Tube news: "Heroes" and "Smallville"

“Heroes,” my new favorite show, is the cover story in the latest Entertainment Weekly. One interesting part for comics fans is the news that J. Michael Straczynski, creator of “Rising Stars,” is shopping around a “Rising Stars” TV series with director Sam Raimi. The article talks about the similarities between “Rising Stars” and “Heroes.” There are some, certainly: ordinary people with superpowers, a lack of spandex, a big cast. But the heroes of “Rising Stars” all got their powers as kids, were all from the same community and had to face government control from Day One.

“The Great American Pop Culture Quiz” on the back page of the magazine is devoted to superheroes. I got 9 out of 10 right, missed the one on “The Incredibles.”

In other comic-book pop-culture news, the new TV Guide reveals that Lex Luthor will propose to Lana Lang on the Nov. 16 episode of “Smallville.” Just say no, Lana. That episode will also feature a shadowy visit from another DC Comics mainstay, the Martian Manhunter.