Here are nine superhero movies scheduled for 2018 in reverse order of our enthusiasm:
"Venom" (Oct. 5): Sony Pictures is trying to jump-start a Spider-Man-villain universe without Spider-Man, who's hanging his webs at Marvel Studios these days. That preposterous proposition, coupled with Venom's unpopularity with older comics fans, pushes "Venom" (starring Tom Hardy) to the bottom of the list.
"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (Dec. 14): This 3-D animated movie stars a Spider-Man who is younger than Peter Parker. He's Miles Morales, who in the comics originated in a parallel universe. In the comics both Spider-Men are on the young side, but in this movie Parker is a middle-aged mentor for Morales.
"X-Men: Dark Phoenix" (Nov. 2): If you're a comics fan, you can't help but feel anxious about this adaptation of one of the great X-Men stories. The original, which was published around 1980, was essentially the heartbreaking resolution of the love story that was central to the X-Men since their 1963 debut.
"Aquaman" (Dec. 21): The Aquaman who appeared in "Justice League" is already my favorite version of the Sea King.
"Ant-Man and the Wasp" (July 6): The first Ant-Man movie was hilarious and charming, so a second serving is more than welcome.
"Deadpool 2" (May 18): Wade Wilson, now a disfigured cafeteria chef, is back and apparently battling ninjas, the yakuza and a pack of sexually aggressive canines. Or something like that. It's "Deadpool," so you know what to expect.
"The Incredibles 2" (June 15): It's baffling that it took 13 years for a sequel to be made, but I think we're all looking forward to the further adventures of the superpowered Parr family.
"Avengers: Infinity War" (May 4): It's Thanos and his Black Order vs. a whole lot of Avengers. Thanos will have the Infinity Stones, and as long as he has them, his victory is a foregone conclusion.
"Black Panther" (Feb. 16): T'challa isn't just a superhero. He's a king and head of state. He's the leader of the most scientifically advanced nation on Earth. He's empowered by the ancient panther god. But he faces the worst foes known to man: politics, racism, colonialism, greed, betrayal. "Infinity War" is going to be an eye-popping spectacle. But "Black Panther" is my No. 1 — because it's going to be inspiring.
