Searching for Beppo

For years, faithful viewers have remained absorbed in the Smallville universe. We have anticipated and then enjoyed every new episode, excitedly devoured reruns broadcast on television and released on DVD, and eagerly consumed extra content online and in print. Lately, however, a gaping void has opened in the world of Smallville that has left many of us feeling, rightfully, as if something wonderful has been taken away.

In seasons past, viewers were able to visit the official WB sites for the Smallville Ledger and Smallville High's paper, the Torch. During Season 4, the number of new articles available weekly dropped from three or four down to one, and at the end of the season, both online papers ceased to publish any more articles. The cessation of Torch articles was explained by Chloe Sullivan's departure from high school, and the Ledger's was explained by the destruction of the Ledger offices in the 2005 meteor shower. With the disappearance of the Ledger came something even harder to handle-- the disappearance of Christopher James Beppo.

We know Christopher James Beppo as the man behind the Ezra Small Project. This unassuming reporter is the one who uncovered Ezra Small's journals and began publishing selections from them online in the Ledger, then at the Ezra Small House, then in Smallville: The Official Magazine and at Snow Days. We have seen his work exploring these old diaries and have looked forward to new material from him in the aforementioned media. However, Christopher James Beppo has been missing in action since the meteor shower of 2005.

Beppo's last article appeared (and still appears) at the Ledger site. In it, he explains how the Ledger building was destroyed in the shower and how he was uncertain whether the Ledger would ever rise again. Since then, there have been updates to the snowflakes, but not much else. Smallville: The Official Magazine has stopped publishing monthly issues, now publishing every other month, and there has been no Beppo article for the last two issues.

Shirkie's Ezra Small Prophecies Site has catalogued all things Ezra Small and, by proxy, all things Christopher James Beppo for more than a year now. This site is the most comprehensive examination of the Ezra Small Project available on the web, and the WB has acknowledged its presence three times in Smallville: The Official Magazine. It is this recognition and status that drives me to boldly pose a question on behalf of all Ezra Small and Beppo fans to The Powers That Be:

Where has Beppo gone, and when can we expect him back?

The Smallville community who follows his work is dedicated and deserves more than a vague disappearance. We have displayed enthusiasm and devotion to Smallville that far exceeds casual viewership and seek the truth about our favorite online journalist and, of course, Ezra Small himself. If anyone has answers regarding the whereabouts of Christopher James Beppo, I ask that he or she come forward and share it with the rest of us because, as a journalist of Beppo's caliber would surely attest, the people have a right to know.

UPDATE!

Not too long after this open letter was published, the Ezra Small Prophecies began again over at the Ezra Small House! It is definitely wonderful to have Beppo back. See what he has most recently made available to fans at the Hidden Prophecy (Part VII and onward). Also, it appears Beppo is a part of Lex Luthor's Project Mercury. We fans are most grateful for Mr. Beppo's return and wish him the best of luck with his new Luthorcorp endeavor.