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Smallville: Season 11 #3
Smallville Season 11, Volume 3: Haunted
In these stories from issues #9-12, mysterious speed storms have struck across the globe, and a familiar face returns to help Clark to stop them. Then, Lex moves against Tess to reveal what she knows about The Man of Steel, and the secrets of Earth-Two Chloe are revealed!
144 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2013
18 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Q. Miller
312 books62 followersBryan Q. Miller is an American television and comic writer most notable for his work on the CW’s “Smallville” and DC’s “Batgirl.” (with Stephanie Brown as Batgirl)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 5, 2025
The third volume of the Smallville Season 11 comic is stronger than the second, featuring the return of Bart Allen a.k.a. the speedster "Impulse."
This time around we have a consistent artist, Jorge Jimenez, who attempts to capture the likenesses to the actors from the show. It's still not perfect, but it is the strongest and most consistent art we've seen on this title so far. He also renders the action sequences very fluidly and parts of this look great.
In this volume, Bart returns and he is being hunted by a mysterious creature that appears when he uses superspeed. We also learn that Wally West, Jay Garrick, etc. are separate characters canonically in the Smallville universe and that Bart took their names as alternate identities because the speed force somehow ties them all together - I liked this little detail. We also get to meet an older and embittered Jay Garrick.
Clark briefly dons an outfit paying homage to his blue electric look from the '90s (my brother's favourite Superman look.)
The subplot with Lex trying to uncover his memories continues, and Tess uses a telepath to help her communicate with the world outside Lex's brain. I enjoy the Lex and Tess storyline, but Lex is so unlike himself (for many reasons) that it is a little bittersweet.
The idea that "ghosts from his past" are going to keep coming for him despite him not even knowing what he's done is . . . interesting. Though I think it also has the potential to make the narrative sort of muddy. Like, is it fair to blame Lex for things he legitimately doesn't know about/can't remember? Especially since most of the things he was blamed for on the show, he didn't actually do (but that's another rant.)
Meanwhile, Chloe is able to harvest some of the memories from her parallel-self's body and is horrified by the events that took place on "Earth 2." I admit I'm not very invested in the looming "Crisis" plotline, and I'm also not the biggest fan of Chloe and Oliver, so these parts fell a little flat for me . . Jimenez illustrates a chillingly effective "Ultraman," though.
Overall, this was a solid volume. I appreciated the upgrade in the art and the storylines are starting to come together.
This time around we have a consistent artist, Jorge Jimenez, who attempts to capture the likenesses to the actors from the show. It's still not perfect, but it is the strongest and most consistent art we've seen on this title so far. He also renders the action sequences very fluidly and parts of this look great.
In this volume, Bart returns and he is being hunted by a mysterious creature that appears when he uses superspeed. We also learn that Wally West, Jay Garrick, etc. are separate characters canonically in the Smallville universe and that Bart took their names as alternate identities because the speed force somehow ties them all together - I liked this little detail. We also get to meet an older and embittered Jay Garrick.
Clark briefly dons an outfit paying homage to his blue electric look from the '90s (my brother's favourite Superman look.)
The subplot with Lex trying to uncover his memories continues, and Tess uses a telepath to help her communicate with the world outside Lex's brain. I enjoy the Lex and Tess storyline, but Lex is so unlike himself (for many reasons) that it is a little bittersweet.
The idea that "ghosts from his past" are going to keep coming for him despite him not even knowing what he's done is . . . interesting. Though I think it also has the potential to make the narrative sort of muddy. Like, is it fair to blame Lex for things he legitimately doesn't know about/can't remember? Especially since most of the things he was blamed for on the show, he didn't actually do (but that's another rant.)
Meanwhile, Chloe is able to harvest some of the memories from her parallel-self's body and is horrified by the events that took place on "Earth 2." I admit I'm not very invested in the looming "Crisis" plotline, and I'm also not the biggest fan of Chloe and Oliver, so these parts fell a little flat for me . . Jimenez illustrates a chillingly effective "Ultraman," though.
