I'm a comic book fan — have been all my life.

I've never been a fan of comic-to-live-action conversions, though. With the exception of the first two Superman films, they've all seemed a little lame. (I did like last year's X-Men sequel a little, though. Nicole loved it. (Nik, I can't figure out how to access your archives, or I'd link to your rave review.))

Despite this, two years ago I dubbed the first Spider-Man film "the best superhero film I've seen to date". (Though I bemoaned the presence of the Green Goblin, "the Aquaman of super-villains. He's lame lame lame.")

Now comes word that Spider-Man 2, which opens at midnight tonight, just might be the best comic-book film yet. I can hardly believe the reviews I'm reading. I'd had no expectations, but now they've gone through the roof. I'm going to be disappointed.

The tomatometer still reads 100%, with 40 out of 40 critics approving, granting an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. The highest rated movie ever at Rotten Tomatoes is Toy Story 2; it also earned an average rating of 8.6 and 100% approval (111/111). (The lovely, haunting The Sweet Hereafter also has 100%, but on only 46 reviews — it's average rating is 8.8/10.)

Look at some of these reviews:

• "Spider-Man 2 is full of bright colors, emphatic noises and elaborate specal effects. That much is to be expected. But its distinguishing features, I'm happy to report, are strong characters and honest feelings." — A.O. Scott, The New York Times
• "Spider-Man 2 is that rare thing, a thoroughly successful sequel." — John Anderson, Newsday
• "Crackerjack entertainment from start to finish." — Todd McCarthy, Variety
• "A big Hollywood machine that's unexpectedly full of wit and — dare we say it? — intelligence." — Richard Schickel, Time Magazine
• "Spider-Man 2 is all you can ask for in summer fun." — Peter Travers, Rolling Stones
• "Now this is what a superhero movie should be...It's a superhero movie for people who don't go to superhero movies, and for those who do, it's the one they've been yearning for." — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
• "It's worth twice the ticket price!" — Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card
• "Nothing in the original prepared me for the energy, wit, and daring of this sequel...the wildest, most joyous, flat out comic-bookiest comic-book movie ever." — Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide

Wow.

Many of my friends are big comic book geeks: me, Dana, Dave, Andrew, Joel. Most of my friends aren't particularly fond of comic books, though. The book group, for example, seemed surprised to discover that a comic book about the Holocaust could be made — and work. Most people think comic books are only about super heroes.

To be honest, comic books are mostly about superheroes.

My geeky friends and I could spend hours discussing our favorite heroes and villains, recalling the history of Spider-Man, lamenting the ludicrous viral spread of the all things mutant. We swap comics compilations back and forth, sharing them with zeal.

Surely you non-comics readers have some favorites, though. Superheroes form, in many ways, the contemporary American mythos. I wonder, for example, what superheroes my brother, Jeff, likes to read. Are there superheroes that Kris finds interesting? Do Kim or Kristin or Jenn find superhero stories entertaining, or do they think they're just silly?

On this day at foldedspace.org

2005 — The In-Laws   We spent Tuesday showing the Kris' parents around the Willamette Valley.