I've got good news and bad news. The good: this second issue boasts a lot more in the way of storytelling, some of which is in keeping with the conventions of the television series that inspires it. The bad news: the stories aren't nearly as compelling this time around, and one of them is downright silly. Still, the die-hard Smallville fan is bound to find plenty of interest here, and I'm pleased to see DC trying to capitalize on one of its other-media success stories.
"Beauty" tells the story of the latest Miss Smallville pageant and how one of the constestants -- we don't know who at first; it's a whodunnit of sorts -- is willing to go to extremes to get what she wants. Such a plot is a staple of the Smallville TV show -- we saw it with Jonathan Taylor Thomas's appearance and the shapechanging girl as well. The story has a surprising and welcome focus on Pete Ross, but the restrictive length of the story requires an all-too tidy resolution.
The second story delves into Chloe's summer job at The Daily Planet in Metropolis. It was a treat to get a non-traditional look at the Planet. None of the usual characters -- Perry White, for example -- are to be found here. But that's the extent of the story's appeal. Carpenter sends Chloe and Pete on a caper to snag a huge headline, and if that weren't enough to stretch credibility too far, Chloe just gives a career-making scoop away. the story makes little sense, and while it stays true to the Lois Lane stories of yesteryear, the skewed view of journalism it celebrates doesn't necessarily merit such a tribute.
Guedes's work on the first story boasts a slightly realistic look, and I'd be interested to see more of his work in the future. His stuff reminds me of the work of Michael (Alias) Gaydos, but with a brighter look. Still, later on in the piece, his linework seems rushed, or perhaps just cramped for space. Derenick and Rapmund's collaboration is a shade weaker, unfortunately. We don't get a strong sense of Chloe's youth, and all of the characters are built like super-heroes, as opposed to the regular people they're supposed to be.
This issue also features interviews with Sam Jones III and Allison Mack, the actors who portray Pete Ross and Chloe Sullivan, respectively, as well as a continuation of the first season episode guide. The interviews deal only with the actors' involvement with the show, which is too bad, because I'd like to hear about the path they took that led them to this point, as well as the opportunities Smallville has afforded them since (Jones appeared in an episode of The Practice not long ago, for example). Interesting note, though: the Mack interview is attributed to former DC editor Mike McAvennie.