Overall, this was a solid volume. I appreciated the upgrade in the art and the storylines are starting to come together.
July 3, 2017
Omg, part of our I just wasn't sure what will happen and I hope I'm wrong about thinking what might have happened to one of the characters. The ending was really good.
February 11, 2014
Yes! This book was great. After (what I thought was) a mediocre second trade, this book comes back with a great story. Bart being chased by the black racer and his buddy Clark wants to help out by helping him connect with a speedster from the past. Love the Justice Society tie-in, the new costume designs, and the break neck pace (sorry...had to put in a speedy saying) of the story. This book is also full of little nuances that help explain some details we didn't know. For example, I never knew Clark was faster before he learned to fly. Who knew?! All in all, a great story about what heroes really need to do...which is face their demons. Literally, in this case. ;)
October 1, 2013
Everything was perfectly fine with this storyline, until A: They turned it into a Flash story and B: They brought back Electric Superman. Definitely hope the next book brings things back to the previous novels' excellence.
December 15, 2023
Smallville: Season 11 Vol. 3: Haunted
Lex Luthor tries to unlock his memories and get rid of the mental imprint of his sister. Meanwhile, Bart Allen asks for Superman to help him as he is being chased by an entity of the Speed Force. The consequences of Clark's decision will change his life forever.
The story is good and moves all the characters forward, but the artwork is very poor in certain respects. None of the characters look like they are finished properly. A lot of detail is missing and, when you are basing your models on characters already seen on screen, there is no excuse for them not even attempting an accurate likeness even on cover art.
Lex Luthor tries to unlock his memories and get rid of the mental imprint of his sister. Meanwhile, Bart Allen asks for Superman to help him as he is being chased by an entity of the Speed Force. The consequences of Clark's decision will change his life forever.
The story is good and moves all the characters forward, but the artwork is very poor in certain respects. None of the characters look like they are finished properly. A lot of detail is missing and, when you are basing your models on characters already seen on screen, there is no excuse for them not even attempting an accurate likeness even on cover art.
January 5, 2018
A solid improvement over the first two volumes, Haunted presents a solidly entertaining story for all characters involved. Miller pushes the story in unexpected directions, and it's a delight! For the first time since starting this series, I finally feel like I'm reading the characters from Smallville.
The art is better in this volume. It's appropriately more fluid here (just in time for Impulse), but the likenesses remain mostly unattained.
The art is better in this volume. It's appropriately more fluid here (just in time for Impulse), but the likenesses remain mostly unattained.
October 23, 2016
TESSSSSSS
September 6, 2019
I have been forever emotionally scarred because of this volume. That is all.
November 4, 2019
I have so many problems with these issues and a lot of it has to do with my least favorite character taking up too much time. Point blank, I hate Chloe with a white hot burning passion that consumes my very essence. Therefore, focusing on her and worse, her Earth Two doppelganger might possibly be the worst thing any writer could force upon me. The only good thing I can say about Earth One Chloe is that she didn't make me hate Oliver, which can't be said of the Earth Two versions of both characters.
The other big problem I had with these issues had to do with Bart, the Black Racer, and his speed. First, Bart's redesign for his comeback is truly hideous. I don't understand why they gave him a weird buzzcut but he looks like a shorn sheep. The goggles might be the only part I enjoy, a nod to his mainstream universe counterpart. Seeing Jay and Bart be at odds was more than a little jarring and the idea of them keeping the fact that the Black Racer had stalked/was stalking them a secret rubbed me the wrong way. I'm glad Bart got a big damn hero moment at least to make up for it.
I've come to enjoy here than I ever did in the show, so when
The other big problem I had with these issues had to do with Bart, the Black Racer, and his speed. First, Bart's redesign for his comeback is truly hideous. I don't understand why they gave him a weird buzzcut but he looks like a shorn sheep. The goggles might be the only part I enjoy, a nod to his mainstream universe counterpart. Seeing Jay and Bart be at odds was more than a little jarring and the idea of them keeping the fact that the Black Racer had stalked/was stalking them a secret rubbed me the wrong way. I'm glad Bart got a big damn hero moment at least to make up for it.
