Remember that stereotype about comic books being the realm of society’s outcasts, who live in their parents’ basement and never had a girlfriend?

Well, consider it shattered once and for all.

If you needed more proof that comic books appeal to everybody, just stop by your local movie theater. Isn’t it amazing how many of the showtimes are for a superhero movie?

Spider­Man and Batman are obvious hits that reliably make hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office (sequel after sequel). Yet, the Marvel (and DC Comics) universe reaches far beyond the most known superheroes.

The Hulk, Thor, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Aquaman, Green Lantern, and even Ant Man. Every hero gets a movie made. (Female superheroes seem to be given a bit of a cold shoulder, as parodied brilliantly in this Saturday Night Live sketch about Black Widow).

In 2014 alone, there were 5 major superhero movie releases (Guardians of the Galaxy, X­men: Days of Future Past, The Amazing Spider­Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and of course Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

Superheroes are taking over our TV sets as well, with The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as one obvious example.

Sure, this superhero invasion of screens big and small is easily explained by the studios’ reliance on proven money­making sequels and by the Marvel/DC Comic’s desire to cash in on every property they own. Still, superhero movies wouldn’t be such a good bet for good box office haul if people didn’t want to watch superhero movies.

Why do we, the viewing public, love superhero movies so much these days? Maybe it’s the rise of truly amazing CGI effects, with IMAX and Dolby Surround Sound to put some extra POW and BANG into every villain fight. Maybe it’s the fact that the nerds of yesteryear are all grown up and aren’t afraid to put their movie­going money where their passion is.

Whatever the case may be, one thing is clear ­ comic book heroes and plots are no longer on the fringe but rather in that bat shaped spotlight. Comic books are super cool.

Whoever you are, there is a superhero for you, not in some dusty basement but right there on the big screen. Watching these cool movies and TV shows, you gotta wonder what is your comic story?