Smallville episode 8.11 "Legion"
Airdate: January 15, 2009

In the mid-season return of Smallville this Thursday, the show takes a page out of the Superman mythology by featuring three prominent members of the futuristic Legion of Superheroes. Although full of special mentions and tidbits associated with comics, the show reached out to the casual fans by explaining who the Legion members are and how they are tied to Clark Kent. Before the opening credits sang “Somebody Save Me”, the proper introductions were made. There was also more action and stunts in this episode than usual, which was a treat, although none of it was due to Clark Kent rescuing anyone. This was still an episode about Clark’s continuing quest to find his destiny, but it also offered a peek into his far-reaching influence on future heroes and generations. And it tied in nicely that someday, we are going to see Clark Kent wear glasses, and fly with a cape and in tights.

Written by DC Comics writer Geoff Johns and directed by Glen Winter, the midseason opener of Smallville is titled “Legion”:

It’s the aftermath of Doomsday’s destruction of Clark’s barn. The whole place is ransacked and Lana tearfully collects herself. Clark reminds her to take a rest but she insists that Chloe needs their help. Lana leaves for the Isis Foundation to dig up more information. Clark is suddenly confronted by this masked man dressed up as an executioner with a super-axe. He takes a swing at Clark and cuts him near the ribs! Three strangers, all with superpowers, take turns in defeating this executioner and make him disappear into thin air. We learn the villain is called Persuader, a villain from the future who can kill Kal El. He came back in time to destroy the device that can release Brainiac from being trapped inside his host’s body. The three super-beings are the Legion, alien heroes from the 31st century who came to stop Persuader from killing Clark. They introduce themselves as Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad, and were star-struck at the hero they adore. Kal El’s influence will reach far beyond his galaxy, and he will open the door for more alien beings to rally to Earth and keep the peace in the different worlds.

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Smallville episode 8.11 “Legion“
Airdate: January 15, 2009

Smallville resumes its season with the Legion of Superheroes as personal guests of Super-Boy Scout/future Superman aka Clark Kent! Time traveling from the future, three founding Legionnaires  - Saturn Girl, Cosmic Boy and Lightning Lad - will help Clark fight another time traveler, the Persuader, an outlaw recruited by the Legion who turned against the superheroes and became their worst threat.

Meantime, Brainiac (as Chloe) is so hungry for knowledge he wants to consume the whole world. He/She recruits Doomsday to the Fortress to prepare him for his destiny of defeating Superman.

Can Clark Kent and the Legion stop these menaces in time?

Next on Smallville, tonight, is “Legion” at 8pm CW. It’s about to begin in 5…4… 3… 2… 1…

[Trailer] [Pictures] [Director's cut] [Description] [Sneak Peek - Chloeniac] [Sneak Peek - Legionnaires introduced] [Sneak Peek - Persuader] [Sneak Peek - Chloe and Davis] [Interview with writer Geoff Johns]

Smallville returns tonight with a very special episode. DC Comics writer Geoff Johns wrote the episode “Legion” especially for Smallville. Since Geoff doesn’t normally work on Smallville, this is a treat for both the fans following the Superman comics and those following Smallville.

Saturn Girl / Imra (Alexz Johnson),  Lightning Lad / Garth (Calum Worthy), and Cosmic Boy / Rokk (Ryan Kennedy) with writer Geoff Johns. Image: © 2008 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Geoff is a fanboy of the Legion of Superheroes comics himself. As the story goes, he had an idea for this episode that he pitched to Jeph Leob, who he works with in the same office. Jeph (who formerly worked on Smallville) told the producers about Geoff’s idea and that got the ball rolling.

When Geoff Johns spoke to Superhero Profiles about his experience on Smallville, he admits “it was a special episode for me and a special time for me to do it.” So let’s hear it from the man himself, how he made “Legion” extra-special.

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Smallville episode 8.11 “Legion“
Airdate: January 15, 2009

  Clark Kent is about to have a sneak peek into the future, and just how huge his influence will be on the rest of the universe. The Legionnaires introduce themselves to Clark as aliens from the 31st century who have immigrated to Earth to help others as Clark is doing.

Perhaps this meeting is exactly what Clark Kent needed - to see a future beyond Smallville and know his heroism on Earth will jumpstart heroic acts from many different worlds.

Smallville episode 8.11 “Legion“
Airdate: January 15, 2009

When Clark Kent decided to embrace his destiny, being a hero to mankind was big enough a job or so he thought. He would have no idea that his influence stretches to other beings in the universe. Thousands of years from the present, aliens and beings from other systems will come to earth and make it their home base of operation for defeating evil. And Clark is about to meet a few of his fellow aliens. 

