New exhibit traces the evolution of Black characters and creators through the history of comic books in America

Opening October 15, a new exhibit from the University of Pennsylvania Libraries traces the evolution of Black comic book heroes and creators from exclusion and harmful stereotypes to groundbreaking protagonists and visionary storytellers. The Black Hero's Journey is free and open to the public at the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center on Penn's campus.

Featuring iconic characters such as Lion Man, Black Panther, Nubia, Storm, and Static, the exhibit explores how comics have reflected both the struggles and aspirations of Black communities while challenging ideas about who gets to be a hero. It also highlights connections to the city of Philadelphia.

"My hope is for library visitors to feel a sense of pride, excitement, or wonder while engaging with this exhibit," says co-curator Samantha Hill, Curator of Civic Engagement in the Penn Libraries' Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. "I believe comic books allow readers to enter an imaginative space and envision themselves within the story. You become the hero."

Comics on display include those from the personal collections of co-curators Charles (Chaz) Lattimore Howard, University Chaplain and University Vice President for Social Equity & Community, and West Philadelphia resident and comic artist Eric Battle, who has illustrated numerous iconic characters for DC Comics and Marvel Comics. They also comprise items from the Kislak Center's permanent holdings, including the Gary Prebula Collection of Comic Books, and loans from other institutions, including the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at The Ohio State University.

The exhibit covers a variety of historical and thematic areas, making the case that Black comic heroes are descendants of centuries of storytelling. A replica 1940s-era newsstand reflects the importance of comic and print culture in that era. Underground comix and the Afrofuturism movement are explored, along with connections between X-Men and the Civil Rights Movement.

"If you want to understand a culture, you need to understand the stories it tells about itself," says co-curator Sean Quimby, Associate Vice Provost and Director of the Kislak Center. "Comic books are too often undervalued as cultural artifacts, especially when you consider how deeply woven they are into the collective imagination of Americans."

In addition to featuring the fictional stories of Black comic heroes, the exhibit examines the parallel journeys of the creators behind the stories, including exhibit co-curator Eric Battle, along with Dawud Anyabwile, Orrin C. Evans, Sheena Howard, Dwayne McDuffie, Jackie Ormes, E.C. Stoner, and Qiana Whitted.

Battle contributed custom artwork to the exhibit that features real-life heroes from Philadelphia, including Paul Robeson, Sadie Alexander, W.E.B. DuBois, Orrin C. Evans, and others, as well as fictional characters from the first and only issue of All-Negro Comics, which was published in Philadelphia. Additional connections to Philadelphia within the exhibit include the series Brotherman: Disciple of Discipline, published by brothers and Philadelphians Dawud Anyabile and Guy A. Sims.

"I want visitors to walk away with excitement about the city that they live in and curiosity about the process of making comic books and just telling their own stories," says Battle. "As a young person, I was always encouraged that creativity just will not be denied in the end. No matter what you're creating, there's somebody who's looking for it."

Community Programming and Related Events

The exhibition team is planning a robust series of related events and engagement activities beginning this fall and throughout the spring. During the opening event October 15, Emmy-winning television host, writer, and editor Christian Cooper will join Chaz Howard for a wide-ranging conversation about race and representation in American comics.

"Comics are such a great pedagogical tool for learning," says Howard. " When I think about the educational vocation of a place like Penn, that doesn't only happen in the classroom. So much good learning happens in programs and exhibits that students and our colleagues, and our neighbors here in West Philadelphia can engage in without having to do homework, without being graded, without having to perform in any way."

Many planned events are designed to engage young people, from students at Penn to K-12 students in Philadelphia and neighboring communities. On October 31, a special Halloween event with family-friendly activities will kick off a series of Family and Community Day programs. Starting in 2027, students from West Philadelphia high schools will give tours of The Black Hero's Journey during additional Family and Community Days, as part of the Youth Docent Program sponsored by the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance/Paul Robeson House & Museum and Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships. With support from the Kislak Family Foundation, cartoonist-in-residence Jamar Nicholas is also leading a series of activities to bring the themes of the exhibit to public school students in Philadelphia.

Find details about the exhibit and related public programs on the exhibit webpage. Additional programs will be added throughout the year.

Visitor Information

On view from October 15, 2026 to May 13, 2027. This exhibition is free and open to the public and located in the Goldstein Gallery on the 6th floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week and during special events, excluding holidays and other times the library is closed to visitors. See our Hours and Service Alerts for more information.

Penn faculty, staff, and students must swipe their PennCard for access. Visitors from outside the Penn community must present a current, valid government or school-issued photo ID that contains an expiration date. Find more information to plan your visit.

Press Inquiries

Please contact Mary Ellen Burd. Find a selection of images and captions approved for publication on Box.

About the Kislak Center

The Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts advances learning and inspires discovery in Penn's community and around the world. The goals of the Kislak Center align with those of the Penn Libraries as a whole: to make our collections accessible; to use technology in innovative and meaningful ways; to enhance teaching and research; and to preserve our cultural resources for future generations. 

About the Penn Libraries

The Penn Libraries provides a network of information resources and knowledge services that are vital to teaching, research, and learning at the University of Pennsylvania. This network includes 19 physical libraries, recognized for their collections, and a digital library known for innovation and richness of content. Through exhibitions and lectures, and through the acquisition and preservation of literary and artistic artifacts, the Penn Libraries documents a wealth of social and historical periods, bringing scholarship to life at the University and in the various communities it serves.

Featured image: Poster design for The Black Hero’s Journey featuring the character Static from DC Comics. Illustration by Eric Battle, colors by Andrew Dalhouse. Static © 2026 Milestone Media & DC. ™ DC Comics.