New Exhibit Focusing on Jewish Comics, Pop Culture Opening in New York
by Shiryn Ghermezian

The Center for Jewish History in New York City announced this week a new exhibition opening in the fall that will showcase the history of Jewish comics, graphics, and pop culture.
The exhibit, titled “The Museum and Laboratory of the Jewish Comics Experience,” will feature original artworks by acclaimed Jewish comic writers and artists, historical artifacts, and interactive installations “celebrating the rich tapestry of Jewish narratives depicted through the lens of comics and graphic storytelling,” according to a description on its website. It is being organized in partnership with JewCE: The Jewish Comics Experience, a Jewish comic book convention that will take place in November.
The artifacts that will be on display include original Captain America artwork by co-creator Joe Simon, the rare 1933 Reign of the Superman story by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and the comics of Holocaust survivor Lily Renée, who was one of the first women to make a mark in the comic book industry.
Visitors will learn about the development of Jewish themes and representation in comics and other art forms — from classic newspaper comic strips to contemporary graphic novels. The exhibit will have two parts, starting with a museum that dives deep into the Jewish origins of the comic book industry and how Jewish comic book creators responded to fascism in their works.
The second part of the exhibit is a laboratory that will enable visitors to participate in activities that will teach them about the creative process behind graphic storytelling, such as character creation, storyboarding, and iconography. The laboratory will additionally have a separate area where visitors can dress up like superheroes, take part in imaginative cosplay, and pose for pictures.
“The Museum and Laboratory of the Jewish Comics Experience” will open on Oct. 6 and run through December.