So far, the Smallville"-fans have been divided over the use of costumes. Most admired that the show kept it more 'real', after all, the show playing at a time before our heroes actually wore costumes or had a 'super-identity'. With the exception of the Green Arrow, only Impulse and Aquaman wore suits that hinted at their future attire.
And of course there are those, who just couldn't wait to see those costumes that we all know from the comic books; well, this double-episode is a fest for those. We get a good section of the JSA (Justice Society of America, the predecessors of the Justice League of America or JLA), including Hawkman, Doctor Fate and Star Girl, sporting costumes that are straight from the comic.
Well, despite being happy that those characters finally have appeared in the series but it soon becomes apparent why so few movies have used (and succeeded in using) costumes straight from the comic book: it's just not the same medium. Doctor Fate works fine on paper but on TV; on television it's of a helmet that looks like a night-pot with CGI-eyes.
Some have complained that "Smallville" didn't feature more popular and canonical figures like the Batman, Green Lantern or Wonder Woman – personally, I don't think that's a bad thing. Above mentioned characters have their own films and series, yet, in the comics, the more 'obscure' JSA / JLA members are often more interesting than the popular figures.
Part one of this two episodes being squashed into one episode, definitely works better than the second half – the JSA pre-story reminds us a lot of "Watchmen" but becomes very flat at the end, especially since our heroes sole antagonist is a very whimsical Icicle, including buck-teeth and a lisp.
So, we watched, were glad to see the JSA on TV and realized that "Smallville" was smart not to overdo the costume issue. Another "Louise and Clark"- or "Superboy"-series may have lasted three or four seasons; "Smallville" lasted nine.
Kudos to the casting team for the casting of Checkmate-chef Amanda Waller – a force of nature in the original comic books, Pam Grier couldn't have been more spot-on; whimsicalities and buck-teeth are almost forgiven.
And of course there are those, who just couldn't wait to see those costumes that we all know from the comic books; well, this double-episode is a fest for those. We get a good section of the JSA (Justice Society of America, the predecessors of the Justice League of America or JLA), including Hawkman, Doctor Fate and Star Girl, sporting costumes that are straight from the comic.
Well, despite being happy that those characters finally have appeared in the series but it soon becomes apparent why so few movies have used (and succeeded in using) costumes straight from the comic book: it's just not the same medium. Doctor Fate works fine on paper but on TV; on television it's of a helmet that looks like a night-pot with CGI-eyes.
Some have complained that "Smallville" didn't feature more popular and canonical figures like the Batman, Green Lantern or Wonder Woman – personally, I don't think that's a bad thing. Above mentioned characters have their own films and series, yet, in the comics, the more 'obscure' JSA / JLA members are often more interesting than the popular figures.
Part one of this two episodes being squashed into one episode, definitely works better than the second half – the JSA pre-story reminds us a lot of "Watchmen" but becomes very flat at the end, especially since our heroes sole antagonist is a very whimsical Icicle, including buck-teeth and a lisp.
So, we watched, were glad to see the JSA on TV and realized that "Smallville" was smart not to overdo the costume issue. Another "Louise and Clark"- or "Superboy"-series may have lasted three or four seasons; "Smallville" lasted nine.
Kudos to the casting team for the casting of Checkmate-chef Amanda Waller – a force of nature in the original comic books, Pam Grier couldn't have been more spot-on; whimsicalities and buck-teeth are almost forgiven.