I've come to enjoy here than I ever did in the show, so when
March 20, 2025
The continuation of the Smallville show is interesting because I don't know that people wanted the show to continue. This wasn't a terrible book but there is no exposition so it was very hard to figure out what was going on or why it mattered. What did matter was a decent team-up with Impulse and Tess's haunting of Lex. Other than that, everything else was subpar. This is a book that easy to forget. The art was fine even trying to get characters to look like their TV counterparts. Overall, this is a story that no one was clamoring for and it reads like it.
July 2, 2024
The Return of Impulse
Bart Allen Returns for an arc in which Superman has to deal with a ghist from the speed forces in order to help his friend.
A particular Sperman comic suit debuts in the universe of Smallville, with practical function that resolves a problem from a previous story. And some cameos of dc characters.
Also we see progress of the Earth Two Chloe story and the Tess arc. A Crisis is coming
Good overall.
Bart Allen Returns for an arc in which Superman has to deal with a ghist from the speed forces in order to help his friend.
A particular Sperman comic suit debuts in the universe of Smallville, with practical function that resolves a problem from a previous story. And some cameos of dc characters.
Also we see progress of the Earth Two Chloe story and the Tess arc. A Crisis is coming
Good overall.
August 6, 2018
I'm glad I decided to keep reading these, because this one was fantastic!
I loved seeing Bart (Impulse) again, even though I do think it looked absolutely nothing like the actor. The ending was heartbreaking, but at least there was a positive part with Tess that helped ease the pain. (No spoilers.)
I loved seeing Bart (Impulse) again, even though I do think it looked absolutely nothing like the actor. The ending was heartbreaking, but at least there was a positive part with Tess that helped ease the pain. (No spoilers.)
January 24, 2025
Review is for the first 8 arcs in the Smallville Season 11 line
The tone and style of the main characters is there, and the storylines feel like they belong in the same 'verse, but two many gaps in the flow, to many unestablished new players, to many jumps back and forth between plots and present/past tales makes for an individually enjoyable but overall unsatisfying read.
The tone and style of the main characters is there, and the storylines feel like they belong in the same 'verse, but two many gaps in the flow, to many unestablished new players, to many jumps back and forth between plots and present/past tales makes for an individually enjoyable but overall unsatisfying read.
January 14, 2018
Lex trying to get secrets from his mind thru Tess. Flash comes in for help with the creature that follows him, Chole pregnant, and they revive digital Tess?
November 3, 2018
I really love that this series has been continued in a graphic novel! I am a little upset about one of the things that happened in this volume but it won't discourage me from reading the rest!
January 15, 2020
Really entertaining.
January 9, 2021
these are getting better and better.
why would they kill off bart tho.... please say sike i love him
why would they kill off bart tho.... please say sike i love him
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2021
A little false advertising but saved by a decent story. Lex Luthor being the great douchebag that he is holds this together.
July 26, 2021
This one was ok-ish.. even though the story is pretty mediocre the artwork was good and it was way way better than the last one.
Read only if you're a fan of the show.
Read only if you're a fan of the show.
June 24, 2023
Tedious. None of the earlier volumes charm.
November 11, 2024
WELCOME BACK TESS MERCER.
February 27, 2025
Just feels like fluff. I need to push through this series
July 29, 2025
Please tell me Ollie and Chloe come back later!?!? Oliver is my favorite.
September 2, 2025
i think this is the first issue i’ve read that really felt like a true episode of smallville. also wowww what a heartbreaking ending
September 20, 2025
Ghosts in the shell. Speed demons. Crisis is coming. Loss and gain.
June 19, 2014
I was shocked how much I enjoyed this book. I won it through a Goodreads giveaway. I've been catching up on the tv show and had a passing interest, but didn't expect it to really hook me like it did. The first issue or so is a little hard to follow since I was jumping in with volume 3, but I knew enough from the tv show that I caught up pretty quickly. After that, it was all just gravy. The story kicked up and just went all out and I was completely caught up in it.
