Hopeful Heroes?

As many of you probably know (and as dotsomething has already talked about), NBC will be adding a show called Heroes to its lineup this fall. The show is about several people around the world who suddenly develop super-powers, and what happens next. It sounded somewhat interesting, although I haven't had much use for NBC since I stopped watching Frasier, and even though it's clearly another never-ending story in the mold of Lost.

I am beginning to think, however, that this could be a big deal after all.

First off, the producers of the show have been sending a rough cut of the pilot to critics. Including to Rich Johnston, whose "Lying in the Gutters" is one of the best sources for comic book industry news and speculation on the Net. (That they realize his voice will matter to comic book fans is already a good sign.)

And he really likes the pilot. So does a critic at USA Today.

But there's bigger news. The staff of this show will now include Jeph Loeb. Loeb is, for those who don't know comics, one of the best writers in the field, the man behind my all-time favorite Superman comic, Superman for All Seasons, among other things. He's also an established TV producer and writer, having worked on Smallville and Lost. He knows heroes, he knows writing, he knows TV.

Guess I might have to check this out after all (even though I feel like three shows a week is already enough).