asian arts initiative presents marvels & monsters: unmasking asian images in u.s. comics, 1942-1986, february 3 - march 23

Philly comic book lovers! The Asian Arts Initiative presents Marvels & Monsters: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics, 1942-1986 starting Friday, February 3.

The exhibit, which draws from the collection of Yellow Peril author and scholar William F. Wu, includes a retroactive look at how Asians were portrayed in graphic art, organized by the archetypes they reflect: the Alien, the Kamikaze, the Lotus Blossom... I think you get the point.

Once your blood is at a boiling point, though, the organizers are also highlighting the works of contemporary graphic novels written by Asian Americans. More:

Much more than a treasure trove for fans of graphic fiction, the exhibition Marvels & Monsters: Unmasking Asian Images in U.S. Comics, 1942-1986 at Asian Arts Initiative offers a captivating look at America's evolving racial and cultural sensibility as it is perceived in comic books. Marvels & Monsters, on view February 3 through March 23, draws from the unique collection of science fiction author and cultural studies scholar William F. Wu, whose assemblage of comic images is the world's largest of its kind.

Schedule of Programs and Events

Friday, February 3, 6 - 8 p.m.
Exhibition Opening Reception

Thursday, March 1, 6 p.m.
Film Screening and Panel Discussion

Guest panelists will discuss themes of the exhibition, focusing on the representation of Asian-Americans in contemporary media and popular culture.

Panelists:
Josephine Eng, professor of English literature and director of the Asian American Studies department, University of Pennsylvania
David Eng, professor of English literature and Asian American Studies, University of Pennsylvania
Theresa Tensuan, professor of English literature and director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Haverford College
Bakirathi Mani, associate professor of English literature, Swarthmore College

Asian Arts Initiative is located at 1219 Vine St., Philadelphia, PA.

Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 12 - 6 p.m.

Admission: Free

"These iconic images -- good and bad -- have real-world effects on people's perceptions of themselves and those around them," Wu says. Given the current climate of racial tension in the city, this exhibit comes at an appropriate time. Marvels & Monsters runs from February 3 through March 23. For further information, go here.