FRANCO’S FREE-FOR-ALL FRIDAYS! By FRANCO I recently came across a social media post from someone asking the question: What is your favorite thing about being alive? Aside from the being alive part? Which I gotta admit, I’m kinda biased towards. Life, to me, is everything… I really love that part. The people in my life are another favorite thing. Aside from that, I think comic books are good stuff. This part was really driven home after last week, when I wrote a column about my mother’s (and my own) health issues. I knew there would be people who would react to it, but SO MANY people reached out. I was blown away by the outpouring of kindness and healing sentiments everyone sent me. People contacted me from every corner of my life and from literally all around the world, to express their kind wishes and thoughts. The comics community really is truly a great space. It almost feels like a bunch of you out there have been reading superhero comics and have this moral, ethical code and sensitivity to your fellow human beings, and it was a wonder to be on the receiving end of all of that. I really came away with a sense of the can-do spirit of the comics society and some of the lessons that have been imparted to me from stories I’ve read over the years. It got me thinking about that question in terms of comics. What would be my favorite thing? What would be the favorite things of people? That people are inherently good. They are full of kindness and empathy. Yes, there’re bad guys in comics, but we’re all there to side with the good guys. The heroes. And the one character that exemplifies that for me over all the others, and has done so much for me in comics, is… … Superman. So I decided that for this week’s column, I would draw Superman. Did this one sitting outside on the porch next to my mother. Even though she didn’t voice it, I knew she would approve. I went with that iconic profile and some really bright colors. This one was fun to draw. So, I guess the answer to the question I first asked is lasagna… but also that I’m glad I’m around during this time with all of...