The list of characters returning (alive or dead) for Smallville's tenth and final season seems to grow with each passing day.

Michael Ausiello of Entertainment Weekly states that sources have confirmed to him that Alan Ritchson has signed on to reprise his role as Arthur "AC" Curry (a.k.a. Aquaman) in episode nine during November sweeps.

Ritchson has not been seen since season 8 when LuthorCorp discovered his secret identity.

Other Smallville alums returning for the final season include John Glover (Lionel), John Schneider (Pa Kent), Laura Vandervoort (Supergirl), James Marsters (Brainiac), and Michael Shanks (Hawkman).

The MPAA has given "Superman/Shazam: The Return Of Black Adam" an official PG-13 rating, due to violence and some sexual content.

In Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam, Clark Kent's latest interview subject is street kid Billy Batson. What Clark doesn’t know is that Billy is more than a feisty kid with a lot of heart – he has been chosen by an ancient wizard to represent the good of man as the World’s Mightiest Mortal just by invoking the name of the wizard, "Shazam!" Billy’s powers come none-too-soon, as he also discovers he’s being pursued by a centuries’ old, murderous villain, Black Adam – a foe so powerful, even Superman can’t stop him alone. The all-star cast of Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam is led by Jerry O’Connell (Crossing Jordan) as Captain Marvel, George Newbern reprising his Justice League role as Superman, Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) as Black Adam and two-time Emmy Award® winner James Garner (8 Simple Rules) as The Wizard.

The 22-minute long short will be part of the new DC Animated Showcase Collection which will also feature extended editions of previous animated shorts The Spectre, Jonah Hex, and Green Arrow.

As an added bonus, check out the back cover art for the collection below.

After a two year hiatus, actress Laura Vandervoort is returning to her role of Kara (aka Supergirl) for the tenth and final season of "Smallville".

In an exclusive interview with Voices from Krypton, Vandervoort talks about her return and how Kara plays a role in Clark's destiny to becoming Superman. Here's an excerpt:

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: Each time we’ve spoken, a recurring theme was how badly you wanted to go back to Smallville. Now, of course, you’ve had that chance.
VANDERVOORT: I was so excited, because I really had a good time shooting season seven, and everyone would ask me after then, “When are you going to return?” It started becoming a theme, where the answer would be the same: “I don’t know, they haven’t asked,” and then they called.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: Stepping back to Smallville, did the experience feel different than it had back on season seven?
VANDERVOORT: It was a little strange, I hadn’t played her for almost two years. I had returned in season eight for an episode, but it was so brief, so it felt a little strange getting back into Kara. But once you get there, it’s not too difficult. I was excited and she’s almost a different character in season 10 than she was in seven or eight – she’s more mature, and she sort of figures out who she is. The tables have kind of turned, with her and Clark – in the past she would mess up and Clark would give her a lecture, and teach her about her powers, and when she returns the tables are reversed. She’s come back with more knowledge, and she’s teaching him things and giving him ideas about who he could be in the future. She definitely plays a huge role in his becoming Superman.

VOICES FROM KRYPTON: What kind of role does she play in helping him become Superman?
VANDERVOORT: She’s in the red and blue, semi-Supergirl uniform, without the S, but she does do the brunette wig and glasses, which teaches him that he can have an alternate identity. He can have a face to the red/blue blur, and still be able to walk among the people with another identity. She kind of gives him that idea. I saw the photo – so I guess it is public knowledge that she wears that – but the second part of the reason, the producers told me, about wearing that, was to give him the idea to do it, to have the courage to show his face as the red/blue blur.

WBshop.com is giving fans of "Smallville" the opportunity to complete their DVD collection of the hit CW series at a 58% off discount.

As part of the "TV on DVD Sale", fans can purchase "Smallville" box sets of season 1 through 8 from WBshop.com for only $19.95 each as opposed to the regular list price of $47.95. The sale price does not apply to the brand new "Smallville: The Complete 9th Season" DVD.

In addition to "Smallville", all television box sets on WBshop.com will remain on sale for $19.95 until Monday, September 13th.

The tenth and final season of Smallville premieres on September 24th on The CW Network at 8/7c.

Thanks to Kenny Richardson for the lead on this story.

