Price

Iron Man 2 comes to DVD; Clark Gregg talks Agent Coulson

The summer hit “Iron Man 2” comes to DVD on Tuesday, and Clark Gregg, who plays Agent Coulson in “Iron Man 2” spoke with us about what he’s looking forward to with his character. Coulson will appear in “Thor” next year and in “The Avengers” in 2012.

Smallville gets Teri Hatcher

Entertainment Weekly reports that former Lois Lane Teri Hatcher will appear on Smallville’s final season as the mother of Lois Lane Erica Durance.

Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane

In episode 8, titled “Abandoned,” Lois discovers old videotapes of her mother… which according to EW’s report will be Teri Hatcher.

As you know, Hatcher spent four years as Lois Lane on ABC’s Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

Ghost Rider 2 gets release date

According to Superhero Hype, Sony and Columbia Pictures have scheduled “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” for a release date of February 17, 2012.  The “Ghost Rider” sequel will be directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (“Crank”).  Nicolas Cage will return as Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider in the film that will be released in both 2D and 3D.

WildStorm to shut down

As part of the DC Comics restructuring announced this week, the WildStorm imprint, home to books like “Gen 13” and “The Authority” will close down at the end of 2011. WildStorm was originally founded by Jim Lee as part of Image Comics, and was sold to DC Comics in 1999. Some books from the line will move into the DC Comics imprint; others will cease. The DC Source blog says other WildStorm characters may return in the future.

Reviews: Avengers #5, Supergirl #56, GI Joe Origins #19 and Fantastic Four #583.

The Great Darkness Saga

The 10th season of “Smallville,” based on a young Clark Kent learning to become Superman, begins tonight on CW.

As announced at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the DC Comics villain Darkseid will be the villain for the show’s final season, although like previous villains, he’ll be tweaked somewhat to fit in the “Smallville” continuity.

DC Comics’ Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns will write an episode of this season’s “Smallville,” which will feature DC Comics characters Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. Laura Vandervoort’s Supergirl is also set to make a return appearance this season.

To catch up on the background of these characters, here’s some recommended reading for this season of “Smallville.”

“Superman/Batman: Supergirl” by Jeph Loeb and Michael Turner. Darkseid attempts to brainwash a powerful teenage girl in this reintroduction of Supergirl to the DC Comics mythos. This story, adapted into animated form, will be released Tuesday as “Superman/Batman: Apocalypse” on DVD. Tim Daly will voice Superman; Kevin Conroy will voice Batman. The cast also includes Andre Braugher as Darkseid and Summer Glau as Supergirl.

Superman/Batman Vol. 2: Supergirl

“The Great Darkness Saga” by Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen. In the far future, the heroes of the 30th century must battle a grave evil. Darkseid emerges in the 30th century with plans to acquire mystic artifacts and control a race of 3 billion superpowered beings. The Legion of Super-Heroes call on all members, past and present, to face off against Darkseid, who has yet another plan behind the scenes. A new hardcover edition of this classic story is set for release in November, though the individual issues and earlier softcover printings are findable.

“Cosmic Odyssey” by Jim Starlin and Mike Mignola. Starlin, known for his cosmic tales like “Warlock” and “Infinity Gauntlet,” teams with “Hellboy” creator Mike Mignola for this story of a threat so great, that some of Earth’s greatest heroes are forced to work with Darkseid. Superman, Batman, Green Lantern John Stewart, Martian Manhunter, Starfire, the Demon, plus Orion, Lightray and Forager of the New Gods are called on to halt a being who can destroy galaxies.

“Showcase: Booster Gold” by Dan Jurgens et al. Booster Gold’s original series, primarily written and drawn by Dan Jurgens, is collected in this volume as a time-traveling former football star from the future comes to 20th-century Earth aiming for fame and fortune.

Blue Beetle: Shellshocked

“Blue Beetle: Shellshocked” by Keith Giffen, John Rogers, Cully Hamner et al. The mystical Blue Beetle scarab chooses a new guardian: teenager Jaime Reyes. The El Paso teen becomes a reluctant hero after the alien technology of the scarab bonds with him, allowing him to create a superpowered blue armor.

Also recommended: For the full story on Booster Gold’s return to heroism, check out the four volumes of “52.” For the original “New Gods” saga, including the first appearance of Darkseid, check out “Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus” Vols. 1-4. And for the origin of the Booster Gold-Blue Beetle team-ups, featuring Jaime Reyes’ predecessor, Ted Kord, read “Justice League International” Vols. 1-4.

- By Matthew Price
WORD BALLOONS
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Smallville Season 9 DVD

The Kryptonian military leader Zod (Callum Blue) is Clark Kent’s opponent in the ninth season of “Smallville,” which brings in more characters from the DC comic books.

