We’ve already talked about the most-anticipated YA books of 2011 and the most-anticipated book to movie adaptations of 2011, but we’re also excited for some other movie adaptations this year. That is, movies adapted from comic books and graphic novels. And holy box office Batman- there’s a lot of them! Seriously, forget what the Chinese Calendar says: 2011 isn’t the Year of the Rabbit- it’s the Year of the Comic Book Nerd. Here is what is making our geek bones tingle:

Thor

Current release date: May 6th

Now, this is going to be interesting.

As has been reported ad nauseum, Marvel is following up the success of its Iron Man franchise with a big screen adaptation of The Avengers. For comic noobs, The Avengers classic lineup includes (among others) Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and The Incredible Hulk. So, other Avengers (who have previously been ignored by Hollywood) are getting the silver screen treatment- in a film universe already occupied by Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man and (formerly Ed Norton’s and now) Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk. What’s most intriguing is that while Iron Man, Hulk and the upcoming Captain America focus on heroes with a science-fiction background, Thor is a different animal altogether.

He’s the freakin’ Norse God of Thunder.

Therefore, it’s the job of director (and Shakespearean badass) Kenneth Branagh to craft a film where all-powerful lightning deities occupy a world that Iron Man’s Jon Favreau attempted to ground, at least somewhat, in reality. It’s like trying to stick Gollum and Gandalf into The Dark Knight.

But, man if it doesn’t look cool. Chris Hemsworth (he played Kirk’s dad in JJ Abrams’ Star Trek) seems like a pretty spot on Thor- buff, blonde and full of bravado.  And Iron Man’s Clark Gregg appears to be the common link between Iron Man and Thor as he reprises his role as SHIELD agent Coulson (you’ll remember he discovered Thor’s Mjolnir hammer in a post-credits scene from Iron Man 2.) Then you have Anthony Hopkins as Odin and (what I’m pumped about) The Warriors Three- Thor’s eclectic trio of buddies.

It’s one hell of an experiment. But if Branagh can successfully blend these elements of high fantasy with modern comic sci-fi, then we should have an incredibly original cinematic experience. At the very least, we’ll have another big action flick that lays the ground work for the assembling of the Avengers.

X-Men: First Class

Current release date: June 3rd

Is it just me, or have movie studios finally grown a pair?

Consider the premise of X-Men: First Class. Fox is taking its incredibly successful franchise (minus  its most popular character) and moving it into a shagadelic 1960s setting that looks more Dr. No than Professor X.  Look, I’m as prequel-weary as the next guy, but I have to hand it to these guys: they’re doing something original (at least by Hollywood standards).

The story (directed by Kick Ass’ Matthew Vaughn) shows how the friendship of mutants Professor Charles  Xavier and Erik (Magneto) Lehnsherr turns into a superpowered rivalry. The cast isn’t heavy on stars (the biggest name is James McAvoy who plays Xavier), but the setting and aesthetic are certainly unique. As a history geek, it’s exciting to see how the struggle for mutant rights will mirror the 60’s struggle for civil rights. As a comic geek, it’s exciting to see a comic book movie set during Marvel’s Silver Age. Bonus: they even got Mad Men’s Betty Draper (January Jones) to play Emma Frost!

Hopefully, this will be a return to glory for the X-Men franchise. Brett Ratner’s X3: The Last Stand basically pissed away all the goodwill that had been built by Bryan Singer’s excellent X-Men 2. And Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine spin-off was “meh” at best. Maybe by revisiting the past, our mutant friends can ensure a healthy cinematic future.

Green Lantern

Current release date: June 17th

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. Hold on. I need to catch my breath…

…

O.K. I’m good.

Now THIS is what I have been looking forward to for the past— I don’t know— 34 years? I am a dyed-in-the-wool Lantern nerd, and I can’t believe this is finally freaking happening!!! (I promise, no more exclamation points for the rest of this article.)

Like Thor, Green Lantern is a different type of comic book hero. You see, Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) is part of an intergalactic police force made up of bizarre creatures that fight other bizarre creatures in the far-reaches of the universe. This is not a Christopher Nolan what-would-it-be-like-if-Batman-really-existed story. This is a space opera with a Han Solo-esque lead character and some of the freakiest looking aliens this side of Mos Eisley.