Villains and superheroes pay Clark a visit in “Legion”. An executioner with a super-axe, known as Persuader, is intent on killing the young Clark Kent (and he can!). Three Legionnaires - Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl and Cosmic Boy, come to Clark’s rescue, but they’ll be surprised with the version of “superboy” they’re about to face. For starters, Clark has no cape.

Smallville episode 8.11 “Legion“
Airdate: January 15, 2009

Teen power to the rescue! Smallville’s return on Thursday stars the founders of the Legion of Superheroes. Three time-traveling teens give their honorary founder a hand at defeating Chloeniac. As Saturn Girl remarks, “this is a historic battle” so we’re expecting a lot!

In the director’s cut, Chloeniac is draining every last bit of information from both computers and brains of everyone on the planet. Can the Legionnaires stop him before everyone becomes a walking zombie? Imra (as Saturn Girl) attempt to stop Chloeniac with her telepathic powers, and Lightning Lad link up with Cosmic Boy to deliver some punch-bag electromagnetic shock.

Image: © 2008 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Smallville episode 8.11 “Legion”
Airdate: January 15, 2009

Are you on the edge of your seat waiting for Thursday? Coz I am, when Smallville finally returns with “Legion“. It’s about time we get relief from the pre-holiday cliffhangers!

In the last episode (”Bride“) Brainiac had full control of Chloe, and Doomsday took her to the Fortress. The construct has always been Clark’s most formidable opponent and had barely defeated him. (We were all led to believe Clark had zapped this ‘thing’ to smitterins). And Doomsday… well, we know his story right? But can the young Clark stand up to him now?

And then there is Clark Kent’s other life. Jimmy was left in critical condition. His barn is a total wreck. There’s still Lex somewhere out there. Oh, and Lana came back, just when Clark was feeling a spark for Lois. Totally not a good time to be Clark Kent!

So, without much further ado, here is a sneak peek at this Thursday’s episode of Smallville, featuring the villain “Chloeniac“!

 Image: © 2008 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Smallville episode 8.11 “Legion”
Airdate: January 15, 2009

Introducing, Smallville’s version of the Legion of Superheroes!

Saturn Girl / Imra (Alexz Johnson),  Lightning Lad / Garth (Calum Worthy), and Cosmic Boy / Rokk (Ryan Kennedy) with writer Geoff Johns © 2008 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Traveling thousands of years from the future, Lightning Lad checks out Clark’s Smallville High jacket, while his teen friends do the serious work.

What did the Legionnaires find? Someone hacked that crate in half. Is he friend or foe? Find out after the cut.

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Smallville episode 8.11 “Legion”
Airdate: January 15, 2009

Smallville returns this January with the Legion of Superheroes as personal guests of Super-Boy Scout aka Clark Kent! Time traveling from the future, the founding Legionnaires will help Clark fight another time traveler, the Persuader, an outlaw recruited by the Legion who turned against the superheroes and became their worst threat.

CW released the summary of episode 8.11 “Legion” -

The aftermath of Doomsday’s attack on Chloe and Jimmy’s wedding leaves Clark in shock, but before he can search for the kidnapped Chloe, The Persuader (guest star Fraser Aithceson) appears and attacks him. Rokk (guest star Ryan Kennedy), Imra (guest star Alexz Johnson) and Garth (guest star Calum Worthy), also known as The Legion, step in from the future to help vanquish the Persuader and the group realizes Brainiac has taken over Chloe once again. Meanwhile, up at the Fortress, Chloe, as Brainiac, informs Davis he is Doomsday and was created to kill “the other Kryptonian” and destroy the world.

Smallville episode 8.11 “Legion”
Airdate: January 15, 2009

Smallville ended 2008 with a scare. Brainiac hacked into the Fortress of Solitude and reprogrammed it into a hideout for Superman’s ultimate nemesis. Doomsday crashed Chloe and Jimmy’s wedding reception and ran off with the bride. Now Clark Kent has to save his best friend from his greatest enemy.

So who can help Clark now that the Fortress is compromised? 

Enter the Legion of Superheroes! No less than the founding Legionnaires themselves, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad, will travel back from the distant future to help Clark defeat Doomsday. Rokk Krinn (Ryan Kennedy), Imra Ardeen (Alexz Johnson ) and Garth Ranzz (Calum Worthy) will introduce Clark to the famed Legion of Super-Heroes and to what will be Clark’s super-alter-ego.

Image: © 2008 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved