Masters of American Comics

Comics_logo_150Masters of American Comics is the latest exhibit at the Jewish Museum on 92nd and Fifth.  Consistently the Jewish Museum, I think, does a great job.  If you are into the history of comic books, this is absolutely the show to see. 

The exhibit brings together the work of fourteen artists from the 20th and 21st Century.  This is actually a two part exhibit where some of the work is at 92nd and Fifth and the rest is at the Newark Museum. Comics were a very influential part of the media at one point.  The most interesting thing was that I didn’t realize how many of the comic writers were Jewish.  Lots of them immigrated here from Eastern Europe after WWII.  The artists I saw today were Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Harvey Kurtzman, R. Crumb, Chris Ware and Gary Panter.  George Schultz is one of the many artists in Newark.

Some of the famous characters created by these guys were Superman, Betty Boop, Green Hornet, Fantastic Four, and Marvel Comics.  Pretty amazing. 

One of my favorite books which they were selling at the museum shop is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon.   After seeing this exhibit, I can see where he got some of the ideas.  A must read.

Glad I saw the exhibit.  You learn something new everyday.