"Smallville" Season Nine will see Tom Welling take on a on some new roles, at least one of which has the former Calvin Klein model dressing up in a costume that resembles The Punisher more that it does The Man of Steel. Clark Kent will put on a big, black jacket and "S" logo for the upcoming season, while Welling claims the director's chair for at least one episode.
Season Nine, which premiers on September 25 with its first episode, "Savior," will finally make Clark grow up and transition into Superman as it brings on guest writer Geoff Johns for an episode. The season will also feature guest stars Metallo, General Zod and the Wonder Twins, according to Screen Rant.
Clark's new, all-black look recalls Superman's post-resurrection look following his death at the hands of Doomsday in the comics. The long black jacket, though, gives him a little bit of an edge in the tradition of Frank Castle or Lorenzo Lamas in "Renegade."
Since we know that the boy who would become Superman will be making some difficult decisions in Season Nine that involve taking on the Superman identity full-time, it will be interesting to see what kind of Superman he becomes and whether this darker look influences his heroics.
What do you think of Clark Kent's new look for "Smallville" in Season 9? Do you want to see Clark give up his civilian life to focus on his Superman duties? Share your your reactions below.