Top 5 superhero movies we're excited about in 2018

The highs and lows of 2017's superhero movies might be behind us, but there's plenty more to come in the new year. The thing with super-powered guys bashing bad guys is in most cases there is already an extensive fan base of them in the comics by DC, Marvel and others. These fans are generally excited to see their beloved heroes (or villains) on the big screen. From Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Deadpool 2 to Ant-Man and the Wasp and Venom, here's a handy chronological guide to 2018's upcoming superhero films.

The film follows Marvel's first-ever black superhero T'Challa, aka Black Panther (played by Marshall's Chadwick Boseman) as he battles old enemies including Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) in order to take his rightful place as king of the fantastical African land of Wakanda. Black Panther, which runs for 134 minutes, is set to premiere on Feb 16, 2018.

The longest awaited film brings together the culmination of the Infinity Stones storyline that has been a part of almost every Marvel Cinematic Universe film since the post credit scene in Thor. Directing duo Joe and Anthony Russo have teamed up again with writing pair Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and will bring together heroes from Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Avengers. Marvel fans are feverish with excitement after Anthony Mackie teased an Avengers: Infinity War scene featuring 40 superheroes. The scene will undoubtedly be the Marvel Cinematic Universe's biggest to date. The film is set to premiere on May 4, 2018.

When Deadpool hit theaters in 2016, fans were elated. A passion project that almost withered in development hell had made it to the big screen and exceeded expectations. The second-best part: It wasted no time teasing more. "The sequel? Ryan Reynolds will be back as the Merc with a mouth in his second outing. Josh Brolin will be appearing as the villain Cable and the marketing campaign for the film has started. Deadpool 2 releases on 18th May, 2018.

Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly will be back for the second outing of world's smallest superhero and the film will be Marvel's first to take place after the events of Infinity War. This will be Paul Rudd’s fourth appearance in the MCU with Ant-Man (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). Peyton Reed returns as director in this film that is slated to release on July 6, 2018.

Tom Hardy will be starring in the Spider-Man spin-off, Venom. Sony Pictures is trying to jump-start a Spider-Man-villain universe without Spider-Man, who’s hanging his webs at Marvel Studios these days. That preposterous proposition, coupled with Venom’s unpopularity with older comics fans, pushes Venom to the bottom of the list. The film releases on 5th October, 2018.