Lots of happenings in the city of Smallville this week. First up, some casting news that makes me pretty darn happy.

EW’s Michael Ausiello is reporting that Annette O’Toole, who played Martha Kent until season six, will be making her way back to the Kent family farm before the end of the season. It was during season 6 that Martha Kent made a move to Washington, D.C. when she became a U.S. Senator. Since then, she has been mentioned in passing only a few times.

As if Martha Kent’s return wasn’t enough, Perry White will be making his way back to Metropolis. That Michael Ausiello guy keeps busy with TV scoop, and says that Michael McKean (who happens to also be O’Toole’s real-life husband), will be reprising his role as the Daily Planet’s future Editor-in-Chief. Both O’Toole’s and McKean’s return to Smallville will happen in episode 21, the penultimate episode of the season.

While that’s certainly great news for Smallville fans like me, there’s an even bigger event taking place in the world of Clark Kent and friends: the two-hour, Geoff Johns-penned Smallville: Absolute Justice, which brings the Justice Society of America to live action television. DC Universe: The Source has an exclusive clip from the upcoming movie and, man, I had a total geekgasm over this one. We all know of John’s love for the JSA, but you can tell that everyone at Smallville wanted to make this episode with love and care. The design work is phenomenal on every piece. And that Hawkgirl helmet…wow!

ComicBookResources.com had some great screen captures including these.

Check out ComicBookResources.com for more great caps.

When they announced season 9, I was prepared to just give up on the show. I just kept thinking how it might have outlived itself. Now, with news that Season 10 might actually happen, I find myself looking forward to it more and more. If they can continue showing the love for the history of the character, while still giving a new spin on it as they have, then they might just pull it off. Does that mean I don’t think Smallville has it’s problems? Absolutely not. I’m still very interested in seeing how they could pull off the whole Superman/Clark Kent secret ID when just about everyone in the world has seen Clark without glasses and half the villains in both Metropolis and Smallville seem to know Clark’s secret. But, in the meantime, it’s a fun show that’s bringing some characters to life who might never have seen anything more than animation. Martian Manhunter, Zatanna, hell…even the Wonder Twins, all brought to live action television. I don’t know about you guys, but I can live with some of the flaws.