The CW has released the following Official episode description of Smallville’s season 10 premiere "Lazarus":

JOHN SCHNEIDER REPRISES HIS ROLE AS JONATHAN KENT IN THE FINAL SEASON OF SMALLVILLE
- The season premiere picks up where the finale left off. Lois finds Clark’s lifeless body and removes the blue kryptonite enabling him to heal himself. Lois sneaks away before Clark fully awakens in order to protect his secret. Chloe is desperate to find Oliver, so she turns to an unlikely source for answers. Jonathan returns to the Kent Farm with a message for Clark, and Tess awakens in a LuthorCorp lab.

Goodman Masson have broken the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people dressed as Superman, while raising money for Help for Heroes.

Meeting in London at Charterhouse Square, 180 people donned suits and red capes to eclipse the previous record which was set by 122 fans during the 2008 Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL. Once the record was achieved, the group took to 30 designates sites around Central London raising £7,133 which will go towards providing better facilities for wounded British servicemen and women.

Help for Heroes is a British charity launched in September 2007 to help provide better facilities for wounded British servicemen and women. It was co-founded by Bryn Parry, a former member of The Royal Green Jackets and his wife Emma in 2007. The couple were profoundly moved after a visit to Selly Oak hospital where they met injured servicemen and women and decided they needed to do something to help.

The CW has sent the Superman Super Site a press release with the following official description for the 10th and final season of "Smallville":

The end of the beginning starts here. Taking flight in its tenth and final season, this modern retelling of a hero's legendary origins continues to blend realism, action, heart and humor as Clark Kent (Tom Welling) soars toward claiming his birthright.

Clark has emerged from his darkest hour, only to find the path to his destiny blocked by ghosts from the past - shadows in the present tempting Clark toward the darkness at every turn. Despite insurmountable odds, is Clark strong enough to step into the light and claim his rightful place as Earth's mightiest protector?

As "Smallville's" epic ninth season came to a close, General Zod (Callum Blue) and his Kryptonian Army declared war on the people of Earth. Clark prevented the deaths of thousands, if not millions of humans by using the Kryptonian Book of Rao to stop the attack. The spiritual tome opened a gateway to another world, one where Clark's people could exist in peace. One-by-one, every Kryptonian on Earth was propelled across the universe, but as Clark prepared for his "ascension," Zod refused to leave. Using a blue Kryptonite dagger to make himself human and avoid being sucked into space, Zod remained behind so that he could rule a world without its guardian, Clark Kent. Having no other option to rid the world of Zod's tyranny, Clark plunged the dagger into his own abdomen, protecting himself from ascension - and exiling Zod in the process. Though victorious, Clark's win was bittersweet as he plummeted off the building and into the darkness below.

After a fateful kiss, Lois Lane (Erica Durance) realized that the two men she had been torn between all season - Clark Kent and Metropolis' heroic Blur - were one and the same. Having finally found redemption and a second chance at love, Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) and Oliver Queen, a.k.a. the Green Arrow (Justin Hartley), were ripped apart. Chloe was forced to painfully listen as the love of her life, Oliver, was abducted by mysterious assailants during his attempt to help Clark defeat Zod's Army. And Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman), heir to the late Lex Luthor empire and double agent for the now-defunct government organization Checkmate, was fatally burned at Zod's hand in an attempt to right past wrongs. As Tess flatlined in Metropolis General Hospital, she was visited by a shrouded, elderly woman. The granny's motives...still unknown.

Throughout season nine, Clark, bearing the iconic S-shield of his heritage, struggled to find his place between the human world in which he was raised and the Kryptonian world he was born into. Having made peace with his dual heritage, Clark, in season ten, must now find the courage to step out of the shadows and emerge into the light. Never before has there been such a dangerous time for Clark to step into the public eye and take on the mantle of the inspirational icon he is destined to be. As the tide of sentiment in Metropolis turns against heroes, branding them as unchecked vigilantes, our defender of justice will be called upon to re-define what it really means to be a superhero. Given how dangerously close Clark has skirted to crossing the line in the name of "justice" in the past, will he truly earn the right to be the symbol of good for humanity, or will he prove the naysayers right, that no one individual can be judge, jury and enforcer.

In the midst of this turmoil, a new danger will emerge as a dark force takes on many faces, threatening Clark at every turn. Hawkman (Michael Shanks), Supergirl (Laura Vandervoort), and Jonathan Kent (John Schneider), Clark's late, adopted father - forever and always Clark's moral compass, will stand by Clark's side as he takes his final steps toward accepting his birthright. He will need all the help he can get to fight the impending evil onslaught...the greatest darkness ever unleashed on Earth.

