ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938-1950
February 19 through August 9, 2009 at the Skirball Cultural Center
Through never-before exhibited art and objects culled from private and institutional
collections, ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938-1950
explores the genesis of cultural icons such as Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, Wonder
Woman, and Captain America, and the ways that those figures shaped popular opinion. ZAP!
POW! BAM! includes vintage artwork and books, multi-media presentations and colorful
interactive displays.
The exhibition examines the creative processes and influences that drove young Jewish artists
to express their talents through the story lines and art of graphic novels. Guest Curator Jerry
Robinson brings a long history as a comic book industry insider to the exhibition. Working
with Batman co-creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Robinson named Robin, Batman’s young
protégé. Robinson also co-created The Joker, Batman’s nemesis and one of the first supervillains.
Rare early comic books, superhero memorabilia, selected artifacts from creators and
publishers and original art on loan from major individual and institutional collectors bring
these superheroes to life.
The Skirball Cultural Center will add an exclusive new element to ZAP! POW! BAM!—“The
Hollywood Connection.” Reflecting the Skirball’s location in Los Angeles, “The Hollywood
Connection” includes the original BatCycle from the Batman television series of the 1960s on
loan from the Peterson Automotive Museum, vintage movie posters on loan from the
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, other movie and television memorabilia, and
original comic books on loan from the University of California, Riverside.
As an institution dedicated to exploring the long and rich history of the Jewish people and the
intersection of Jewish values and American democratic ideals, the Skirball Cultural Center
maintains a particular commitment to the transmission of this heritage through the work of
Jewish artists and writers. ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books,
1938-1950 highlights the work of young Jewish illustrators, writers, publishers, and editors
who faced discrimination yet created a thriving comic book industry. The Skirball Cultural
Center celebrates the universal concepts of respect for humanity and responsible citizenship
that these comic books demonstrate by depicting how ordinary people doing the right thing
can become heroes.
Jennifer Caballero
Marketing Director
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 North Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310) 440-4524 phone
(310) 440-4595 fax
www.skirball.org