I think part of what made it so good is that it's the best Superman book that I've read since the New 52 began. It's got a very established universe to build off of, to the point that it almost feels more like a team title. It's clearly centered on Clark, but there's such a diverse and interesting cast of characters that it feels bigger than that.
At the same time, Bryan Miller manages to weave in little character moments that make it all feel that much more close to home. Especially some of the moments with Clark and Lois or Bart. I'm going to contradict myself, though, because for as much as it felt like there were all these great moments, it still felt extremely full and a little rushed. Like there were a lot of points being glossed over in the interest of getting everything into a set number of issues. It's not perfect, but it's very entertaining and I think it's a great continuation of these characters' stories.
The other main drawback is the art. It's still very high quality, just not my style. It's a shiny look that I think takes away from the characters and what's happening on the page. It's still good, just not what if pick out of a lineup.
This book has probably sold me on following Smallville: Season Eleven. I don't recommend you start here, but absolutely explore this corner of the DCU.
I think part of what made it so good is that it's the best Superman book that I've read since the New 52 began. It's got a very established universe to build off of, to the point that it almost feels more like a team title. It's clearly centered on Clark, but there's such a diverse and interesting cast of characters that it feels bigger than that.
At the same time, Bryan Miller manages to weave in little character moments that make it all feel that much more close to home. Especially some of the moments with Clark and Lois or Bart. I'm going to contradict myself, though, because for as much as it felt like there were all these great moments, it still felt extremely full and a little rushed. Like there were a lot of points being glossed over in the interest of getting everything into a set number of issues. It's not perfect, but it's very entertaining and I think it's a great continuation of these characters' stories.
The other main drawback is the art. It's still very high quality, just not my style. It's a shiny look that I think takes away from the characters and what's happening on the page. It's still good, just not what if pick out of a lineup.
This book has probably sold me on following Smallville: Season Eleven. I don't recommend you start here, but absolutely explore this corner of the DCU.
September 1, 2020
Loved it
Kept picturing the actors. Would have loved seeing this in live action. But so glad the show continued in comic form.
Kept picturing the actors. Would have loved seeing this in live action. But so glad the show continued in comic form.
December 2, 2016
There's a lot going on in this volume -
Thanks to STAR Labs, Chloe and Oliver are closer to finding out some of the secrets of Chloe's doppelganger: Lex is closing in on his sister problem; can Clocktower help before Lex can uncover the truth? Is there a way for Superman to evade Lex from tracking him? Then there's battles with Psimon and a group of monkeys led by a gorilla with a brain in a backpack. All of this along with the main story thread of Bart "Impulse" Allen turning up in Metropolis needing help as he's being chased by an evil speed demon and the only person who can help is the original Flash... Jay Garrick.
Phew, you'd think that would be hard to handle, all the ongoing backstories, as well as a main, but Bryan Q Miller does a wonderful job of holding it together. Better yet, he keeps the lightness and fun (after all you do have monkeys led by a gorilla with a brain in a backpack) from the second volume going throughout this one.
The artwork is very good - the dark speed demon is particularly well drawn by Jorge Jimenez. The silhouette of which reminded me of DC's New 52 version of Johnny Quick.
Once again, this series goes from strength to strength and has gotten better with each volume. However, it would be better to read the previous issues to catch up on the ongoing storylines as they are starting to get a little more complex.
Thanks to STAR Labs, Chloe and Oliver are closer to finding out some of the secrets of Chloe's doppelganger: Lex is closing in on his sister problem; can Clocktower help before Lex can uncover the truth? Is there a way for Superman to evade Lex from tracking him? Then there's battles with Psimon and a group of monkeys led by a gorilla with a brain in a backpack. All of this along with the main story thread of Bart "Impulse" Allen turning up in Metropolis needing help as he's being chased by an evil speed demon and the only person who can help is the original Flash... Jay Garrick.