I recently had a very nice, long conversation with Richard Potter, webmaster of GEORGE REEVES FOREVER (www.GeorgeReevesForever.com). At Richard’s website, you can find the George Reeves Calendar, stories, historical articles, music, animations, artwork, and even a spoof of George Reeves collectibles.  Richard is a professional software developer; he recently created a version of the George Reeves Calendar for Apple’s iPhone and iPad (the app is called GRCalendar).  Richard is also a singer/songwriter.  He has written two songs about George Reeves: “Oh, George” and “And She Loved Me.”  And his song “Noel” is dedicated to none other than Noel Neill.

I approached Richard about interviewing him and he said that he would be delighted and honored, so I called him and we spoke for almost two and a half hours about his life, likes and dislikes on all things Superman and not just George Reeves.

Chris: When did you become a Superman fan?
Richard: I think it was around the age of 6 back in 1959.  I remember my older brother had some Superman and Batman comics lying around, which I read several times.  And then the "Adventures of Superman" was on TV every day at 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday and I watched that religiously.

Chris: Tell me about that. Do you remember the first episode you ever saw?
Richard: No, unlike a lot of other people, I don't really remember which episode I saw first.  What I do remember is riding my bike home from school as fast as I could, so I would get home in time to see the show.  In the winter, when I couldn't ride my bike, I had to run home as fast as I could (which is not always easy, running in snowboots with all the snow on the sidewalks in the dead of winter in northwestern Iowa).

Chris: Was your family into Superman as well?
Richard: No, not really.  In fact, the rest of my family couldn't quite understand my fascination with comic books and the Superman TV show.  My older brother got very frustrated with me, because he was a sports nut (actually, quite an exceptional athlete, something I was not) and he always wanted me to go outside and play catch or something.  I remember one day he insisted that I should go outside to toss the football around, and when I said I wanted to wait until after Superman was over, he said something like, "I don't know why you think this show is so great.  The guy who plays Superman is dead, you know.  He killed himself."  I was stunned.  I don't remember what exactly I said, probably something like, "I don't believe you" or "It doesn't matter, I still like him."  I do remember my brother storming out the door at that point.

Chris: What was it that about the TV show that made you such a big fan?
Richard: The flying scenes. I was mesmerized whenever George Reeves would fly.  Although the special effects in the “Adventures of Superman” can’t compare to today’s CGI, at the time those flying scenes were state of the art and quite amazing.  Also, I found the way Clark, Lois, Jimmy, Perry and Inspector Henderson related to each other as a family very appealing.  Last but not least, I think George was a father figure to me.

Chris: As a child growing up in the late 1950’s, what else do you remember about George Reeves and Superman?
Richard: After the show was over, I would go down to our basement and play Superman.  I made a “cape” out of red crepe paper and an S-shield out of cardboard.  I carefully cut out a piece of cardboard in the shape of Superman’s shield from an old shoe box and then drew and colored in the “S”.  I cut a slit into the shield so that I could poke my shirt button through the cardboard and that way, it would stay attached to my chest.  I even made some Clark Kent “glasses” from a Groucho Marx plastic Halloween disguise.  I used to “fly” around in our basement all the time and change back and forth from Superman to Clark Kent.

Superman fans in the Fort Thomas, KY area will want to mark their calendars for the Cincinnati Metropolitan Orchestra's Summer concert entitled "Don't Stop Believin" which will feature music from the Superman movies.

The concert will take place at Tower Park in Fort Thomas on Tuesday, September 14th at 7:00PM.

In addition to Superman, the CMO will also perform music for Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mary Poppins and the Wizard of Oz. The CMO Vocal Ensemble will add to the excitement with popular and patriotic selections, including "Don't Stop Believin".

The concert is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy an evening of great music.

Please visit www.gocmo.org for more information or call the CMO Hotline at (513) 941-8956.

Entertainment Weekly reports that actress Annette O'Toole will be guest starring as a 60-year-old with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in the third season of Lie To Me.

The character will reportedly be keeping a dark secret from Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) and his team.

O'Toole is best remembered for her roles on Smallville as Martha Kent and "Superman: III" as Lana Lang. She has also starred in episodes of Law & Order and Nash Bridges.

The second season finale of Lie To Me airs on September 13 on FOX. The crime drama will kick off it's third season on November 10.

