With not one, two, three but four comic-book superheroes scheduled to hit the big screen over the next few months we should all be able to sleep soundly this summer.
People of the UAE, have no fear, as no harm will come to you, thanks to Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Batman and Hellboy.
All based on comic book characters from the good old days, the films are all being released during the summer of 2008 and are already causing quite a stir.
With directors and actors turning down roles left, right and centre in order to be a part of the superhero revolution, promotion deals stretching into millions of dollars and box-office predictions reaching all-time highs, the films have certainly been given every opportunity for success.
Iron Man is the first up around the world. Created by Stan Lee, the story follows wealthy industrialist Tony Stark who feels compelled to design and build an armoured suit after a life-threatening incident.
Directed by Jon Favreau, who turned down the chance direct superhero comedy Captain America due for release in 2009, Iron Man stars Robert Downey Jr as the lead alongside the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts.
Favreau describes the film as "a kind of independent film-espionage thriller crossbreed; a Robert Altman-directed Superman, with shades of Tom Clancy novels, James Bond films, RoboCop and Batman Begins".
This Marvel Studios' first self-financed movie, no corners were cut and money was not an issue.
Experience
With 35mm cameras accidentally run over by tanks during filming, and characters sent to locations around the world in order to get a feel for exactly what their comic book character would have been going though, no expense was spared.
Terrence Howard, cast as James Rhodes, was sent to the Nellis Air Force Base where he ate with airmen and observed the routines of HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters and F-22 Raptor jets in order to portray a war machine admirably.
The Incredible Hulk, also created by Lee, is next on the list with a release date planned for June 13.
The Incredible Hulk, Dr Robert Bruce Banner, another comic book superhero appearing in publications from Marvel Comics, first appeared in May 1962 and has since become one of Marvel's most recognised characters.
After physicist Banner is caught in the blast of a gamma bomb he created, he is transformed into the Hulk, a raging green monster. As Banner and the Hulk, is frequently pursued by the police or the armed forces.
Banner is played by Edward Norton with Liv Tyler depicting Betty Ross, the only woman the Incredible Hulk has ever loved. A summer of superhero movies and a summer of firsts is how critics and experts are describing the season.
Worth catching
With pay cheques reaching figures unheard of, promotional deals worth millions and IMAX filming entering new realms, the four films will all be worth catching over the coming months.
Third up, Hellboy II made history by being the first movie to be filmed in the new Korda Studios in Budapest, Hungary.
The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so as Hellboy and his team returns they must save the world from an onslaught of rebellious creatures.
Peter Jackson approached Guillermo Del Toro to direct Halo, due out in 2009, and even though Del Toro considered it, he turned it down and instead agreed to direct this action-packed sequel.
But that wasn't his only offer - Del Toro also turned down I Am Legend, One Missed Call and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
And finally, is The Dark Knight - the newest and only Batman film not to have the famous name in the title of the film. Due for release on July 18 in the US, the film has been surrounded by controversy following the death of Heath Ledger, who played the role of The Joker.
The young actor's sudden death on January 22 this year, rightly or wrongly, has given this film a massive amount of publicity.
Speculation
For obvious reasons, his death prompted immediate speculation as to the state of this film but within hours, Warner Bros said Ledger had completed all his scenes and post-production work, thus making The Joker the actor's final completed appearance in a film. To prepare for his role, Ledger lived alone in a hotel room for a month, formulating the character's psychology, posture and voice.
He started a diary, in which he wrote The Joker's thoughts and feelings to guide himself during his performance.
Co-star Sir Michael Caine said Ledger topped Jack Nicholson's Joker from Batman in 1989 going for a completely different direction portraying a scary psychopath.
He even said when Ledger arrived and performed he gave Caine such a fright he forgot his lines!
Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne and Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth.
Elaborate marketing campaigns have been launched the US, including the presentation of a joke-bat suit which was made with nipples.
It was given to Christian Bale who knew instantly it was a joke, having seen a few design pictures during preproduction, although he did pose for some publicity photos in the "nipple" suit.
The un-super superhero
Also this summer, look out for Will Smith in the role of a homeless, alcoholic superhero. In Hancock, Smith stars as a hero who has fallen out of favour with the public and enters into a questionable relationship with the wife of the public relations professional who's trying to repair his image. Hancock is directed by Peter Berg and co-stars Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman.
Marvel in Dubai
Marvel Entertainment, the US-based creator of globally renowned comic book characters as Spider-Man, will build the world's first Superhero theme park in Dubai.
Tatweer, the government-owned company behind the Dubailand leisure and tourism development, said the plan of the 418,063 square metre theme park has now been finalised.
The theme park, featuring characters like Iron Man, the Fantastic Four and Hulk, is expected to welcome visitors in 2012.
The Marvel Super Heroes theme park will be one of the key anchor projects and will provide families with an ultimate destination featuring new and exciting rides that will enable them to re-live their childhood memories and interact with their much-loved super hero characters.
David Maisel, chairman of Marvel Studios, recently said: "We're going to have an Iron Man ride at an amusement park in Dubai in a few years."