At this point, Tom Welling has played Clark Kent longer than Christopher Reeve or George Reeves, though he hasn’t donned the famous red-and-blue suit of Superman. His journey toward becoming the Man of Steel continues in Season 9, as a younger version of Zod (who previously appeared in seasons 5 and 6 of “Smallville”) seeks to regain his powers and take over Earth.

The cyborg Metallo, played by Brian Austin Green (“Beverly Hills 90210), kicks off the season with an appropriate sense of menace. Toyman also gets the spotlight early in the season, as he continues a feud with Green Arrow (Justin Hartley). Surprisingly, the Wonder Twins from the old “Super Friends” cartoons are translated to “Smallville” style reasonably well in the episode “Idol.”

The season highlight is the two-parter “Absolute Justice,” which introduces Hawkman and the Justice Society of America to the “Smallville” mythos.

Erica Durance, who plays Lois Lane, has great chemistry with Welling; the developing romance between Lois and Clark is compelling.

Despite a few clunky episodes (notably “Warrior”), Season 9 finds “Smallville” regaining its footing as it heads toward what’s been announced as its 10th and final season.

DVD extras: deleted scenes; a “Kneel Before Zod” featurette looking at Zod’s appearances in comics, film, animation and live-action TV; a “Justice for All” featurette exploring the adaptation of the Justice Society of America to television; and commentaries on episodes “Idol” and “Kandor.”

— Matthew Price
From Friday’s The Oklahoman

Sahar Biniaz

Kryptonsite reports that two new DC characters will appear in Smallville’s 10th season, in addition to the already-announced Blue Beetle and Booster Gold.   Shayera, Hawkman’s long-lost love, will appear, played by Sahar Biniaz.  In the comics, Shayera is Hawkgirl.

She’ll appear in the episode “Shield,” and Michael Shanks will return as Hawkman.

Floyd Lawton, aka the Suicide Squad character “Deadshot,” will be played by Bradley Stryker.

What do you think about the casting?  And do you like more DC Comics characters showing up for the final season? Check out Sahar Biniaz in a clip from “Sanctuary” below.

- Matt Price

If you missed the Comic-Con trailer for “Smallville,” it’s now shown up online. Tom Welling as Clark Kent, the return of Jonathan Schneider as Pa Kent, the appearance of a costume, a Lionel Luthor cameo? Are you intrigued? What do you think about the trailer? What do you want to see in Season 10? You can check out more photos from Comic-Con at Smallville’s official Facebook page.

- Matt Price

The footage shown at the DC Nation and other panels for a proposed Blue Beetle live-action series is now available on the internet. Perhaps coincidentally, Blue Beetle and Booster Gold will appear on the final season of “Smallville.” Is this a new push for the Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle? Might he return in comics soon?

Would you like to see a new Blue Beetle TV or comics series? Share your thoughts in the comments!

- Matt Price

SAN DIEGO – Geoff Johns announced at the “Smallville” panel in Ballroom 20 of Comic-Con International that he will bring Booster Gold and the Blue Beetle to the series in the final season.   The Blue Beetle will be the Jamie Reyes character, and Skeets, Booster’s robot sidekick, will appear, Johns says.

(I wonder if the test Blue Beetle footage shown at DC Nation at Comic-Con, and this news, could mean this Blue Beetle could spin off after “Smallville” ends?)

Johns moderated the panel, which featured Tom Welling and Erica Durance, Cassidy Freeman, and Justin Hartley, along with showrunners Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson.  A clip shown at the beginning of the panel showed a brief glimpse of a “Superman” costume, which has been teased for years on “Smallville.” With this being the final season, it appears that wish will finally come true for many Superman fans.  Will he fly?  Peterson says, “We all know how the comics turn out.”

Fans wondering if Cassidy Freeman, who plays Tess Mercer, will return have good news – Freeman says her appearance today at the panel is a good sign.  That’s good, because she’s a Nerdage favorite.   Another character who may not be dead?  John Schneider, who makes a surprise (to me) appearance, saying “rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

The villain this year will be Darkseid, which sounds like a fantastic way for the series to go out.  Like Doomsday, he’ll be somewhat different from his comics incarnation.

- Matt Price

Warner Bros. Digital Distribution has announced that “Smallville” will be available in HD for the first time exclusively for download.

“Smallville” Seasons 1-9 in HD on iTunes are available at this link:  http://bit.ly/WBE_SmallvilleHD

“Smallville” stars Tom Welling as a young Clark Kent on his way to becoming Superman.  The CW series enters its 10th season this fall.  The show also stars Erica Durance, shown, as Lois Lane.

- Matt Price

The cast of "Smallville."

Warner Bros. has announced that Tom Welling, along with the cast and producers of “Smallville,” will return for a panel at Comic-Con: International in San Diego.   The panel, in advance of the show’s 10th and final season, will take place Sunday, July 25.

