IGN.com has revealed two of the JSA characters to be featured in Geoff John’s Smallville episode this season and who’s playing them. The big news (for me, at least) is that Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1, Burn Notice, 24) will be playing Hawkman. But that’s not all. Instead of going the route of the young JSA newbies, we’ll also be treated to the classic JSA character of Dr. Fate, played by Brent Stait (Andromeda, Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica).

It’s official…I am in geek heaven!

Anyone who knows me really well knows that this is just absolutely the most perfect news I could think of. Shanks was my favorite actor on SG1 and I’m such a Hawkman nerd that I’ve already designed not one, not two, but three distinct tattoos of the Winged Warrior. To have Hawkman on my TV, written by one of the best comic writers this decade is just incredible.

And how cool is it that Dr. Fate’s going to be around, also? C’mon, it would have been easy (in fact, one would have thought it to be almost madatory) for the episode to feature the young, hip characters of the JSA. We are all but certain that Stargirl will be featured, based on some previously revealed information from Johns himself via Twiter. It would have also been easy to use characters like Damage, Cyclone, Steel or even Liberty Belle to round out the team. Including characters from the classic JSA is pretty snazzy.

Now, I probably shouldn’t get too excited, especially considering that this is Smallville and they haven’t exactly been up to snuff this season, IMHO. But Johns did not disappoint with his Legion outing last season, and, like the Legion, the JSA are characters that are near and dear to his heart, so there’s going to be a lot of love here. I hope the episode will live up to expectations. But more than even that…

I hope we get to see Michael Shanks in a harness and wings.