Ottawa Comiccon wraps up its 13th edition today, Sunday, September 13, and one of the biggest draws has been a Smallville cast reunion featuring Erica Durance, the actress who took on one of comics' toughest roles to follow: Lois Lane.
Stepping Into Lois Lane's Shoes
Durance joined Smallville in Season 4 as Lois Lane, the sharp-tongued Daily Planet reporter, a role that had already been shaped by decades of film and TV interpretations before her. She's said the pressure of taking on such a well-known character came with advice she still carries. Durance has quoted Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane in the original Superman films, as telling her: "Never let them see you sweat."
It's a line that speaks to just how much scrutiny comes with stepping into an iconic role, and one Durance has held onto years after her Smallville run ended. Acting wasn't always the plan for her, either. Durance has said that before she got into acting, she wanted to study child psychology, a detail that points to a path that looked very different before Smallville came calling.
The Reunion at the Cohere Centre
Ottawa Comiccon runs Friday, September 11 through today, Sunday, September 13, at the Cohere Centre (4899 Uplands Dr.), formerly known as the EY Centre. The convention's marquee draw this year is a reunion of four core Smallville cast members: Tom Welling, Erica Durance, Kristin Kreuk and Laura Vandervoort.
Fans attending have had the chance to meet the Smallville stars through autograph sessions, professional photo opportunities, general convention programming, and a special cast photo opportunity bringing all four together. For a show that ran for a decade and helped define an era of superhero television, having this many original cast members in one Ottawa venue at once is a rare draw for local fans.
Tom Welling is also headlining "Smallville Nights," a separately ticketed interactive event built around scenes from the series with audience participation, giving fans a more immersive way to revisit the show beyond the standard autograph line.
Who Else Is at This Year's Comiccon
The Smallville reunion isn't the only headline act. Ottawa Comiccon 2026, now in its 13th edition, has also brought in Famke Janssen along with Stargate stars Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks and Lexa Doig, giving the weekend a heavy dose of both DC and sci-fi nostalgia under one roof.
For Ottawa fans of Smallville, Stargate or the broader pop culture convention scene, today is the last chance to catch this lineup in person before the Cohere Centre clears out until next year's edition. With four Smallville leads together in the same city, and Durance reflecting on the advice and choices that shaped her time as Lois Lane, this year's Comiccon has leaned hard into nostalgia for a show that still has a devoted following in Ottawa and beyond.
Sources: Ottawa Life Magazine, Superman Super Site, GlobeNewswire (Ottawa Comiccon press release)
