Hero Worship: 2012's Superhero Movie Apocalypse

It's only the first week of 2012, but with a final few weeks of 2011 that bombarded us with new movie trailers and news about this year's biggest films, it's hard not to already be anxious for them to arrive. And though there are less superhero movies on the way this year compared to last, it's arguable that the sheer scope of things like The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises will make up for the difference.

That said, this is also a pivotal year for comics to take advantage of the attention that will be brought to their properties because of these flicks. To kick off the next year of Hero Worship in style (yep, you're stuck with me), I thought it'd be fun to look at where the biggest opportunities lie for new readers to jump onto the comic book train as it pulls into the stops of the biggest comic book movie releases of the year: the aforementioned Avengers and Dark Knight Rises, but also Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance and The Amazing Spider-Man.

It's the first of these movies to be released this year, but also has the unfortunate distinction of being the least friendly property in terms of leading folks to comics. Regrettably, the latest ongoing Ghost Rider series at Marvel Comics was canned in an onslaught of cancellations that happened a few months ago. While the series will technically still be running by the time of Spirit of Vengeance's release, the final issue #9 will hit weeks later in March. The previous Ghost Rider ongoing ended on issue #35 in 2009.

Despite this, Ghost Rider will still have a strong presence around the time of the film's release in one of Marvel's most critically acclaimed books: Venom. In February, there will be a four part story (taking place in Venom #13.1, 13.2, 13.3, and 13.4) that sees Venom team up with Ghost Rider along with X-23 (another recent victim of cancellation) and Red Hulk. However, the rather absurd numbering of the story and it happening in a seemingly unrelated book entirely – not to mention that it's a different Ghost Rider -- might make it difficult for a new reader to latch onto, unless we see some clever marketing strategies on Marvel's part.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Trailer

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance being a movie that actually makes anyone want to read comics will be another matter entirely.


The Avengers is the culmination of years of fanboy/girl hopes and dreams that have finally swelled up into a crescendo of nerdgasm-inducing cinematic bliss. At least, it will be the first time that you see it. Once you're over the overwhelming notion that you're seeing all of the Avengers on screen together, maybe you'll hit up the message boards in a blind fury about how much it sucked. Who knows at this point? Regardless, what Avengers will do is make a crapload of money, and hopefully inspire some new people to check out the comics.

Luckily, Marvel seems prepared to handle any potential incoming readers. With their big event this spring being titled Avengers vs. X-Men and being standalone in nature, it's a series that should be accessible to all, and something that will likely never be seen in the theaters. In fact, Marvel scribe Brian Michael Bendis even told USA Today at the time of the book's announcement, "If you want to see it [Avengers vs. X-Men], come look what comics does because there are things we do better than anybody. And this is one of them."

With last summer's hit X-Men: First Class and the incredible buzz of Avengers, it stands to reason that anyone in their right mind would want to see a throw-down of those epic proportions. While I'm personally less than excited for another event, I'm all for anything that might attract readers outside of the core audience.

The Avengers Trailer

An even better comic for movie goers to latch onto is the upcoming Avengers Assemble from longtime Avengers writer Bendis and frequent collaborator Mark Bagley. You can read our in-depth interview with Bendis about the book, but in short, it's a comic that will be set in the continuity of the ongoing Marvel Universe but feature the same team that's in the film.

Avengers readers can tell you that the current team varies greatly from the cast of the movie, so this book will serve as an accessible entry way for fans of the film to continue the adventures of the movie, more or less, in comics. As a plus, Bendis has stated that the book will make sense within the context of the Marvel Universe, so longtime readers need not worry that Marvel will be throwing the ongoing stories into upheaval just to reflect the film.



Less enticing is the Prelude to Marvel's Avengers, which is literally a comic book tie-in precursor to a comic book film adaptation. While the involvement of writer Chris Yost gives it some sort of pedigree, this is the sort of thing that feels utterly pointless. It doesn't really benefit the Avengers publishing line. Longtime readers will be hesitant to pick it up because, hey, it's a movie tie-in to a film that's based on a bunch of comics they've already read.

Likewise, it doesn't contribute anything to any of Marvel's continuity. For moviegoers, it doesn't offer them an in to the Avengers comic universe, instead leading them back to the film, leaving them having to search for a different entry way to the current Marvel U.

The only benefit I can muster is if it's someone's introduction to comics altogether, and even then it might have been a better offering for Free Comic Book Day – the first Saturday of every May, the entire point of which is to get people into comic book shops. And perfect timing for the release of The Avengers.

Head to Page 2 for The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises!