The British Library has put its incredible collection of comics on display in a new exhibition called: “Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK”.
The exhibition is the first chance to see the collection alongside original artwork and scripts loaned from hugely important figures in the comic world, such as Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison and Mark Millar.
With over 200 exhibits, the British Library claims it is the largest exhibition of mainstream and underground comics in the UK.
The library says the collection explores how the art form has broken boundaries.
Comics Unmasked has been curated by the creator of the "Salem Brownstone" series John Harris Dunning, leading UK expert Paul Gravett and Adrian Edwards, the British Library’s Head of Printed Historical Sources.
We hope that this show will stimulate creative disobedience and throw down the gauntlet to young creators – as well as show audiences, who perhaps have not read comics before, what a diverse and exciting medium they are. The demystification of the process of creating comics is a key part of this exhibition, with once in a lifetime opportunities to see original artwork and scripts from comics greats.
There is a huge variety of content on display, including Judge Dredd's helmet from the film Dredd, worn by Karl Urban and...
A medieval ‘comic’ from 1470.
There is also brand new artwork by British artist Jamie Hewlett.
The work is a new two-panel design especially for Comics Unmasked.
The V for Vendetta masks from the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd are also scattered throughout the exhibition.
Much more than childhood nostalgia, comics are a powerful adult medium which can reflect and impact on society and change's people minds and lives. From the very start, comics have been cross-pollinating with movies, music, theatre and all the other media and today are on the cutting-edge of digital storytelling and multi-media installation art.
The adult theme is evidenced in Aleister Crowley's manuscript of The Diary of a Drug Fiend.
There is also a section dedicated to the erotic content in comics.
The display looks at sadomasochism, the Swinging Sixties and the high-profile obscenity trials.
Some of the material that the authorities tried to ban and the art created in retaliation is also shown.
The exhibition features comic strips created as public service announcements, such as this anti-smoking message from Superman.
Edwards said: "We're delighted to be celebrating the tradition of British comics with this landmark exhibition."
"Few realise how far back the form goes and the library's collections are unrivalled."
Comics Unmasked: Art and Anarchy in the UK runs until August 19.
Find out more about the exhibition here.
