Standing before a wall of comic books looming with ominous images of one super hero after another — Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk — you see the evolution.

Innocuous little joints like this place, Capital City Comics in Montgomery, gave birth to the fandom surrounding the cinematic juggernaut that Marvel’s “The Avengers” has become in just a little more than four weeks since its initial opening.

When superheroes converge on the big 3D screen more than 70 years after their comic book line’s first release, something big — no, colossal — is bound to happen.

Mike Andrews, 42, is a regular and sometime “minion” at Capital City Comics, which recently relocated from Atlanta Highway to Festival Plaza where, conveniently, Rave Motion Pictures Festival 16 also makes its home.

Across Vaughn Road is the city’s other comics shop, Comic & Cards Trading Post, where you’ll find the same kind of scene, especially on Wednesdays, when the new releases come out.
Fanning flames of fandom

Of course, Andrews wasn’t around when Captain America Comics #1 was released, but he’s been an avid reader of super hero comics since he was a child. And of course he’s seen the movie.

But Andrews’ 14-year-old daughter, having caught all the Marvel movies leading up to this one at least once, was even more psyched than her dad.

“She just has gotten into all this, so she’s just lapping it all up. Now, every time a comic book movie comes out, she’s like, ‘We’ve got to go, Dad!’” Andrews said.

“All those movies that are linked together so it’s one big story. It was neat to see all those characters come together in one movie.”

If he has time, he’ll see it again, probably with his daughter, who has by now caught it at least one more time.

She’s not alone on that one. Christopher Eric Jackson of Prattville is sold, too.

“‘The Avengers’ is the best superhero movie, ever. I've seen it once and will see it again,” Jackson said. “I was always a fan of the other individual Avengers’ movies. I always stay in the theater until the lights come on so I can see the ‘Easter eggs.’