It’s directed by Martin Campbell, who knows how to direct origin stories (exhibit A: Daniel Craig in Casino Royale). Ryan Reynolds definitely has the Hal Jordan swagger down. If he can nail the superhero gravitas (I had imagined Jon Hamm in the role) then we should have a blockbuster franchise on our hands.

I have one reservation: the few bits of Blake (Gossip Girl) Lively that appear in the movie’s trailer (I had flashbacks to Malin Akerman’s unfortunate turn as Silk Spectre in Watchmen- shudder). Hopefully, her performance is more substantial and less vapid when we see the final cut.

Either way, I  am just thrilled to see a movie studio embrace a story’s central weirdness. Kilowog, Tomar-Re, Abin Sur- they all look as beautifully impossible as they do in the pages of DC comics. And Sinestro! Mark Strong plays Sinestro and he looks friggin’ awesome!!!! (So I lied about the exclamation points. Sue me.)

Captain America: The First Avenger

Current release date: July 22nd

X-Men in the 60s wasn’t retro enough for you? No problem.

In yet another surprisingly bold move (I don’t normally gush over movie studios like this– seriously, this is just one of those years), Marvel has decided to revisit World War II to tell the story of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), who becomes super soldier Captain America. This, like Thor, is another movie laying the groundwork for The Avengers, and occupies the same film universe as Iron Man, Hulk, etc. (In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark discovered one of Cap’s old star-spangled shields).

Just as First Class revisits The Silver Age of Comics, this flick takes us to The Golden Age, when Cap battled Nazis and Tojo (in the movie, he clashes with Nazi Terrorist The Red Skull, played by Hugo Weaving). It’s a departure from the typical comic book film, and who better to helm it than Joe Johnston- the director of that retro-fabulous flick The Rocketeer. He also honed his skills as art director on Raiders of the Lost Ark- the dude knows this era.

Marvel auditioned a number of potential Caps, so it was a bit of a surprise when Evans got the nod. He had already played a Marvel Super Hero (his Human Torch was the highlight of the Fantastic Four movies), but I guess if Ryan Reynolds can be Deadpool and Green Lantern, Evans can do this. We have yet to see footage of Evans as Cap (outside of some very brief teaser footage at Comic-Con), but from the few pics released it seems (unsurprisingly) that Johnston and company have nailed the aesthetics.

Cowboys & Aliens

Current release date: July 29th

Daniel Craig is once again in full Steve McQueen-steely eyed-badass mode. I’m cool with that.

C&A is based on a 2006 graphic novel created by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg. Here’s the premise: There are some cowboys. They get attacked by aliens. They fight.

I’m excluding a few details, but here are what movie nerds need to know: the flick is directed by Iron Man’s Jon Favreau which guarantees some awesome visual whiz-bang, and probably means the story won’t suck.  Also, the cuddly-as-a-cactus lawman forced to ally with Craig’s outlaw is played by Harrison Ford.  Excuse me for one moment.

One adult for Cowboys and Aliens, please.

The Adventures of Tintin

Current release date: December 28th

Movie Trailer Voice: At long last, the visionaries behind Indiana Jones and The Lord of the Rings are joining forces to create a true cinematic event. This Christmas, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson present the incredible story of a Belgian kid and his dog.

Hold on– what?

Tintin was a popular Belgian comic that, for decades, followed a young reporter through his incredible adventures around the world. I can remember reading a few Tintin books as a lad, and they obviously left a much bigger impression on Mssrs. Jackson and Spielberg than they did on yours truly.

As these pictures illustrate, Tintin is a CGI-animated flick (and yes, it’s 3-D). It was shot with real actors (including Daniel Craig) using motion capture technology. You know, like Avatar and every movie Robert Zemeckis has made in the last ten years. It sounds interesting. Still, when you look at the rest of this list, and consider what’s in theaters these days, you can come to a rather strange conclusion:

An animated 3D flick based on a 70 year old Belgian comic may be the most conventional comic book movie of the year.

That thought has me covered in geeky goosebumps.

For the comments: Which of these comic book movies are YOU most excited about?