Everyone thinks they can write. No, really. If you talk to anyone who likes TV and movies, invariably you'll hear that they have a great story. Well, some do and some don't. In the soap business, just about every kind of story has been told.

A show like Passions, which has recently come to an end, told wild tales about witches and sorcery and dwarfs and demons.

General Hospital has been firmly set in plots about mobsters in the manner of The Godfather, with Sonny Corinthos a latter day Michael Corleone.

As the World Turns, currently in its 52nd year, is rooted in traditional love stories and family conflicts, although you have to give them props for Luke and Noah, a frontline gay romance which is definitely a 21st century development.

Is there any kind of story that soap operas have not tried? Yes, there is. Comic book heroes. Don't laugh, it's not so outlandish. If you consider that the current line up of soaps include ghostly apparitions (All My Children, General Hospital), time travel (One Life to Live), mass poisonings (As the World Turns), gas attacks (Days of Our Lives) and near-miracle conception (The Bold & the Beautiful), among others. In other words, the soaps have and often do reach for the grand, cinematic or theatrical storyline. So, why not a hero like The Dark Knight or Iron Man?

Guiding Light actually did take a stab at creating a super hero in 2006 in a cross over with Marvel Comics, but it was only one episode. Harley Cooper, like a Spider-Man type heroine, had an accident and developed superpowers. The show was clever, but not groundbreaking and, to be honest, they never committed to the idea. After all, they only did a single, special episode! My idea is a hero like Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. The Batman.

I can really see this idea working -- and thriving -- on Days of Our Lives. Drake Hogestyn's character, John Black, would be the perfect candidate to become a Robin Hood/Bruce Wayne/Lone Ranger type of larger-than-life hero. He's super-wealthy and has had a history of being used and abused by Stefano, an evil-doer who's mind-control tactics have been sci-fi in nature. Well, since his most recent return to the scene (after he was believed to be dead) -- his memory was erased by Stefano's mad sidekick, Rolf, and John has been struggling to find what kind of man he is.

I envision John discovering that in his previous incarnations -- he once thought he was Roman Brady, then Forrest Alamain, then John Black, then a DiMera who goes by John Black...yeah, it's that complicated -- he was a very good man. He was noble and true and a classic hero.

When he reconnects to that part of his persona, he could determine that he must do right by the people of Salem. He can use his wealth to fund the creation of an alter-ego, a masked avenger, just like The Dark Knight. He can fight crime, do good, stand for truth, justice and the Salem way. He can maintain the facade of John Black by day, while being a super hero at night when needed.

I don't see any reason this concept can't work on a soap. It's an idea that's tried and true in other media, novels, comic books, radio, TV, movies and theater. Why not a soap? If not a Batman variation, what about connecting Days to Heroes. Jeff Zucker would love that!

By the way, Days of Our Lives is poised to make a big splash right now because Gary Tomlin's been hired as co-executive producer. Ed Scott, the former top guy at The Young & the Restless, is out. Gary Tomlin has a long legacy of work on the soaps, including being with Days in the early 1980's. He knows the kind show that Days is and always has been. He's a good choice.