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Strap on those tights and grab your cloak from the cleaners, because summer is superhero season. Here are just a few reasons why you should be super-stoked about the superhumans on our screens this summer.
DC and Marvel are shaking things up
It’s amazing that the superhero craze has been running for at least a decade (bet that makes you feel old!). But both of the big guns still have the power to surprise. First up, DC have seen a tremendous return to form with Wonder Woman. Even Marvel fans and film critics (when trapped in the rope of truth) admit that Gal Gadot more than delivers as the mighty Princess.
Meanwhile, over at Marvel, they’ve blown the webs off their Spider-Man franchise. Tom Holland will wear the mask this summer, with Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man (available to rent On Demand, from €1.99) appearing alongside him in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
They’re hilarious
One of the funniest films and biggest hits of this spring was Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2. With a universe of one-liners and its share of amusing scene-stealers, Marvel’s weirdest series had it all – humour, talking racoons and Kurt Russell (welcome back!).
Not to be outdone, the forthcoming Thor: Ragnarok has one of the wittiest directors in cinema. New Zealander Taika Waititi made What we do in the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, two of the funniest films of the past few years (and both available on Netflix, channel 999 on Virgin TV).
Judging by its trailer, Thor: Ragnarok looks like it’s bringing the laughs, too. Thor’s reaction to seeing Hulk (his “friend from work!”) was a hoot.
You can catch some of your favourite superheroes by clicking the On Demand button on your remote. Hugh Jackman is rather (ahem) marvellous as the clawed avenger in Wolverine, as are The Fantastic Four, Daredevil and X-Men - all available to rent On Demand, from €1.99 each.
Irish Actors are Flying the Flag/Cape
Gotham City and the X-Men universe have a real touch of the Irish. James Nesbitt is currently heading up Stan Lee’s Lucky Man (available on Sky 1), Colin Farrell played a villain in the original big-screen Daredevil (available to rent On Demand, from €1.99), and Liam Neeson trained Christian Bale in Batman Begins. And even Iron Man’s computer is voiced by Thurles native Kerry Condon.
And then there’s the pride of Kerry. Michael Fassbender is, of course, Magneto in the recent spate of X-Men films (including X-Men: Apocalypse, now on Sky Cinema). Yes, his accent is the biggest mutant in that film, but we forgive him.
It’s the Golden Age of TV Superheroes
DC’s Supergirl (Melissa Benoist, below), The Flash and Arrow (Sky 1) have all been huge hits. If you’ve ever wondered what Gotham City was like before Batman arrived, then catch up on the first two seasons of Gotham (on Netflix, channel 999 on Virgin TV). You won’t be disappointed. And then there’s the Marvel TV crowd…
Iron Fist, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage – they’re all kicking butt and saving cities over on Netflix. Four seasons in, meanwhile, and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is still going strong on E4 (channel 112). It’s official: superheroes are here to stay.
Catch up on all your favourite superheroes through Virgin On Demand, Virgin TV, Netflix and Sky Cinema.
