Move over, Nicholas Sparks fans; this summer is being taken over by the geeks. The next three months will see Marvel’s star-studded super team, a revamped Spidey, and the Dark Knight’s final bow. With classic superheroes taking the big screen by storm this season, fanboys (and fangirls) nationwide are finally getting their fill.

A billionaire genius, super soldier, alien god, secret agent, master archer, and green giant join forces in Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers,” out now.  The anticipation for this film had been building ever since “Iron Man” debuted in 2008. Four years later, theaters have seen the Hulk, Thor, and Captain America all in their own title films, as well as cameos by Black Widow and Hawkeye. “Iron Man 2” hit the screen in 2010 and plans are already being made for a third, as well as for “Thor 2” and “Captain America 2.” Marvel’s obvious franchise milking, however, did not keep comic fans from asking the big question: “Will there be an Avengers film?”

On May 6, they got their answer. In this action-packed blockbuster, superhero fans worldwide saw their favorite Marvel characters come together despite their differences in an epic battle to save the world. Too clichéd? Apparently America doesn’t think so.
 
Robert Downey, Jr. was born to play the role of Tony Stark, the self proclaimed “genius billionaire playboy philanthropist” who is “volatile, self-obsessed, and doesn’t play well with others.”
  
Whedon’s film also gives fans the Hulk they have been waiting for. With amazing improvements in special effects since the Hulk’s previous two films, “The Avengers” takes on the massive green character, giving the speechless giant several “scene-stealing” moments. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Chris Evan’s Captain America tug on millions of teenage heart strings and yet still pack an awesome punch on screen. Clint Barton (a.k.a. Hawkeye) gets a new, more modern outfit, trading the aqua and purple spandex suit for a sleek black agent uniform. Natasha Romanov (a.k.a. Black Widow) remains the only female Avenger and proves that girls can be just as super as the male heroes. Not surprisingly, the film was a huge hit with audiences, receiving a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Soon after its release, Disney announced that the superhero extravaganza grossed $207.4 million opening weekend, $38.2 million more than the previous opening-weekend record holder, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.” But the Avengers weren’t finished quite yet. In its second weekend in theaters, the film continued to break records. Taking in an impressive $29.1 million on its second Friday, “The Avengers” forced Tim Burton’s “Dark Shadows” into second place on its opening day. By Sunday, the superheroes had earned a previously unheard of $103.2 million for their second weekend on screen.This record ultimately brought “The Avengers”’ cumulative domestic box-office take to $373.2 million and its worldwide gross to just over $1 billion after 19 days of release.

But “The Avengers” is not the only Marvel superhero movie expected this summer. This July, “The Amazing Spider-Man” will also swing into theaters. Back in 2002, Toby Maguire starred in “Spider Man,” the first live action film to depict the life of Peter Parker that eventually resulted in two additional movies. Ten years later, the franchise is being rebooted in order to show Parker’s high school experience as New York City’s arachnid-bitten protector in a more traditional portrayal.

The film will focus on Parker’s (Andrew Garfield’s) efforts to develop his abilities while in high school. Not only will he be battling Dr. Curt Conners (aka The Lizard) across Manhattan, but also teenage hormones! Redhead girlfriend Mary Jane is swapped for blonde Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) in the reboot. Fans eagerly anticipate the new Spidey not only for its more comic-consistent portrayal, but also for the computerized imagery advancements that will make Parker’s flying across NYC’s skyline breathtaking.

The July 20 release of “The Dark Knight Rises” will mark the end of an era. Christopher Nolan redefined superhero films with his Batman trilogy, making the Greatest Detective on Earth seem like he could actually be living among us.  After “The Dark Knight” became one of the most anticipated, viewed, and well-known hero movies of all time, Nolan knew a third film would have some pretty big shoes to fill. To keep speculation and excitement high, Nolan remained “hush hush” about the whole process from early script development all the way to shooting. Predictions included appearances by fan favorites such as The Riddler, Harley Quinn, Robin, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Nightwing, Croc, Talia Al Ghul, and Batgirl. Anyone who guessed Catwoman and Bane hit the nail on the head.

Eight years after the release of “The Dark Knight,” the trilogy conclusion shows Batman slowly trying to maintain hold on Gotham when Bane (Tom Hardy) comes in and famously “breaks” him. It is unclear whether he will live up to the complex character of Heath Ledger’s Joker, but Bane certainly sounds like he shares the Joker’s destructive goals.

The question, however, still remains: How will it end? Will Batman defeat Bane? Will The Dark Knight meet his tragic end? Nolan has proven in the past that he is not afraid to break away from the original storyline, so fans are advised to expect the unexpected.

After numerous romantic comedies, tragic love stories, and book adaptations were brought to film, at last it is the comic universe’s turn to dominate the big screen. The battle at the box office among Marvel’s Avengers and Spider-Man, and DC Comics’ Batman is yet to be won, and fans are getting antsy. So get ready, because this summer is going to be super.