Before You See The Avengers...

Considering what a huge box office hit The Avengers has been, there's a good chance many of you have already seen it. Being late to the party, I just saw it last weekend. Allow me to put my feelings toward this film into the most eloquent language I can muster while thinking of it.

It. Was. Awesome! Ridiculously awesome. Like, left me all full of adrenaline and feeling dumbstruck because the only word I could think to describe it was “awesome.” There were times when I was sitting in the theater, on the edge of my seat, wanting to cry, laugh, and then hit something because it was just that awesome.

I have been excited for this movie since seeing Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger last summer, and I was absolutely not disappointed. And I am not someone that one might call a superhero or comic enthusiast by far. I just really, really enjoy good action/fantasy/sci-fi films with intense, climactic battle scenes. This delivered that and so much more. Action? Check. Inspirational and tender moments? Check. Clever and funny banter? Check. Attractive people in absolutely marvelous (pst, get it? Marvel?) superhero suits? Major check. 

But the part I enjoyed the most were the references and in-jokes to past movies starring all the different Avengers. While one can definitely understand (and like!) the movie without having seen any previous films, to enjoy it to its fullest, I would highly recommend seeing these movies first (or even after, and then going back and watching The Avengers again. You really can't lose). And while most people would probably agree that The Avengers is certainly the apotheosis of all of them, these films are also, shall we say... awesome?

The Incredible Hulk

Iron Man

Iron Man 2

Captain America: The First Avenger

Thor

" ... in this, the Marvel Age of Comics!"

I suppose it started when I inherited my brother's old Spiderman sleeping bag to use as a blanket during camping trips and it was augmented by my Incredible Hulk figurine that I used to destroy my carefully-constructed Lego castles (it was made out of die-cast metal: sometimes I wonder how I survived my own childhood). As the years passed, I became one of the many millions of people who have been enraptured by the stories and action within the pages of Marvel Comics.

Despite the fact that the majority of Marvel Comic content can generally be found in Young Adult sections of libraries, there are timeless qualities of justice and realism projecting from the colorful panels that can be appreciated by anyone. Marvel characters were among the first to have flaws, to worry about real-life issues like jobs and illness. The cornerstone of Marvel Comics' success continues to be larger-than-life personalities encountering everyday problems (with supervillains liberally mixed in, of course) as it celebrates its 50th birthday. Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, and others began their incredible run in 1961 with the Fantastic Four and their universe has blossomed ever since.

You don't buy it? Read the Stan Lee volume of Marvel Visionaries here at the library. It contains a cross section of the best of his best: Thor, Submariner, Fantastic Four, Dr. Strange, Spiderman, et. al. I challenge you to try not to enjoy it!

PS. This summer Marvel-inspired blockbusters are coming out on DVD later this year. Click on the movie to place your holds now!