'Heroes': Five Ways to Fix a Series In Crisis

ON THE COVER The next volume, season 4's ''Fugitives,'' will be ''an absolute blast,'' says Heroes creator Tim Kring

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Heroes once seemed poised to become a geek-era Law & Order franchise for the network, and a prestige property capable of generating big ratings, Emmy nominations, and even spin-offs. Now it seems the best the show can hope for is to be a solid genre series that satisfies a smaller group of rabid fans. Consistency will be key. Though ''Villains'' has recently shown some signs of improvement, Heroes shouldn't make a habit of ass-saving finishes; eventually, even fans will lose faith. The next volume, ''Fugitives,'' launching early next year, offers a fresh start. The story will again focus on core characters and enmesh them all in a plot that Kring says was inspired by current events pertaining to homeland security, invasion of privacy, and the war on terror. ''It's going to be an absolute blast,'' he told EW. ''There's nothing in it that resembles anything from 'Villains.' It's brand-new storytelling, and there's a wide-open road in front of us.'' Here's hoping it doesn't lead into another black hole.

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Before They Were ''Heroes''

Heroes: The Hit That's Saving the TV Season (2006)

EW's Heroes Collector's Covers: Get a Closer Look (2007)