Museum’s super new comic book display promises a Dark Knight to remember

A new super-powered museum display in Leeds will give visitors the chance to explore the colourful world of iconic costumed crimefighters.

Abbey House Museum’s Comics Unmasked starts this weekend and features exciting objects on loan from the public including Marvel and DC comics, graphic novels and figurines of famous characters Iron Man, The Hulk, The X-Men and Batman.

Also on display will be a Spider-Man comic signed by Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee and objects from the Leeds Museums and Galleries collection showcasing tiles like Dan Dare, Dandy, Beano, and Manga.

Patrick Bourne, Leeds Museums and Galleries assistant community curator, said: “The popularity of comic books and super heroes has absolutely skyrocketed in recent years and we’ve seen them grow to become a huge cultural phenomenon.

“This new display will give people a chance to explore their origins a bit more and think about just how and why these fantastical, colourful characters have captured the imaginations of millions of people across the world.

“It also looks at the different roles comics and graphic novella have played in the lives of people living in Leeds, from the big annual events they’ve inspired to the local businesses that have become part of the city centre.”

The exhibition also looks at cosplaying- the popular performance art that sees people wear elaborate costumes and fashion accessories to look like a specific character.

Cosplay items on loan include a Dan Dare ray gun and one of Batman’s Bat-a-rangs, both loaned by Leeds-based Cazbounces Books.

And members of the Leeds Cosplay Group have also made their own Batman vs Jason comic, based on the popular DC Comics range and shot on location in the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey.

Visitors can also watch a specially commissioned ten minute film about comic culture in Leeds, made by Digifish TV, which asks fans of all ages about their favourite characters and why they enjoy reading comics.

Recorded in November, the piece was shot at the annual Thought Bubble convention at the Royal Armouries as well as OK Comics in Thornton’s Arcade.

Councillor Brian Selby, Leeds City Council’s lead member for museums and galleries, said: “Comics are currently at the forefront of pop culture and they have a massive influence over some of the biggest film, TV and leisure activities that are enjoyed by millions of people from many different cultures and backgrounds.

“No doubt in future, comics will be looked at as part of our history and heritage so it will be interesting to learn more about how they have grown to become such a phenomenon and particularly what they mean to the people of Leeds.”

Comics Unmasked has been put together by the museum’s Vintage Youth Club , a group of young people aged 13 to 21.

They helped select objects on display and wrote the text for the exhibition and will also be blogging about their favourite exhibits.

The young people also appear throughout the exhibition as superhero characters which they have designed themselves, working with local artist Johnny Cosmic.

Comics Unmasked is open from Jan 21 until July 16.

For more details including activities linked to the display, visit: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/abbeyhouse/Comics-Unmasked.aspx

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Stuart Robinson

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 224 3937

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:

• Leeds is bidding for the title of European Capital of Culture 2023. The competition can only be hosted by UK five times per century and was last hosted in 2008 when Liverpool won the title. Prior to this Glasgow is the only other city to have the competition in 1990.
• Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture 2008 is estimated to have resulted in an economic impact of £750 million and opinion surveys showing an 85% increase in satisfaction from the local residents when asked if they liked living in the city.
• The Leeds bid is being led by and Independent Steering Group which has cross party support from Leeds City Council. Leeds City Council is already a minority funder of the bid with commercial partners and sponsorship contributing to the cost of bidding.
• The bid process takes four years with Leeds starting conversations about bidding in 2014 and expecting a decision in 2018.
• The competition is delivered by the European Commission but not specifically for EU Countries. Norway, Iceland and Switzerland are all outside of the EU and have all hosted successful European Capitals of Culture. The competition is administered in the UK by the Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS)
• Two cities host the competition each year. In 2023 one UK city and one Hungarian city will host the title. Current European Capitals of Culture are Aarhus in Denmark and Pafos in Cyprus.
• For more information visit: www.leeds2023.co.uk