WHAT’S THE STORY?

IT cost a bomb, was partly made in Scotland and has sparked a near limitless level of news stories and cyberspace chatter.

Now the first reviews of superhero flick Avengers: Infinity War are out.

And according to predictions, the Marvel comics spin-off could knock out the competition to secure ticket sales of up to £179 million, giving it the biggest opening weekend ever.

SO FAR, SO SUPER

INDEED. Critics are seemingly as united as the on-screen heroes in their praise for the flick, which is rammed with characters from the comic pantheon.

Robert Downey Jr reprises his role as arms-dealer-turned-vigilante Iron Man, while Scarlett Johansson squeezed back into her Black Widow suit and red-haired Invernessian export Karen Gillan turns blue as the main villain’s adopted daughter, Nebula.

In fact, from Black Panther (who recently roared on to the screen in his own movie – a landmark in the superhero genre) to Spiderman, there are so many characters it’s probably easier to list those who don’t appear.

IS IT WORTH MY TIME?

IT’S a mega-budget, effects-filled blockbuster, so if you’re looking for quiet sophistication, probably not.

But it’s safe to say that film makers have packed plenty in to create a crowd-pleaser on an intergalactic scale.

For Scottish audiences, there’s also the added attraction that some scenes were filmed here. Cast and crew drew crowds when production took place in Edinburgh, with security barriers set up to keep eager fans out of shot. Locations include Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Cockburn Street and Waverley Station and the work is thought to have added up to £10m to the local economy.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE REVIEWS?

The National’s film critic Ross Miller will have his say tomorrow.

But according to other writers, it’s a monster success.

Variety called it a “sleekly witty action opera” and a “brashly entertaining jamboree”.

Meanwhile, Vulture said the film will “dazzle, stagger and rile people up”, suggesting that it “plays its audience like a hundred million fiddles”, and the Guardian said it “delivers the sugar-rush of spectacle”.

On the downside, the sheer number of characters vying for time – from Captain America and the Hulk to Scarlet Witch and Thor – has led to accusations of being “overstuffed” and “unimaginative”.

However, Metro said the whole is “so much more than a popcorn movie”, adding: “This is a film about sacrifice, grief and genocide.”

SOUNDS CHEERY

SURE does. Just remember, whatever viewers make of this, they’ve not seen the last of the franchise. With two Avengers flicks already before it, Infinity War will be followed by another next year, as well as other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

SO THE SERIES REALLY IS INFINITE?

AS long as it keeps making money. The production cost was rumoured to be in the range of £215m-£245m and Disney, which owns Marvel, is not in this for the art.

Black Panther has made more money than James Cameron’s Avatar, with only Star Wars: The Force Awakens – also owned by the “mouse house” – outdoing it.