Two years ago, I read a horrifying headline: Marvel Has Movies Planned Through 2028

This was in 2014, the year of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "X-Men: Days of Future Past," "The Amazing Spiderman 2" and "Guardians of the Galaxy." Incidentally, the last of these is the last superhero movie I have watched to date.

I quit after "Guardians" not because it was bad, but because it seemed like the right place to stop. It wasn’t an ongoing story about Superman, Batman, Iron Man or Spiderman. It was a stand-alone film (though a sequel is in the works) and therefore satisfying for someone like myself who doesn’t follow the Marvel and DC universes too closely and who just wanted a good time at the movies.

I balked at the headline not because I’m a pretentious sourpuss (OK, maybe a little) but because I’m so tired of movies about men who fly, men who disappear, men with super strength, and men who can barely emote. I don’t hate superhero movies (Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy is a work of genius, even if "The Dark Knight Rises" was lackluster) but I hate what they’ve become. They’re no longer fun adventures like "Spiderman" (2002) or slick action flicks like "The Dark Knight" or "Iron Man." Instead they're soulless sequels, shameless cash-grabs more interested in putting asses in seats than presenting anything of substance.

“But that’s always been the point of blockbusters!” you say, and you’re right. It would be foolish to pretend Hollywood cares about anything beside money. Still, the movies they churn out now just aren’t the same. Those early titles—"Spiderman," "Iron Man," hell, even "The Avengers"—had wit and charm as well as stuff blowing up. They had balance. They felt fresh. Now they're short on ideas, so they're fighting each other. (Yes, I realize these conflicts exist in the comics but that doesn't make them any less tedious.)

Let me reiterate: it’s not that I hate superhero movies, it’s that I hate superhero movies now. They’ve gone from a summer treat to an all-pervading staple of modern cinema. The market is flooded with men in capes, men with claws, and men who go green when angry. As the headline implies, this won't be ending any time soon. Superheroes are in and it shows everywhere—on T-shirts, on subway cars, on party plates and soda bottles. They've helped turned movies into a breeding ground for mediocrity which is why so many turn to TV for good content. (Though with the debut of "Supergirl," "Daredevil," and "Jessica Jones," it might not be long before we lose that haven, too.)

This year we've already had "Deadpool" and "Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice," with "Captain America: Civil War," "X-Men: Apocalypse," "Suicide Squad," and "Doctor Strange" on the way. I suspect that by 2028—if movies theaters haven't gone totally extinct—the marquee will consist solely of these titles. Meanwhile I'll be huddled in a corner somewhere, rocking back and forth with my copy of "The Social Network," remembering how things used to be.