What Are This Summer's Big New Superhero Movies?

Superhero movies are a staple of the summer blockbuster scene; last year Marvel’s The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises made over two billion dollars at the box office. Two Billion! Now that summer is just around the corner, Hollywood is about to release a new batch of super-powered motion pictures into our mild mannered movie theaters. Here is a rundown of the big, new comic book films coming out this year.

Iron Man 3

The first flick out the gates is Iron Man 3. Produced by Marvel Studios, this is their first big movie after the success of Avengers. It will be interesting to see whether Robert Downey Jr. can hold his own after being part of the ensemble effort in the previous film.

Trailers feature Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man fighting The Mandarin.  In the comics, The Mandarin is Iron Man’s greatest, most powerful enemy, the Lex Luthor to his Superman.

Iron Man 3 stars Robert Downey Jr., Sir Ben Kingsly and Gwyneth Paltrow
Level of anticipation: four out of five

Man of Steel

Speaking of the last son of Krypton, Superman is on his way back to the silver screen in Man of Steel. Zack Snyder, director of 300 and Watchmen, made what promises to be a moody, introspective Superman film. Not much is known about the plot, but the villain is General Zodd, the baddy from 1980s Superman II.

The oddly-beautiful trailer looks more like a Terrance Malik art film, than a big-budget action movie and studio buzz is great, so expect this one to be a winner.

Man of Steel stars Henry Carvill, Russel Crow, and Amy Adams. Opens June 14th
Level of anticipation: four and a half out of five. Trailer here.

 The Wolverine

Hugh Jackman is done singing songs about French history and is back kicking ass in The Wolverine, Fox’s newest entry in the X-Men franchise. Logan, aka Wolverine, badass mutant warrior, is taking a break from his day job with the X-Men to visit an old friend in Japan who claims to have the power to age Logan like a normal man. Upon arriving in Japan, Logan is set upon by a clan of evil ninjas whom he must battle to the death.

The X-Men films have been languishing lately, so hopefully director James Mangold (Walk the Line, Kate and Leopold) might to breathe new life into the series. Trailer here.

The Wolverine stars Hugh Jackman and a bunch of people you haven’t heard of. Opens July 26^th.
Level of anticipation: two out of five.

Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World brings us back to the realm of Asgard, where the thunder god Thor must battle the evil elf, Malekith, the Accursed. Not much is known about this one except the cast from the first film—including Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman—returns and it is being filmed primarily in Europe.

Trailer here.

Thor: The Dark World stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christopher Eccleston. Opens November 9^th

Level anticipation three out of five