Off My Mind: Chloe Sullivan in Superman Comics

In television's Smallville show, Chloe Sullivan is Clark Kent's best friend. She's known about his superpowers since the beginning and has helped protect that secret. This was one of the show's biggest departures from the Superman mythos since she was created for the show and never appeared in a comic book (I won't go into all the others differences between the show and comic). 
 
Speculation began and viewers wondered if Chloe's character would die before Clark made the transformation into Superman. In what appeared to be a remedy, DC Comics made plans in 2007 for Chloe to appear in the current issues. Despite comic images appearing online, the dilemma was how to integrate her into Superman's history based on his past in comics and what went on during the television show.  
     

Chloe finally made her official debut in the Jimmy Olsen back up stories in Action Comics last year. Similar to events from the show, Chloe now had a history with Jimmy. Even though she was never mentioned before, it is now established that she is Jimmy's ex-girlfriend. Is it really necessary for Chloe to have a role in DC Comics? 
 == TEASER == 

This is simply another matter of taking a new character and thrusting them into the existing history of other characters. Jimmy has never really been the center of attention in comics but for long time readers, it feels odd that suddenly he has another ex-girlfriend (Jimmy's only real girlfriend has been Lucy Lane). We may not know all the details of Jimmy's personal life but when did this take place? 
 
Based on Jimmy's interaction and jealousy over Chloe's activities in the story, the conclusion can be made that they went on more than just a couple dates. There is a history between them, a history we never knew about and are supposed to accept. 
 
Chloe Sullivan has a strong fan base from the television show. There's likely to be many that have never read a Superman comic. It's understandable that her appearing now could bring in new readers. If so, that's great. Other than that, I'm having a hard time accepting the need for her to be injected into the DC Comics universe, especially since this is the final season of the show. She may have fans but this isn't the same Chloe that TV viewers know. On the show she's an asset to Clark Kent. In the comics, all we've really seen is bitterness and a need for competition between herself and Jimmy. 
 

The other questions is, besides a past relationship with Jimmy, where does she stand with Clark and Lois? Is she still Lois Lane's cousin? There was also a mention in Geoff Johns' Superman: Secret Origin #1 when a young Pete Ross breaks his arm and her name is sort of seen on his cast. Did Chloe go to high school with Clark? That would make her older than Jimmy but they appear close in age in the recent stories. If Chloe did go to Smallville High, does she know Clark's secret. It doesn't seem like that's the case. (There was also another mention of Chloe on a post-it note on Lois' computer).
 
I don't have a problem with Chloe's character. I just don't see the point in bringing her into the comics after almost ten years of television appearances. Why has it taken so long? If this Chloe is different and the name on Pete's cast was a joke or a coincidence, that's fine. If her inclusion into the DC Universe means Jimmy can have more of his own supporting cast, that's great. At this point in time, it would make more sense for her to be part of Jimmy's past rather than part of Clark's. I just find it hard to accept that she could have been a major part of Clark's past in Smallville and we've never heard about it.