Warner Home Video, UGO.com and The Paley Center for Media proudly present the bi-coastal World Premieres of Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, the highly anticipated next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies, in Los Angeles on September 21 and New York on September 23. Filmmakers and members of the voice cast will attend both events for red carpet media interviews and post-screening panel discussions.

On Tuesday, September 21, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse will screen at the Paley Center in Los Angeles (465 North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills) with media interviews starting at 5:30 p.m. and screening commencing at 7:00 p.m. A panel discussion moderated by UGO movie editors will follow the screening featuring executive producer Bruce Timm, director Lauren Montgomery, writer Tab Murphy and dialogue/casting director Andrea Romano. Additional participants, including voice cast members, will be announced as confirmed.

On Thursday, September 23, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse will screen at the Paley Center in New York City (25 West 52nd Street) with media interviews starting at 5:00 p.m. and screening commencing at 6:30 p.m. Following the screening, Kevin Conroy, the fan-favorite voice of Batman, and casting/dialogue director Andrea Romano will lead a panel discussion moderated by UGO movie editors. Additional participants, including voice cast members, will be announced as confirmed.

Media wishing to perform interviews and attend the premieres must RSVP via email to WHVRSVP@hotmail.com.

A limited number of free tickets are available for the general public. Fans wishing to receive free tickets to the Los Angeles event on Sept. 21 must RSVP via email to SupermanBatmanLA@gmail.com. Fans in New York City wishing to receive free tickets to the NY event on Sept. 23 must RSVP via email to SupermanBatmanNY@gmail.com.

Tickets to both events will be distributed on a “first come, first served” basis.

Based on the DC Comics series/graphic novel “Superman/Batman: Supergirl” by Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner & Peter Steigerwald, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is produced by animation legend Bruce Timm and directed by Lauren Montgomery (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths) from a script by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Tab Murphy (Gorillas in the Mist).

In Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, a spaceship splashes down in Gotham City Harbor -- leading Batman and Superman to encounter a mysterious Kryptonian with powers as great as those of the Man of Steel. The Kryptonian is soon revealed to be Kara, cousin of Superman, who takes her under his wing to educate her about the ways of Earth. However, the villainous Darkseid has other plans. Seeing an opportunity to finally defeat Superman, Darkseid abducts and gains control of Kara, utilizing the powerful Kryptonian to do his bidding. It’s up to Batman and Superman to save Kara, but they’ll have to take the fight to Darkseid within his hostile world – where unknown, deadly threats lurk around every corner, including a brainwashed Kryptonian able to match Superman blow-for-blow.

Fan favorites Tim Daly (Private Practice) and Kevin Conroy (China Beach) return to their seminal roles as Superman and Batman, respectively. The celebrity-laden guest cast is headed by Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age) as the daunting Darkseid. Sci-Fi heroine Summer Glau (Serenity/Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) provides the voice of Supergirl, and seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner (Up) reprises his Superman: The Animated Series/Justice League role as Granny Goodness.

"Superman/Batman: Apocalypse" will be distributed by Warner Home Video on September 28, 2010 and is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com as a Special Edition Blu-RayTM and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD as well as single disc DVD. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

Congratulations to Catherine Lindley and Bob Arena who were chosen as the winners of the August contest for their choice of a Superman T-shirt from MyTeeSpot.com. Your prizes will be on their way to you soon!

For our September contest, we have teamed with Scott Cranford and HeroicWorld.com to give away one (1) DVD copy of the all new documentary Heroic Ambition.

Summary:
Heroic Ambition is the new superhero entertainment documentary, produced by HeroicWorld Productions. This film was written and directed by Scott Cranford, founder of HeroicWorld.com and former official "Superman" of Metropolis, Illinois.

Heroic Ambition uncovers the ambition of the city of Metropolis and the people surrounding the Annual Superman Celebration.

Thousands visit the real city of Metropolis annually to celebrate the world's first Superhero -- Superman, The Man of Steel. Witness the ideals of several archetypes within Superman's Universe. Meet the residents of Metropolis and the visitors to one of the biggest superhero entertainment events in the country.

Share the excitement, the controversy and the ambition as expert insights offer different sides to what goes on behind the scenes of the celebration for the world's most legendary comic book hero.

A protest by costumed characters who used to congregate on Hollywood Blvd. that we first reported on yesterday took place without incident today on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall.

