In a quiet corner of the Scotiabank Cinema on Thursday evening, a guy who goes by the name Spider_Inferno was changing into a custom-made Spider-Man costume.

His girlfriend Alyssia Duval, dressed as Thor, was having trouble with the last part — zipping up the back of his mask. Nearby, their friends milled about in Hulk, Iron Man and Captain America get-ups.

The occasion was the early-bird screening of Avengers: Infinity War, the latest in Marvel’s all-star superhero series, which officially opens on Friday.

“I’ve been dressing up as SpiderMan for six or seven years now,” said Spider_Inferno, 35, who appears regularly at conventions, kids’ birthday parties and Comiccon.

“I’ve been a Spider-Man fan since I was five years old. Peter Parker is a real hero, not like Superman, who is the most unrelatable superhero character out there.”

How deep is his love? Spider_ Inferno has a Spider-Man tattoo, his condo is “literally a SpiderMan shrine,” and he is the owner of some 5,000 Spider-Man comics.

“He’s definitely my spirit animal,” he said.

Which made for a good reason to be excited about Avengers: Infinity War, and to dress for the occasion.

“As a huge comic geek, who has read the Infinity Wars comic books, … I’m looking forward to seeing all 10 years of MCU (Marvel Comics Universe) come together,” Spider_Inferno said.

“All those superheroes we love and grew up watching are coming together for an epic story; I can’t wait. I’ve anticipating this for quite a while.”

Standing by in her Thor outfit, Duval, 27, exhibited a more tempered enthusiasm.

“I go to all the conventions with him now, so I dress up, too,” she said. “But I’m a Trekkie; I dress up as Star Trek characters. I love Marvel and the Avengers as well, obviously.”

Steven Lee, 20, was excited to finally be donning even a toneddown version of the wardrobe of his idol Captain America.

“Dressing up as your favourite character — it’s not every day you get to do it,” he said. “I’ve wanted to dress up before, but I didn’t have the right people. Now that we’re all motivated to see this together, the time is right.”

Marjorie, 34, was also new to the costume game.

“Since meeting these people who were dressing up, I thought I might as well join in the fun,” she said.

“It’s like stepping into another universe, having fun, letting go, letting your nerd flag fly.”

The provider of the super apparel — with the exception of Spider_Inferno’s, of course — was Karine, aka Iron Man, 44, whose home is “full of cinema stuff.”

Originally from Venezuela, she grew up reading DC Comics, but has since converted to Marvel. She was approaching the evening’s main event with an open mind.

“I always avoid trailers,” she said. “I really want the element of surprise.”

As Spider_Inferno indulged other filmgoers’ selfie requests, a young woman in an Iron Man hoodie, and matching mask under her arm, gave a bashful wave to the costumed crew.

“Dressing up — I just like,” said Carol-Ann Teasdale, 21, who had come to the screening on her own.

“I don’t know how to describe it. It helps me connect with other people at the cinema.”