It all began with "Iron Man" and tiny after credits scene. It continued in "The Incredible Hulk" (another end of credits scene) and then became plot points in "Iron Man 2" and "Thor". The dream of having a film film build up to the mother of superhero movies seemed just that; a dream. However, we no longer have to wonder about if this could happen. It has. All we are left to do is speculate on the final product. The expectations on what this film could be might be as "pie in the sky" as it was to even entertain the possibility of such a film 10 years ago. Will this film replace "The Dark Knight" as the best comic book movie of all time? Will it earn more than a billion dollars worldwide? Will it please the biggest fans of the Avengers/Marvel comic books?
Let's start with the critics...
With "The Dark Knight", it was proven that comic book movies could be deep, psychological, serious, character studies that film critics placed on par with other serious movies. Sure X2 and Batman Begins received positive reviews but neither was mentioned as an Oscar contender. While "The Dark Knight" didn't get the coveted "Best Picture" nomination but it was reported by many that it was a snub that it didn't. Most of the individual Marvel movies have been reviewed positively (exception being "The Incredible Hulk" and "Iron Man 2"). Both, in some ways, were sequels (TIH is not an origin story but also does not acknowledge Ang Lee's "Hulk") so the danger is making a movie that is another chance to cash in on the original film (i.e. The Hangover 2) and therefore having no real second chapter for the hero. "The Dark Knight" answered the "so now you're Batman, what happens next?" question with an exceptional story. The unique thing with "The Avengers" is that its a sequel and an origin story in one. We know the heroes (and villian) in this film so we get to see what happens next BUT we also learn how this team gets put together. In that way, the film is walking a fine line of how it continues on from the previous five films but, in a way, creates its own sort of universe. How critics, professional and amateur, view this could determine its place in pop culture mythology.
Next, will the movie make some money?
I think of the three expectations I lay out, this is the one which will be met. The movie starts the summer and has no real competition before it (Hunger Games will have been out for more than a month) or after it. I don't believe "Dark Shadows" or even "Battleship" (which I believe will be one of the summer's biggest duds) is much competition for the box office. "Men in Black III" will be its first stiff test and that film is banking on fans remembering what they enjoyed from two movies made 10 and 15 years ago. Of course, the counter argument to a perceived box office success is the potentially narrow fan base. Will people, who haven't seen only one or two of the prior five films, go see this? Will people think they have to see all five before they see it? In my opinion, I don't believe this will be an issue at all. If it is, it will be offset by the many who go see the film a second or third time.
How are fans who grew up on the Avengers/Marvel comics going to view this?
Personally, I look to the first "X-Men" film to answer this question. Many, including me, had such high expectations for the film. It was finally the culmination of everything I had dreamed of as a kid. Did it meet my expectations? Kinda, Sorta. It pull the characters off the page or cartoon screen and made them into live-action individuals but did little else. However, it did build the foundations of what X-Men franchise could be. X2 did meet my original expectations. Only "The Dark Knight" surpassed my opinion on the best comic book movie of all time. It should be noted--both are sequels. The issue many must realize is that we cannot get to X2 without the first film. This could be how "The Avengers" is viewed. A second Avengers film could be the one that meets all of our fanboy dreams because we are free from any of the exposition needed in the prior films. Putting the Kree-Skrull war or Thanos into this film would not be smart. Both of those stories will stretch the Avengers to their limits as a team and individuals. The team must first assemble and it seems obvious that its forming be centered around Loki.