Geoff Johns will moderate the panel, which will feature Welling, showrunners Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, and stars Erica Durance (Lois Lane), Cassidy Freeman (Tess Mercer), and Justin Hartley (Oliver Queen/Green Arrow).  The session is set for 10:00–11:00 a.m. in Ballroom 20 of the San Diego Convention Center.

- Matt Price

Laura Vandervoort

Laura Vandervoort, who played Kara in “Smallville,” headlines this year’s Superman Celebration, going on this week in Metropolis, Illinois.  Also appearing will be Sam Witwer (who played Doomsday in “Smallville”) and Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane in “The Adventures of Superman.”

- Matt Price

Erica Durance as Lois Lane and Tom Welling as Clark Kent in "Smallville."

According to THR, Season 10 of Smallville will be the final season for the show.   The show stars Tom Welling as Clark Kent before the hero becomes the Superman of legend.  “Smallville” had better-than-anticipated ratings in a Friday night slot this past season.

Coming off a season with strong ratings, and with an ending in mind, perhaps “Smallville” can go to the task of definitively putting the Superman legend into place.   I think having Welling don a “Superman” suit would be a good way for the series to go out.

- Matt Price

The CW provided this promo of Clark Kent (Tom Welling) vs Zod (Callum Blue) from tonight’s season 9 finale of Smallville, “Salvation.”

- Matt Price

Tom Welling, star of "Smallville."

Tom Welling in "Salvation," the season finale of "Smallville."

Tom Welling, who has played Clark Kent in “Smallville” since its debut in 2001, takes the No. 1 spot on Nerdage’s list of actors with geek appeal.  Welling will star in tonight’s season nine finale of “Smallville,” “Salvation.”

Welling worked as a director and executive producer on “Smallville” this season, and is slated to return for next year’s 10th season of the program.  While so far, Welling has never appeared in a traditional Superman costume, he’s now played the role of Clark Kent in more hours of programming than any other actor.

Welling appeared in two “Cheaper by the Dozen” movies, in 2003 and 2005.  In 2005, he was the lead in the horror film “The Fog.”

- Matt Price

Cool-looking promo for Friday’s season 9 finale of “Smallville.” Looks like Kryptonians, possibly versus the Justice Society, and, is it too much to hope that we’ll see some semblance of a Superman costume? It might be, but I’m still tuning in to find out.
What do you expect in the “Smallville” finale? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

- Matt Price

Cassidy Freeman in "Smallville."

Coming in at No. 5 on Nerdage’s list of actresses with geek appeal is Cassidy Freeman, who portrays Tess Mercer on “Smallville.”

Freeman has an Oklahoma connection – her grandmother lives in Tulsa, and Freeman visits the state frequently.  She talked about playing Tess Mercer in an interview with Nerdage:

“It’s more fun to play the passionate person. I get to do good and bad things depending on how I feel, on my passion and what drives me. And that’s human, and that’s more interesting than playing what’s already been written.”

The season nine finale of “Smallville” airs May 14, and Tess may not be safe – word is that a major character will die in the finale.  Still, here at Nerdage we’re rooting for more Tess in season 10 and beyond.

- Matt Price

Cassidy Freeman in "Smallville."

Penny at NewsOK’s TV blog points out it’s the birthday of Cassidy Freeman, who plays Tess Mercer on “Smallville.”   Freeman is one of our favorites here at Nerdage; not only did she give a “Boomer Sooner!” shoutout in her first interview with Nerdage, she talked about being a big Erica Durance fan, as well.

She can be seen in the upcoming film “Yellow Brick Road,” and of course on “Smallville,” where I’ll again hope her Tess Mercer is not the character who gets killed off in the finale.

- Matt Price

Michael Shanks as Hawkman in "Smallville."

According to Entertainment Weekly, Black Canary won’t be the only superhero guest-starring on “Smallville”‘s season finale on May 14.  The Ausiello Files reports that Hawkman and Stargirl, from the Justice Society, and Cyborg, from the Justice League, will make a stop on the season finale.   Comics Alliance previously reported Geoff Johns at the Emerald City Comicon saying  JSA characters would make a return appearance on “Smallville” this season.

- Matt Price

Kryptonsite is reporting that Black Canary, played by Alaina Huffman, will return in the season finale on May 14.   The season finale is titled “Salvation.”

- Matt Price

Tom Welling in "Smallville"

According to Entertainment Weekly, the CW has renewed Smallville for a 10th season.  The show has performed well in its new time slot this season, on Friday nights. EW reports dramatic improvement in major demos:  adults 18-34 (up 67 percent), men 18-34 (up 200 percent), adults 18-49 (up 75 percent), men 18-49 (183 percent), and total viewers (74 percent).

The Geoff Johns-written “Absolute Justice” from earlier this season set a ratings record, making it the the best-rated CW Friday night since 2008.  The overall “Smallville” ratings average is 3.12 million, according to TV Guide.

- Matt Price