Comic Book Media

Back in 2001, the thought of comic book characters on TV screens was a largely foreign concept. There was little to suggest that comic heroes could find any success on network television. When Smallville premiered in the fall of that year, it played safe and stuck to conventions of teen dramas at the time. While focusing on a young Clark Kent, pre-Superman, its first few seasons did little to escape a “threat of the week” formula that allowed for little in the way of plot-growth. However, the series eventually did mature over its 10 year run. While many view the show from the position of the doldrums of its first few seasons, that is to intentionally ignore the strides that the series took in quality and characterization in its later years. That’s no better encapsulated than in the 2-part special during the 9th season, “Absolute Justice”.

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