While I've blogged a fair amount about food and genre television lately, it has been a while since I discussed comic books. Although I read them occasionally as a child, I became a fan in college in the late 1980s and have been collecting them (to read, not as some investment) ever since.

On most Wednesdays, co-worker Ken G. and I drive out to Bedrock Comics in Framingham, Massachusetts, during our lunch hour. I also pick up my subscription from New England Comics in Norwood, Mass., about once per month, and I try to stop by Newbury Comics and other shops when I get a chance.

Although graphic novels and a wide range of topics represent a maturing of the art form, I still enjoy superhero titles. Most are from the "big two" publishers, DC Comics and Marvel Comics, plus some from Dark Horse, Dynamite Entertainment, IDW, and Image. Of course, with the popularity of recent movies such as Iron Man and The Dark Knight, the prevalence of metahumans on TV in Heroes and Smallville, and games such as City of Heroes and Mutants & Masterminds 2nd Ed., I happen to be back in the mainstream.

I find the ideas of teamwork, justice, and adventure to be appealing, and I'm pleased that my nephews David and Joshua are a new generation of fans. I generally rate comic books in terms of the writing, artwork, and characters/universes involved.

Not all of the comics I regularly enjoy focus on the capes-and-tights crowd. Conan and Red Sonja (both of which had recent reboots) are based on Robert E. Howard's gritty sword-and-sorcery stories, and Prince of Heroes and Mouse Guard represent the best high fantasy for young audiences. Westerns such as Zorro (see above) and The Lone Ranger harken back to yesteryear with updated (i.e., more enlightened) sensibilities.

The Spirit has maintained Will Eisner's pulpy style and humor, but it remains to be seen how well Frank Miller will manage with his movie adaptation of that and Buck Rogers. For crime-fighting procedurals with metahumans similar to Heroes, there's Powers, while Umbrella Academy delves into weirder territory.

The only horror I've followed has been tie-ins to television shows: Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, Angel: After the Fall, and The Dresden Files. For space opera, the latest licensees for the Star Trek and Star Wars shared universes have done a decent job of continuing those franchises in Year Four and Clone Wars, respectively.

Speaking of nostalgia, photorealist artist Alex Ross is behind both DC's Justice Society of America and Marvel's Avengers/Invaders. While they require a knowledge, or at least an appreciation of Silver Age comics, they've been more consistent than either publisher's major crossover: DC's Final Crisis (and Justice League tie-ins) or Marvel's Secret Invasion. The latter story is more compelling because of Brian Michael Bendis' writing on the two Avengers teams.

The adolescent angst of the Teen Titans and various X-Men teams has been a bit predictable lately. My favorite all-ages superhero books, which are mercifully free of the above continuity and deconstructivism, are Marvel Adventures Avengers and Super Friends.

The best solo titles include Ed Brubaker's espionage-flavored Captain America and Paul Dini and company's psychological approach to Batman: Detective Comics, even though both violated longstanding rules of comic book writing in incapacitating their lead characters (Steve Rogers and Bruce Wayne) and resurrecting former sidekicks Bucky Barnes and Jason Todd, respectively. Grant Morrison's recently ended All-Star Superman also re-examined and yet exemplified traditional superheroes, and the other Superman (and Spider-Man) titles are particularly strong right now.

From Mike Grell's Longbow Hunters to Kevin Smith and Gail Simone's recent runs, I've been a fan of Oliver Queen's extended family in Green Arrow/Black Canary and Birds of Prey. If only the mythologies of Wonder Woman and Thor could untangled and expanded as successfully. Superheroines haven't been especially popular lately, with both Spider-Girl and Manhunter getting canceled again.

Friends, I hope you had a good weekend. Thanks to MySpace.com and Facebook, I've recently been able to reconnect with high school friends such as Ray C. and Frank D. after many years.

In addition to my birthday festivities, my boss took our unit out to a tasty lunch at the British Beer Company pub last Thursday. We've still been busy with at least one member of our five-person team out on most weeks this month, and I've also had some writing assignments.