The protest group, which was much smaller than what organizer Christopher Dennis (Superman) had probably hoped for, consisted of The Man of Steel, The Hulk, The White Power Ranger and Darth Vader. In a show of force, the costumed characters held signs that read "Justice For All," "Wearing Costumes Is Not A Crime" and "Put The Superheroes Back On The Hollywood."

The protest was in response to LAPD officers responding to reports at the end of May of violent confrontations between competing costumed superheroes and aggressive tip-soliciting from tourists which reslulted in officers removing (and sometimes arresting) the characters one by one.

The protesters did acknowledge that while there were some unruly characters on Hollywood Blvd, they were a small minority and most costumed characters are artists who are just trying to support themselves.

In response to his own personal arrest, Christopher Dennis has filed a lawsuit against the city for monetary compensation and for the right to perform in Hollywood again.

In an interview with LA Weekly, Joe McQueen (aka The Hulk) summarized what all the protesters feel they are fighting for; "If there are no costume characters, there is no Hollywood".

The CW have released the following promotional images for "Lazarus", the premiere episode of the tenth and final season of Smallville:

THE FINAL SEASON BEGINS - Chloe (Allison Mack) continues to try and find Oliver (Justin Hartley), Tess (Cassidy Freeman) awakens to find herself resurrected and held captive in a Cadmus Labs laboratory finding that the lab is trying to resurrect Lex Luthor through the use of clones. A cloned younger Lex claims the clones to be his brothers, and Lois (Erica Durance) continues to figure out hints and clues about Clark's secret. Meanwhile, Clark (Tom Welling) finds Jonathan (John Schneider) at the farm, who warns him that something "dark" is coming.

DC Comics have announced the release of a new album entitled "The Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary Collection" which will feature essential sounds and songs from a number of amazing books, televisions series, cartoons and more produced by DC over the last 75 years.

According to The Source, DC Comics' official blog, the "album begins with the "Superman March" theme from 1941's classic Fleischer Superman cartoons and moves through the years, including shows and movies like BATMAN, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, LOIS & CLARK, BATMAN BEYOND, SMALLVILLE, THE BATMAN and a ton more, all on one compact disc – with 21 of the 31 tracks available for the first time ever."

In addition to the Fleischer theme, other Superman related material that will be included on the album includes:

1. Theme From Superman (Album Version) - John Williams (1978)
- From the live-action film “Superman.” Digitally remastered.

2. The New Adventures of Superman - John Gart (1966)
- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “The New Adventures of Superman.”

3. Lois and Clark / The New Adventures of Superman - Jay Gruska (1993)
- From the live-action TV Series “Lois and Clark”. Digitally remastered.

4. The Adventures of Superboy - John Gart(1966)
- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the Filmation cartoon “The Adventures of Superboy.”

5. Superboy - Kevin Kiner (1988)
- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the live-action TV series “Superboy.”

6. Smallville Season 8 (End Title) - Louis Febre (2008)
- Previously unavailable. Digitally remastered. From the live-action TV series “Smallville.”

Fredric Wertham is best remembered as the psychiatrist and crusading author who protested the purportedly harmful effects of violent imagery in mass media and comic books (including Superman) on the development of children. His best known book was Seduction of the Innocent, which led to a U.S. Congressional inquiry into the comic book industry and the creation of the Comics Code.

In 1987, the Library of Congress acquired Dr. Wertham's papers through the estate of his wife, Florence Hesketh Wertham. A recent article in The Gazette, the Library's in-house letter, states that all 222 containers of the papers are now open to public research access. Here's an excerpt from the article:

“We realize that donors have certain interests they want to respect,” said Len Bruno of the Library’s Manuscript Divi­sion, which houses the collection. “Of course, things can’t stay closed forever,” he added, saying that the Library often agrees to reasonable restrictions in order to acquire materials.

Bruno said that since access became unrestricted, interest in Wertham’s papers has increased. His papers add another component to the Library’s collections, which include comic books in the Serials and Government Publications Division, about 128,000 works of cartoon art in the Prints and Photographs Division and the papers of Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and the International Psycho-Analytical Association in the Manuscript Division.

“I think he was part of a movement that is uniquely American – this need to protect children from adult life – that started in the 1950s. It was the same movement that said every child ought to graduate from high school and have the opportunity to go to college,” said Sara Duke, curator of the Library’s comic arts collections in P&P. “Until we can synthesize Wertham in his time, he will be demonized by historians for changing the comic-book industry and affecting the way generations of adults see comic books.”