Gallery: Meet the Illustrated Superheroes of the Summer Blockbusters – From Joss Whedon to Hipster Spider-Man
01joss-whedon-avengers
This summer's blockbuster movie season has been a true labyrinth of twists and turns. Despite [dismally low theater attendance](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-avengers-dark-knight-rises-367595), at least two films – *The Avengers* and *The Dark Knight Rises* – passed the billion-dollar mark in ticket sales. Close behind those geeky blockbusters, a pair of unexpected heroines emerged from far-away districts to slay the box office. Also, for once, a superhero super team lived up to its potential greatness. And in the end some films needed real-life knights to save the day. This was also the spring/summer blockbuster movie season where, as was the case with *Avengers*, a tentpole film actually lived up to (if not surpassed) its hype. And it was also the summer when the fans of one film -- *Dark Knight Rises* -- could've used a real-life knight, and the slightly-hip, slightly-dorky fans of Spider-Man finally got the hero they deserved. So that got us thinking: Why don't we give our favorite movie heroes tales of their own? And, more importantly, why not do it in the best format possible: Comics-style illustrations? Scroll through the gallery above to find out just how and why *The Avengers* ruled, Katniss Everdeen saved action franchises from being nothing but Boys Town, *The Amazing Spider-Man* gave Peter Parker a little bit of hip flare, *Prometheus* renewed our faith in Ridley Scott, and *The Dark Knight Rises* rose to the occasion despite an awful tragedy. We begin our quest with the one true hero of our hearts, Joss Whedon. __Above:__ Joss Whedon Assembles Super Team, Kicks Super Ass with *The Avengers* --------------------------------------------------------------------- Remember back when [Joss Whedon](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/04/ff_whedon/) was known as the guy who made *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* but had no proven box office mojo? Yeah, neither do we. Not to put too fine a point on it, but his *Avengers* movie is probably [the best *Avengers* movie any nerd could've hoped for](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/05/review-the-avengers/). It was action-packed, funny, and brought together the *Thor*, *Iron Man*, and *Captain America* franchises (and a new-and-improved Hulk!) into one pretty awesome story that was unbelievably fun. And it appealed to nerds of all stripes (and probably a few non-geeks as well), bringing in [more than $1.5 billion](http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=avengers11.htm) worldwide and making Whedon both King Geek and King of the Box Office. So say we all. (Oh, and *The Cabin in the Woods*, which he co-wrote, [was pretty great too](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/04/review-cabin-in-the-woods/). Oh, *and* now he's doing a *S.H.I.E.L.D.* show, which [we also are excited about](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/08/joss-whedon-shield/).)
02hipster-spider-man
Spidey Gets a Hipster Makeover in *Amazing Spider-Man* ------------------------------------------------------ And we mean that in the best way possible. Before directing his reboot of the Spider-Man franchise, director Marc Webb made an emo Zooey Deschanel vehicle with a killer soundtrack. So there was some worry that he wouldn't be able to entirely bring the action needed for a Spidey flick. Turns out he could, and he (along with his Peter Parker, Andrew Garfield) brought a [smart sensitivity to the web-slinger](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/07/review-the-amazing-spider-man/). And now, finally, ['60s Spider-Man](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/60s-spider-man) has a cool, contemporary counterpart.
03ridley-scott-prometheus
Ridley Scott Brings Us Closer to God with the Beautiful *Prometheus* -------------------------------------------------------------------- Some loved *Prometheus* for its existential [questions about faith, truth, science, and religion](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/06/prometheus-science-faith-creationism/). Others were taken in by director Ridley Scott's [beautiful space landscapes](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/06/review-prometheus/). And still others were just happy to see Scott revisit the *Alien* world he introduced nerds to in 1979. But regardless of why, (most) viewers found a passion for some aspect of Scott's epic tale of otherworldly life. The movie may not have done the boffo box office of some of the other comic book men on this list – just over [$351 million worldwide](http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=prometheus.htm) – but its banked and deepened our admiration of Scott forever.
04the-hunger-games-and-brave
Katniss Everdeen Takes Aim at Hollywood, Shoots Us Right Through the Heart -------------------------------------------------------------------------- There's an old husbands' tale in Hollywood. It said that women couldn't be action heroes, couldn't carry a picture by themselves. This spring, Katniss Everdeen – the teenage heroine of *The Hunger Games* – proved it wrong. Not only was the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' book a pretty solid picture it also introduced moviegoers to the [possibility of a woman leading an action story](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/03/katniss-everdeen-hollywood-heroines/) – and a trilogy at that. It's also brought in [more than $685 million worldwide](http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hungergames.htm). And, not to be outdone, another woman with a bow and arrow also lit up the screen this summer: The fire-haired lass of Pixar's *Brave* brought in another [$470 million-plus](http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bearandthebow.htm) at theaters worldwide.
05the-dark-knight-rises
*The Dark Knight Rises* from Terrible Tragedy --------------------------------------------- This summer Christopher Nolan completed his masterful and epic Batman trilogy with *The Dark Knight Rises*. But all of the excitement among fans was clouded over when a theater shooting left 12 dead and 58 wounded during a [late-night screening of the movie in Aurora, Colorado](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/07/aurora-shooting/). But in the aftermath the Dark Knight himself did good – Christian Bale [visited the survivors of the shooting](http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/24/nation/la-na-nn-christian-bale-visit-aurora-colorado-20120724). The victims and their families [came to the Bat's defense](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2012/07/dont-blame-batman-for-theater-massacre/), wearing [t-shirts with his insignia](http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_21195732/victims-families-attend-court-see-james-holmes-person) to the courtroom where alleged shooter James Eagan Holmes appeared and showing who the true heroes are. (The film [also made $1 billion worldwide](http://www.slashfilm.com/box-office-bits-the-avengers-passes-1-5-billion-the-dark-knight-rises-passes-1-billion-oogieloves-is-a-historic-flop/), inching past [2008's *The Dark Knight*](http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=darkknight.htm).)
