'Heroes' - New Television, Old Idea?

On Wednesday night, when my beloved partner is of stitching and bitching, I actually sat down and watched some television. I rarely watch any television these days, as I'm usually too busy, and prefer to be advertisement free and watch a DVD or go to the movies. So that night I watched Heroes and thoroughly enjoyed it. My friends, however, all certified card carrying nerds, did not. It is very similar, perhaps too much so, to J. Michael Straczynski's Rising Stars Comic book. It was first published in 2000 under Joe's Comics, which is an imprint of the Image group. Now if you go and read the comic, available in trade paperback, you will see why J. Michael Straczynski is rumoured to be suing the producers of Heroes. They seem to have changed just enough to perhaps get away with it, but coming episodes will determine that. For other non-nerd people J.M. Straczynski also created Babylon Five and is less well know for writing for Murder She Wrote. J.M. Straczynski's first trade paperback of Rising Stars - Born In Fire is definitely worth reading, the second book unfortunately less so. My feeling is that he should have wrapped up the story in two trade paperbacks or even just one larger book. Heroes does immediately differ from Rising Stars in the sense that the characters begin the series (relatively) unaware of any special powers. Within Rising Stars, however, they are tracked by the government and labelled as 'specials' from childhood. The concept does however feel the same as it revolves around a large number of people manifesting 'powers'. Some of the characters are definitely more likeable and interesting than others. And certainly a couple of characters feel a little tired already. But it seems to have a huge ensemble cast to begin with. My favourite character already is the artist junkie whose powers only manifest when he is high and scare the shit out of him afterwards. So despite him not wanting to have powers of precognition, his addiction eventually drives him to having his power manifest itself. All up for a pilot episode I found myself enjoying it despite the nerd posse bagging it. If you liked X-men II you will like Heroes methinks. And if you don't like it then you can watch Prison Break afterwards! 3/5 stars for a rip off of Rising Stars.