On Saturday, 18 October 2008, I had to spend most of the morning at Boch Honda in Norwood, Massachusetts. While the repairs to my gas cap, tail light, and hood weren't too costly, they still required a lot of time, and I've begun thinking about replacing my vehicle. We had brunch at the International House of Pancakes, and I stopped by the so-called auto mile's big new Newbury Comics (the chain is better known for CDs, DVDs, and tchotchkes than for comic books).

The next morning, I skipped my supergroup's usual City of Heroes online game to go with Janice to the Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Shopper's World. We ate burritos at the new Chipotle, then attended an entertaining book signing by author Brian Jacques, who is best known for his "Redwall" children's fantasy novels.

Speaking of fantasy and role-playing, while Dexter V.H. has missed several D&D3.5 "Vanished Lands: Holy Steel" teleconferencing sessions lately, Beruk A. may be joining him and Byron V.O. in that adventuring party. The face-to-face D&D4e "Vanished Lands: the Faith-Based Initiative" group misses John C.M., who moved to Maryland, but Greg D.C.'s friend Dave C. has just joined us.

Later on Sunday, Janice and I met Thomas K.Y. at the sprawling Natick Collection shopping mall for an early dinner. We ended up at the Met Burger Bar, which we liked. Thomas and I have organized nongaming activities for the Boston-area social groups, but I'm disappointed that relatively few of our acquaintances are interested in celebrating Halloween (my favorite holiday) this year.

Coming soon: Comic book and genre television roundups!

As most people who read my blog know by now, I've been a longtime fan of space opera. Entertainment Weekly recently released photographs of the upcoming Star Trek reboot movie.

While I might have preferred to continue stories in Gene Roddenberry's shared universe from the end of The Next Generation/Deep Space Nine era, I do think the cast, costumes, and sets of J.J. Abrams' film look promising. Of course, the plot and script matter most, and I'm cautiously optimistic that Roddenberry's idealistic, humanist vision of a "wagon train to the stars" will be revived.

Live long and prosper…

Thanks again to all who sent birthday wishes! I appreciate them all, and middle age doesn't (yet) feel different from being in my 30s. Thanks to Janice, I'll be feasting on lasagna and chocolate cake tonight!

My first decade (1968 to 1978) was spent in the bosom of my family, forming who I am in terms of temperament. I lived in Manhattan and the Bronx, making me forever a New Yorker. I went to Roman Catholic elementary schools, became an omnivore, and traveled the world. Yes, I wore bell bottoms, but I was never a fan of disco.

My second decade (1978 to 1988) was spent in Yonkers, in Westchester County. I got eyeglasses and braces, and I developed my interests in science fiction and fantasy entertainment and role-playing games. Most of my pop culture knowledge and musical tastes (classic rock, heavy metal) are from this decade. As the recent 40th birthday bash demonstrated, I've been fortunate to hang onto several friends since high school in White Plains.

In my third decade (1988 to 1998), I was very active in student organizations during college in Upstate New York. After a year in Queens, I went to graduate school for international relations in Washington D.C. I got married, and much of my family and friends also moved to Virginia. Although I didn't get into the grunge movement, I did briefly grow a goatee.

In the past decade (1998 to 2008), I moved to the Boston area, found a career as a copy editor despite economic uncertainties, and have enjoyed watching my nieces and nephews grow up. Who knows what the future will bring?

I'm sad to report the passing of my aunt Josefa, or Tita Sepa, after illness in the Philippines. Janice's and my thoughts are with my mother's side of the family there. On a happier note, Happy Birthday to my nephews David and Joshua, fellow SUNY-Binghamton alumni Kim A.G. and Ben P.S., and gamers Atilla C. and Patrick D'H.! Thanks, friends, for the early birthday wishes.

Speaking of birthday celebrations, on Saturday, 11 October 2008, Janice and I drove out to Zipango, a Japanese restaurant in Worcester, Massachusetts, for a surprise party for co-worker April O'C. The food was good, and we had fun talking with April's husband Todd and their friends Craig, a reporter, and Nancy, an educator. Co-worker Steph F. also attended the party, and I hope to hang out more with our designers outside of the office in the future.

While out west, Janice and I also stopped in at comic/game shop That's Entertainment, walked around Elm Park's scenic bridges, and visited the large Borders on Route 9 East. In addition, we took advantage of the nice weather to finally put our living-room air conditioner in storage for the winter. Soon, we'll be raking leaves.