The 1000th issue of Action Comics is released by DC Comics today, on a day that also happens to be the 80th anniversary of the release of the very first appearance of Superman in comics in April 1938’s Action Comics #1.
Generations of fans were introduced to Superman through these comic books, but for some, a first introduction may have been through other media, whether it’s the old George Reeves TV series, the film series starring Christopher Reeve, Lois & Clark... or Smallville, the WB/CW television series starring Tom Welling that aired for ten of those 80 years of Super-history.
To celebrate Action #1000, we reached out to one of the creators of Smallville, Alfred Gough, to ask him about what it was like to have contributed such a major part to Superman history. Nostalgia for Smallville, which left the air in 2011, seems to be at an all-time high lately, with fans traveling across the country to see series stars at conventions, recording podcasts, watching classic episodes on Hulu and DVD, and “always holding on.” It very well might be time for an Entertainment Weekly cast reunion photo shoot, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Here’s what Mr. Gough had to say:
“Being part of the Superman legacy is one of the great gifts of my life . When Miles and I created Smallville, our goal was to honor the spirit and legacy of the character while adding a new chapter to the mythology. We wanted to bring Superman into the 21st century in a fresh way. I think the reason that the character has endured for 80 years is because he can be reinvented for any era while still maintaining his core values. It’s a testament to Shuster and Siegel that they created a character in which everyone can invest their own hopes and dreams. That’s why we will always believe that a man can fly.”
Fans of what Al and Miles brought to Smallville might want to see their current series, Into the Badlands, which sees its third season premiere this Sunday, April 22 at 10PM on the AMC cable channel. A trailer can be found below.
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Having known Al Gough for 4 years in high school, it comes as no surprise that his creativity and artistic qualities couldn't have given a better addition to the Superman genre. He continues to add great entertaining stories and programs that capture the imagination for all generations... All the best Al