Behind the Mask: Superhero Fact and Fiction

We're certainly living in the golden age of superheroes! Though the first recognisable superhero, Superman, burst onto the scene in 1938, it's only since the launch of the Iron Man franchise and all the associated movies, multiverses, sequels and TV shows that it seems you can't swing a cat without bumping into a billion-dollar  blockbuster. 

 These early superheroes, like Wonder Woman, reflected the values and aspirations of their era, embodying ideals of courage, morality, and determination. As society evolved, so did the superhero genre, adapting to changing norms and addressing contemporary issues. Black Panther is an excellent example of this! The first black superhero was introduced during the civil rights movement in the United States, and his creation was a significant step toward more diverse representation in comic books.

Some surprising Marvel facts

1. Robert Downey Jr.'s Snacks on Set: Robert Downey Jr., who played Iron Man/Tony Stark, reportedly had a habit of hiding snacks all over the set. He would place snacks in various places, like in his suit or on the set pieces, and then pull them out during filming breaks.

2. Vin Diesel's Unique Script: Vin Diesel, who voices Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, reportedly had a special script for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" that included translations of Groot's famous line "I am Groot" in multiple languages. This was done to help Diesel understand the context and emotion behind each line.

3. Real Ants for Ant-Man: For some scenes in "Ant-Man," real ants were used to help achieve authenticity. The production team placed tiny harnesses on the ants to guide their movements, and then digitally enlarged them to interact with the characters.

4. Tom Holland's Hidden Script: Tom Holland, known for his tendency to accidentally reveal spoilers, was given a special redacted script for "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame" to prevent him from accidentally leaking plot details.