Fans create cult following

On Tuesday, April 23, the theater chain AMC hosted a massive 60-hour long, 22-movie marathon for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. The event ran over the course of three days, from the 2008 “Iron Man” to the most recent “Captain Marvel.” The event was in celebration of the “Avengers: Endgame” release in April.

Going to a “double-” or even a “triple-feature” event is not unheard of, but the marathon took that to a new level. It shows how integral superheroes movies are to pop-culture. Never before has a cinematic franchise consisted of so many interconnected movies.

“Avengers: Endgame” is the cumulative product of the past 10 years, and the fans are loving it. Like Star Wars, it has caused a lot of arguments and speculations between its fans. So why has the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) become such a colossal cultural phenomenon?

Nostalgia is one explanation. Comic books have existed for since the 19th century and have gained quite a following since the depression, according to a PBS article “The Golden Age of Comics.” Fans grew up reading comic books and often view the characters as idols or childhood heroes. 

However, pages with drawings can illustrate the stories only to a certain point. With movies, the stories become more realistic. Iron Man or Batman now have real voices and audience can watch the action play out before their eyes.

Another factor is how much more digestible movies are compared to comic books. While comic books serve a niche, movies offer a mainstream approach. Films are a platform that brings the comic book market to the average consumers. These movies often have famous movie stars, which create an immediate connection. 

Nerd fandom can be used as a façade to build a story behind an individual. Pierce College anthropology professor Karen Danner said: “Nerd culture can be a way to develop your identity but it has sort of a conflict.” She added that although a person may want to use the “nerd” culture as a way to stand out, everyone is doing the same thing. “You are performing non-conformance but you are conforming,” said Danner.

Pierce College student Chandler Zakem is a comic book reader and Marvel fan. “When I was in middle school, comic books used to be like this taboo, and if you mess with it, you were immediately labeled a nerd… Outcasted from every social group, and you had no friend aside from your fellow nerds,” he said.

However, the idea of a nerd who is obsessed with comic books has become much more stylish and desirable nowadays. Another student Peter Young said: “I remember, most people were like: Oh, superheroes? That’s for nerds! And now they’re all like: Are you going to see Endgame?” 

When asked about his thoughts on the recent popularity of Marvel films, Pierce College biology and chemistry student Isaac Morgan Pennoyer said: “You know, it’s just nice to see your favorite heroes on the movie screen, and then everyone else came around, and it wasn’t as special anymore.” Whatever the purpose is, it has become easier with things like the Marvel Studios or DC Comics. It appears these movies can be a shortcut for people to earn the “nerd” badge and be “cooler.” 

The world-building nature of the Marvel lore is expansive. Zakem shared that it suddenly became cool to have in-depth knowledge about the stories, character facts and theories on what is coming next. This can be viewed as evidence of how popular these movies have become. It is now a social topic that can somewhat determine the identity of people and represents a snapshot of time.

   Just as George Lucas’s work became an icon of creativity, it is probable that comic books and superhero films will be in the same league for future generations. After all, the MCU represents a part of contemporary culture that will soon go into history. Until then, it does not seem like the comic book movies craze will go away anytime soon, and people will continue to have fun with the genre for the times to come.