DC Comics had announced in December that they would introduce a popular character from the TV series
Smallville into mainstream comics continuity. In fact, the synopsis, at DCComics.com, still reads as follows for
Superman #674, due out March 12:
"Clark and Lois...[have] relatives coming to visit--namely, a certain blonde cousin of Lois's from Smallville. It all sets the stage for a major new addition to the cast in next month's anniversary issue! Can you say 'Chloe Sullivan'?"
Judging from comments made by DC's VP
Dan DiDio, it appears that the plan fell through.
"Chloe is an exciting character on the television show, and we had hoped to work her into DC continuity," DiDio told Newsarama last week, "but unfortunately, the stars did not align properly, and even though we had announced it, she will not be appearing in any of the issues of
Superman or
Action Comics."
Portrayed by blonde cutie
Allison Mack, Chloe Ann Sullivan was created expressly for the WB's Young Superman series
Smallville. She served as a "Lois Lane archetype"--the show's dogged investigative journalist--and has existed independently of the canonical DC Universe.
Chloe's "anointing" as an official DC character had been long sought by die-hard fans, and excitement was building toward
Superman 674. As some 'Net posters have commented, this event was getting them to buy Superman comics again. Others, however, were a bit relieved by the latest announcement.
But, while there are no official details as to why the "stars did not align properly," fans are theorizing that Busiek's new version of the character may have strayed too far from the model, or even that
Smallville creators
Al Gough & Miles Millar pulled the plug on the idea.
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