When you're not here, you ought to check out the message boards on  www.CaptainComics.Us, one of my favorite places on the Web.
The site was originally organized by Andrew Smith, a fellow journalist who's also a syndicated comic-book columnist for the Scripps Howard News Service and Comics Buyers' Guide.
Smith and his team of moderators run a tight ship based on respect and keeping things family-friendly.  You won't find a better, more civil discussion about comics (and plenty of other things) on the Internet.
Stop by, you'll be impressed!