Spider-man 3 kicks off a huge summer for geek movies (awesome!)

Summer is almost here, but as far as moviegoers are concerned, summer started on May 4. That was the first day of a summer that promises to be chock full of blockbuster movies. That was the day “Spider-man 3” was released.
Now, if you’re a regular reader of this paper, and I hope many of you are, maybe you have noticed that, on occasion I write a column focused on comic books or video games. I’m a nerd, what can I say?
But, I mention this because I believe it puts this newspaper in a unique position. Few publications comment on comics or video games, and I believe as this generation grows older, the entertainment that we remember from our childhood will grow with us and commentary on topics like video games or comic books will stay relevant. Just take a look at some of the movies coming out this summer:
-Spider-man 3, comic book (of course)
The web-swinger has also had his share of video games, and right now he’s a marketing machine. Unfortunately, his creator, Stan Lee, doesn’t see much of the profits from the films because when he created Spidey back in 1962 in the pages of “Amazing Fantasy” issue 15, no one expected the character to become the cultural icon that he has grown to be. It’s a shame because Lee created another super hero team that will be at the movies this year as well.
-Fantastic Four 2, comic book, also created by Lee.
The Fantastic Four came to life in 1961 under Lee’s masterful pen, and the team of heroes has been fighting villains like Doctor Doom ever since. It’s a shame a creator like Lee doesn’t seem to get the kudos he so rightly deserves for creating these heroes. But, I believe this proves a point.
Comic books, which were often thought of as something for nerds or bookworms, have become mainstream, and audiences all over the world are starting to meet characters and learn stories that us faithful comic fans have known for years.
You know the villains in the new movie? I’ve known them since I was a little kid. I can tell you Venom’s motivations, alter-ego, strengths and weaknesses without ever stepping foot into the movie theatre, because, as a child, my parents believed in keeping me reading often. It’s interesting to see characters you have known your whole life be brought to the screen and introduced to your friends and family who aren't comic readers. I hope the trend continues.
-Transformers, toys/comic book/ cartoon/ video game, to be released on July 4.
When most people hear the word “transformer,” they think of an electrical box that converts electrical current, but not people in my generation. My mind envisions the great war on Cybertron between the Autobots, led by the powerful Optimus Prime and the Decepticons, and their leader, the devious Megatron. I’m not sure if all of the Transformers that I remember from my youth will make it into the movie. (One of my favorites, Grimlock, a robot who transforms into a Tyrannosaurus Rex, probably will not make the jump to the silver screen.) But, once again, it is a shining example of a property that 20 years ago was looked at as childish or nerdy and now, the rest of America is jumping on the bandwagon — a bandwagon that will transform into a giant robot at that.
-Simpsons, cartoon, to be released as a feature film at the end of July.
This one was aching to be made into a movie for years, and it has been so popular for so long I’m sure that everyone knows these characters by now. But, I believe this falls into the category of the other films on this list. It started as a cartoon that many people thought of as juvenile, but over the years it has proved its ability to stay relevant and topical.
As for the “Spider-man” movie that just came out, if you have seen the first two, I’m sure you have seen how director Sam Raimi handled the characters with such reverence and respect that they burst off the screen. I have yet to see the most recent movie, but if it is anything like the comics (and the first two movies have been very similar to the books), well, I already know how the movie is going to go. But, that doesn’t mean I’m not excited to see it.
So, get out and enjoy this summer’s blockbuster films. And just stop for a moment and ask your kids about the characters in the films first. Chances are they have read the heroes’ exploits or played with toys of the characters long before these movies were ever conceived.