In recent years, there’s been mainstream acceptance of geek-themed entertainment, which has led to some amazing TV programming like SciFi Channel’s BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and EUREKA. Now, NBC has put forth what is, in my opinion, one of the best shows EVER to grace the small screen — HEROES. I like how it’s treated with realism and is not a glorified parody of the superhero genre. Hiro Nakamura, who can bend time and space, is already one of the greatest geek TV characters and is well on his way to be as beloved as Mr. Spock. Thanks to this show, I look forward to Mondays for the first time in my life. (I’m also thankful this year for the Video iPod, the iPod movie store, IO’s Boost 30 megabit broadband service — three great tastes that taste great together. And special thanks to WordPress, PHP, Ajax, coffe2code, and my close friend Nicolai [who brought them all to this tasty webmaster’s plate], and a perennial thanks to Moore’s law, for continually proving itself true.)

Peter David is the kind of author you can count on. When you see his name on something, you know it will be good. I discovered the author in the summer of 2003 with the release of FALLEN ANGEL. After FA, which DC cancelled last year, was given a new home at IDW Publishing, I ached for my next David fix, so I started digging into the writer’s archives this year. Thanks to Marvel Comics’ current CIVIL WAR event, I jumped on to David’s relaunched X-FACTOR, and stuck around for FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN. His STAR TREK novels are some of the best in the expanded universe, and much to my delight, his latest novel, SAGITTARIUS IS BLEEDING, is set in the world of SciFi’s BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and most definitely rivals any of the show’s episodes in quality. (I’m also thankful for Golden Oreos, Diet Dr Pepper, and The Moon.)

I know that episodes of STAR TREK TOS are worshiped as gospel by some, with each flaw, limitation, or inconsistency (and there were a few of each) loved and treasured as much as every moment that made the show such absorbing television. I do not agree; Star Trek TOS was a show constructed very much in a hurry and on a limited budget. Mistakes were made. The episode remasters only seek to bring a more modern and consistent look to the special effects sequences in the series. There are no “Han shot first” moments in the episodes screened so far. The changes seem to be tasteful, respectful, and very much in keeping with the spirit of the original STAR TREK. To these eyes, it simply looks better than ever.

In addition to writing and directing the forthcoming WONDER WOMAN movie, Joss has been writing ASTONISHING X-MEN. I have read X-MEN comics here and there over the years, but have always been confounded by the sheer number of X-MEN titles. It was a no-brainer, though, that I would jump on board the newly revived ASTONISHING series when I heard Joss was taking the helm. I was even more excited when I heard that it would be drawn by John Cassaday, whose work on PLANETARY I greatly admired. Once again, Joss lived up to my expectations and delivered a great storyline that brought back a personal favorite, Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat), as a central character. He even resurrected (in more ways than one) her touching romance with Colossus. ASTONISHING X-MEN was easily my favorite series of the past year. As if that wasn’t enough Joss to be thankful for, it was recently announced that he will be taking over my other favorite new series, RUNAWAYS. Although I’m sad to see series creator Brian K. Vaughan leave, I can think of no one better suited to take over this great, character-driven title than Joss. The only thing I’m not thankful for is that he still hasn’t cast Wonder Woman. Why won’t he just take my advice and cast Roseanne? C’mon Joss, you know I’m right.

Aside from the importance of family and friends and the ability to breath fairly constantly, there is nothing to be less thankful for than the continuing energetic rise of technology. To which we all should hail. This very moment a brutish man from an unnamed telecommunications company (which sucks, by the way) is refitting my home with glass fibers that will be sending light into a small box with incredible speed and accuracy. This illumination will then be transfered into another language I cannot possibly comprehend and then be forwarded through the very air I breathe into the small yet very sexy laptop on my, ahem, lap. Then yet another transference into English for me to view, in any font or size or style or color I want. Why, I could even have it read to me! This fantastic invention will further give me the ability to video conference with my Australian relatives with hardly any latency. Speaking and seeing them as if they where in the very room with me — only without the odorous stench of my brother (kidding). At present I am reading one of Patrick O’Brian‘s fictional but historically accurate accounts of the British naval Captain Jack Aubrey and how they lived in the early 1800s; so this amazing technology boggles my mind more than it usually would. To imagine what it would be like to have a three-masted wooden ship and a coach and horses as the fastest means of communication from West Orange New Jersey to Surfers Paradise in Australia — 9,609.8 miles (as Google flies) — makes my smile all the more wholesome.