Enduring and virtually unstoppable, the Man Of Steel is a survivor.

Now in its eighth season, "Smallville's" unlikely perseverance mirrors its star hero, giving The CW a much needed crutch.

But with the grim implication surrounding the arrival of the notorious villain Doomsday (in the comic he snuffed Superman in an epic showdown), and the usual questions of the show's future looming, where do we go from here? Actor Tom Welling may not be back. And is a ninth season worth the journey should he return?

The departure of executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar following the conclusion of Season 7 marked a critical point for the series' durability. Also evident from their exit was an opportunity to inject fresh perspectives.

Stepping in to fill the void as co-runners are long time producers Darren Swimmer, Kelly Souders, Todd Slavkin and Brian Peterson. They bring a darker edge to the series, and an immediate kick.

Throughout the series' run we've seen a mix of quality, including the strikingly good and forgettable. Often, episodes tread a middle ground. They may not be bad, but oh my, they can be monotonous. The show shines when it embraces the epic mythology of the comics and twists its plots to new heights.

The Lana Lang saga from Kristin Kreuk is a prime example of treading water and recycling old ideas. I won't nail actress Kreuk with fault here. The writers mercilessly drove her through so many repetitive moments that many fans are relieved by her Season 8 exit.

Also gone this season is Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum). Unlike Lana, his presence often provided the show's best moments, and the writers seemed to execute his character arc with greater confidence. Rosenbaum was fantastic in the role, owning it like no past actors have.

He will be missed, but it's time other villains take the stage.

Slipping into LuthorCorp's vacant throne is Tess Mercer (Cassidy Freeman), an amalgamation of Miss Teschmacher (from the "Superman" films) and Mercy Graves (from the DC animated universe and comics). Replacing Lex is no small task, but Freeman is surefooted in the role and shows promise. Best yet, Mercer's desire to form an Injustice League, staffed by supervillains, is a sensible and exciting development, providing a much needed counterbalance to Clark and the Justice League.

The addition of DC characters like Maxima (Charlotte Sullivan), or Plastique (Jessica Parker Kennedy) to Mercer's team, fuels buzz for "Smallville." The comic community is particularly interested in these developments, as recent rating spikes show, such as Doomsday's (Sam Witwer) debut in "Bride."

Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley), also known as Green Arrow, is another example of adding DC goodness to the mix. His arrival brings a refreshing perspective.

Like Batman in the comics, Green Arrow is not afraid to dish a reality check on the Man Of Steel. He represents brash action to Clark's compassionate, restrained sentiment.

Much credit goes to Hartley for transforming Green Arrow into a breakout character. His inclusion as a series regular gives the season just the boost needed to survive the loss of Lex.

Along with Green Arrow, the Justice League incorporates another interesting, if underused, dimension. Consisting of Aquaman (Alan Ritchson), Cyborg (Lee Thompson Young), Impulse (Kyle Gallner), and Black Canary (Alaina Huffman), the team operates behind the scenes, combating LuthorCorp operations around the globe.

Another future team member, Martian Manhunter (Phil Morris), plays the critical role of mentoring Clark through his destiny. Though obvious budget concerns limit these heroes' screen time, it's safe to say that expanding their roles would be an invigorating step.

Unfortunately not all introductions of DC characters soar. Take Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (Laura Vandervoort) for instance. I was jazzed for this one. The post-Crisis Supergirl and the Matrix (the 1987-02 Supergirl) are my favorite comic characters.

But after Kara's Season 7 arrival, her story quickly fizzled. It's like the writers failed to plot her arc past mid-season.

The story possibilities here were ripe. However, we were presented several spiritless developments and a beauty pageant. A deep disappointment, especially considering she's a Kryptonian.

Even moments as simple as a discussion about life on Krypton failed to surface in any meaningful way.

With a squandered storyline, and speculation of a possible spinoff stalled, she instead exited the series in the Season 8 episode "Bloodline." Kara departed with the undignified and unnecessary line, "I don?t fit in here. My journey?s somewhere else." Please, where?s my Kleenex? I don?t buy it.

Among these recent character additions stands the remaining series regulars, Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack), Lois Lane (Erica Durance) and Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore). Like Welling, they excel in their roles. But from the beginning, Chloe quickly earned her place as "Smallville's" best character next to Lex.

Mack?s a gifted actress and is now the show?s crowning jewel. Losing her from the cast would be a grim day.

As for Lois, it?s great seeing her and Clark finally working together at the Daily Planet, complete with their witty banter. You immediately sense a new show is forming in these scenes.

Could we have a "Lois And Clark" retread here? No, that show was an exercise in cute and campy fun. "Smallville" works on a far broader palette.

Some critics and disgruntled fans note that "Smallville" now exceeds its welcome and deserves a hasty retirement. I?m not part of that camp. There?s a part of me, especially the comic fan within, that is flat out averse with the notion of concluding the series now. Though I am open to spinoffs (Green Arrow and the Justice League vs. the Legion Of Doom would be an ideal "geeky" solution).

Simply put, the very point Clark now stands in the series is the very point in his life where things get captivating. After all, his life in Smallville is a minor footnote lost in the legendary tales of Superman. Metropolis, the Daily Planet, the Justice League's growth, and donning the red cape are all areas presenting the program with fresh and exciting material, some untapped in the live action arena.

That said, a key question remains: Is the current creative staff up to the challenge?

Their show's foundation is backed by the vast DC universe sandbox, an overwhelming wellspring of over a half century of comics. Countless tales, heroes, and villains illustrate a broad road map to the show?s possible future.

With such a staggering arsenal at the writers' disposal, creative and engaging stories should be a given, not a rare highlight. If Swimmer, Souders, Slavkin and Peterson can successfully mine this history with respectful hands we may have the best moments before us.

The Jan. 15 episode "Legion" is looking to be just one of those moments. What I enjoyed about the episode?s latest trailer, which includes scenes of "Bulletproof," is the mythic tone.

The imagery suggested by the trailer invokes the excitement of what a Superman tale represents. We have Metropolis residents staring upward in wonder, a child inspired to play hero in a makeshift costume, legendary heroes and villains backed by decades of back story, and some cool music.

Plus, the best part, Geoff Johns is aboard to write "Legion," a famous story from Clark?s early days detailing his meeting with the Legion of Super-Heroes (introduced by DC Comics in 1958). Johns is one of DC Comic's best writers and a perfect candidate to pen such a special episode. In fact, he would make an outstanding addition to the writing staff. Who better to guide "Smallville" than the people responsible for its source material?

Overall, I?m comfortable with Gough's and Millar's departure. The new co-producers are showing an aptitude toward change, and their initial episodes this season are for the most part reassuring. The darker vibe and increasing stakes are particularly enlivening.

With a possible ninth season on the horizon, including spinoff potential, adapting the old regime?s vision to accelerate Clark's destiny as Superman is just the spark necessary for an entertaining and transcendent future.

"Smallville" airs on The CW Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET. It returns Jan. 15 with new episodes.

Bryant Griffin is the lead designer and a staff writer of Airlock Alpha, writing out of Tampa, Fla. He can be reached at bgriffin@airlockalpha.com.