Why am I excited about the pending Man of Steel movie? Are you nuts?! Why wouldn't I be?!
My worship of the red and blue Boy Scout dates back to purchasing an Action Comics book aged six, after watching Saturday morning repeats of Adventures of Superman. My plan was to turn the cover image of said comic into a giant poster using my Sketch-a-Graph. That self drawn work of art had pride of place on my bedroom wall through many happy year.
A short while after that purchase I witnessed Superman: The Movie, which in my humble opinion is the blueprint against which all comic book flicks should be measured. The standard. Everything from the goose bumps-inducing John Williams signature to Christopher Reeve's perfect execution of Clark's dual personas to the slow burn reveal of our hero in his Superman colours.
By this point in my life there were other superheroes that I liked - loved even - but I've always had a very special place in my heart for Kal-El on the screen. That same slow-burn anticipation is exactly what I'm feeling for Man of Steel.
The trailers that Warner Bros. have been drip-feeding us have led to what I can only describe as a kind of narcotic-like simpering gratitude for what we've been given, but a serious craving for more; I WANT SO MUCH MORE!
The anticipation I have for the son of Jor-El's latest silver screen escapade has me drooling like an idiot at the thought of seeing it; running around the room in a flap every time the latest trailer is aired, and; ranting to all and sundry that they need this film in their lives. In 3D! On an IMAX screen! This movie can't fail. How can it?! Watch the trailers again. Try and find a weak link... There isn't one!
The cast, the scriptwriter, the producer, the composer (Yes, I am listening to snatches of Hans Zimmer's score as I write this!). It's the optimum mix of the right talent at the right time that can only lead to perfection, right? I am firm in the belief that this could be the most epic superhero story ever told on the big screen.
I've collected comic books for almost 25 years. I normally reserve this level of excitement for main characters getting offed in any given landmark special issue. Jason Todd, anyone?
MAN OF STEEL is released in cinemas on Friday 14 June