“The Avengers” is set to kick off summer 2012 with a bang.

The build-up for this move began in 2008 with the release of “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.” Following those movies were “Iron Man 2” in 2010, and “Thor” and “Captain America” in 2011.

Director Joss Whedon brings all of these heroes together for the first time on the big screen.

Whedon has brought back all of the actors who performed in the previous marvel movies to star again in “The Avengers.” Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Tom Hiddelston, who returns as Thor’s evil brother Loki. Also starring in the film is Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye).

“The movies take elements from the old comic books and make them more modern,” said Chris Pellack, owner of Old Curmudgeon Comics, “The characters are only loosly based on the characters from the comic books.”

The Marvel Comic Universe, where all the Marvel heroes live together, is brought together in this film. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) returns in this movie to unite the avengers to defeat Loki, who comes to Earth in an attempt to dominate and become ruler of the world.

“I’d like to see the Marvel Universe expanded,” Pellack said, “Putting Spiderman, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, into the Avengers would be spectacular.”

But not all are pleased.  Robert Josephson, co-owner of Mayhem Comics and Games, has found several of the movies based on Marvel heroes”disappointing.  He named “Fantastic Four,” “Daredevil” and “Ghostrider” as all “very underwhelming.”

But both Pellack and Josephson said that “The Avengers” is “going to be a great movie.”

“The Avengers” is paving the way this summer for a large number of other super hero movies as well. “The Amazing Spider Man,” “The Dark Knight Rises” (a DC comics superhero) are two other superhero movies being release in the summer of 2012, and both are expected to be hits. Next year Marvel will be releaseing “Iron Man 3,” “Thor 2” and “Captain America 2.”

“This superhero packed summer isn’t usual,” said Robert Josephson, co-owner of Mayhem Comics and Games, “Marvel has been gearing up for this summer for a while with ‘The Avengers,’ and it’s going to be an explosive hit.”