Like NFL teams eager to sign their promising young stars to long-term contracts, TV networks are exercising their options on hit series at the first available opportunity.  The WB Network has announced the renewal of Smallville for the 2002-2003 television season almost two months earlier than such decisions were made public in the past.  Smallville, which depicts the formative teenage years of Clark Kent (aka Superman -- see 'No Tights, No Flights'), has earned both the critical acclaim and ratings to make it one of the most successful new TV series of the current season.  For pop culture retailers who sell comic books, Smallville provides the presence on the small screen equivalent to increasing numbers of comic-based theatrical films.  Even better, a growing list of Smallville-related merchandise that includes PVCs (see 'DC Direct Will Do Smallville PVCs'), a comic series (see 'Smallville Comic in 2002') and action figures (see 'DC Direct Will Do Smallville Action Figures') will provide retailers with the means to profit from this engaging series.  The WB's swift renewal of Smallville means that retailers can plan on having the series on the at least through the next television season.

And more merchandise is on the way -- Inkworks has announced on its Website that it has acquired the license to create Smallville trading cards.  Given its expertise at appealing to collectors, Inkworks, which currently produces extremely successful trading cards for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and The X-Files, is a perfect choice to create Smallville cards.  At this point no details about the timing or the makeup of the Smallville cards are available, but keep checking with ICv2; we will provide the complete product information as soon as it is available.

Look down the road toward next season, the WB network has commissioned a pilot based on the DC Comics series Birds of Prey from the same production company that does Smallville.  With its bevy of beautiful (and powerful) female protagonists, Birds of Prey might prove to be a very interesting series, though it is still a long way from actually being broadcast.  Still the more successful Smallville is, the more likely it is that Birds of Prey will receive strong consideration from the WB.  Stay tuned for details.