Phew, you'd think that would be hard to handle, all the ongoing backstories, as well as a main, but Bryan Q Miller does a wonderful job of holding it together. Better yet, he keeps the lightness and fun (after all you do have monkeys led by a gorilla with a brain in a backpack) from the second volume going throughout this one.
The artwork is very good - the dark speed demon is particularly well drawn by Jorge Jimenez. The silhouette of which reminded me of DC's New 52 version of Johnny Quick.
Once again, this series goes from strength to strength and has gotten better with each volume. However, it would be better to read the previous issues to catch up on the ongoing storylines as they are starting to get a little more complex.
November 2, 2013
Thanks first reads,Bryan Q.Miller,Jorge Jimenez & Scott Kolins for giving away this book on First Reads! I have finished this comic & here is Story Summary/My Review.
In these stories from issues #9-12, mysterious speed storms have struck across the globe, and a familiar face returns to help Clark to stop them. Then, Lex moves against Tess to reveal what she knows about The Man of Steel, and the secrets of Earth-Two Chloe are revealed!
I like the way this book is written. The comic book itself goes to a thrilling part and then stops.When that part stops it starts yet another part in a calm setting then it leads up to the thriller. Alot of great suspense leading up to the different parts of the comic book. Your ready for the suspense and the thriller to fill you and it does! This is not what I expected out of this comic but it is really a good read.Some copies even include the new suits/looks for Bart & Black Flash. This is a comic about superman & friends. This comic is almost everywhere. I'm not saying it is a good comic/book I am just saying I didnt know where to stop/start reading. If you are getting it for a child be wary of some cursing in the comic. Thank you First Reads & Author & Illustrators for giving me an opportunity to rate/review & read this comic book.
In these stories from issues #9-12, mysterious speed storms have struck across the globe, and a familiar face returns to help Clark to stop them. Then, Lex moves against Tess to reveal what she knows about The Man of Steel, and the secrets of Earth-Two Chloe are revealed!
I like the way this book is written. The comic book itself goes to a thrilling part and then stops.When that part stops it starts yet another part in a calm setting then it leads up to the thriller. Alot of great suspense leading up to the different parts of the comic book. Your ready for the suspense and the thriller to fill you and it does! This is not what I expected out of this comic but it is really a good read.Some copies even include the new suits/looks for Bart & Black Flash. This is a comic about superman & friends. This comic is almost everywhere. I'm not saying it is a good comic/book I am just saying I didnt know where to stop/start reading. If you are getting it for a child be wary of some cursing in the comic. Thank you First Reads & Author & Illustrators for giving me an opportunity to rate/review & read this comic book.
July 28, 2014
Bizzare speed storms are breaking out all over the world, super-speeding random people then draining them of life. An old friend returns to help Superman uncover the cause and put a stop to this menace.
Meanwhile Lex Luthor is making use of the memory device previously seen in the Smallville TV series, to try to tap into the memories of Tess Mercer, who's consciousness is currently trapped in his head. Time is growing short for Tess as she tries to contact her former allies
Smallville season 11 seems to be getting better and better as the series progresses. This episode see's the return of Impulse and a foray into "Flash mythology"
It's difficult to review this without giving too much away. But there's some great geek-out moments in this book, among them a visit to the JSA headquarters, the appearance of Black Flash, and an appearance by Jay Garrick
Fantastic read.
4/5
Meanwhile Lex Luthor is making use of the memory device previously seen in the Smallville TV series, to try to tap into the memories of Tess Mercer, who's consciousness is currently trapped in his head. Time is growing short for Tess as she tries to contact her former allies
Smallville season 11 seems to be getting better and better as the series progresses. This episode see's the return of Impulse and a foray into "Flash mythology"
It's difficult to review this without giving too much away. But there's some great geek-out moments in this book, among them a visit to the JSA headquarters, the appearance of Black Flash, and an appearance by Jay Garrick
Fantastic read.
4/5
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews