From Hercules to Superman, ‘Myth of Superheroes’ at Comic-Con Museum Links Old with New

Modern-day superheroes entertain audiences around the world with their special powers and tales of heroism, but a new exhibit connects those heroes with gods and legends from long ago.

“The Myth of Superheroes: From Antiquity to Contemporary Art” is the latest exhibit to open at the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park.

The exhibit – debuting in San Diego for it’s only North American appearance – draws direct links between ancient Greco-Roman mythology and the superheroes
who have become so popular in pop culture

“Heroes have always been a global phenomenon,” said museum Executive Director Rita
Vangergaw. “This exhibit encourages the public to learn what the legendary defenders of the
universe who span comic pages and the silver screen have in common with the storied mythical gods in a fun, interactive experience.”

The exhibit features 400 objects spread across the main floor of the museum. As visitors walk in, they immediately see busts of Superman and Hercules and, further on, statues of Aquaman and Neptune, Wonder Woman and an Amazon and the Flash and Mercury.

If a visitor feels temporarily transported to a museum in Italy or Greece, he should, as the exhibit was put together by Contemporanea Progetti, a company founded in Florence, Italy that specializes in the development of artistic, archaeological and historic exhibitions.

“It surprises people in a very pleasant way,” said Vandergaw, of the busts and statues. “They
don’t necessarily connect mythology with superheroes.”

On the other side of the room is a timeline of the evolution of superheroes that runs from the
creation of Superman in 1938 to the popularity of today’s Deadpool & Wolverine movie and “X-Men ‘97” television show.

Another space features dozens of action figures enclosed in glass cases lining the museum’s walls, a sight sure to bring out the little kid in some visitors.

Other areas feature covers of comic books from around the world, posters from recent
superhero movies and covers of landmark comics, including the “Daredevil: Born Again” and
“Batman: A Death in the Family” storylines.

The museum is fond of offering social-media worthy photo opportunities and this exhibit
includes a backdrop allowing visitors to lift a taxi and to climb a skyscraper, a la Spiderman.

“We wanted it to be educational, but we also wanted it to be fun,” Vandergaw said.

There are also interactive activities, including a light table that allows children to build their own superhero using plastic figures.

“Our goal is to spur creativity,” Vandergaw said. “We like to think that we help plant the seeds for the creators of the future, the children that come here.”

The exhibit ends with a lyric from a song by David Bowie – “We can be heroes, just for one day.” Visitors are then urged to leave behind their thoughts on heroism by writing them on
whiteboards.

“The Myth of Superheroes” is scheduled to run through Feb. 15, 2025.

This is the first time the exhibit has been displayed in the world. After it leaves San Diego, it will return to Europe.