TV Guide's Ask Ausiello hinted last week that one of Smallville's leading ladies will die in the upcoming Season 6 episode 12 "Labyrinth", scheduled to air Thursday January 25. The death has been revealed to be... *SPOILER ALERT*
Chloe Sullivan, played by Allison Mack. Allison Mack does appear as Chloe in the following episodes, so clearly this is not a permanent death, but the temporary or imaginary death so often seen in comic books and science fiction television. Promotional photos from the episode released by the CW this week (available at SmallvillePH.com) also reveal that Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) is in a wheelchair with his legs amputated above the knees. According to other spoilers for this episode, it takes place in an imagined universe within Clark's subconscious, a scenario wherein Clark's superpowers may be imaginary and only Chloe believes in him (and is considered insane.) John Jones, the Martian Manhunter (Phil Morris) also returns in this episode, using his telepathic powers to save Clark by inserting himself into the fantasy world in Clark's mind. The dream sequence also features Lana Lang as Clark's high school sweetheart, Martha (Annette O'Toole) married to Lionel Luthor (John Glover), and references to Jor-El, Arthur Curry, and Professor Milton Fine, among others. Lois Lane (Erica Durance) does not appear in the episode at all. Smallville Season 6 Episode 12 s06e12 (Sources: tvguide.com, spoilerfix.com, kryptonsite.com)