Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To The My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

#PantsWorthy: Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes Exhibition

Posted on July 23, 2018 By Sammy Younan

Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes Exhibition (Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle, WA) – Face front, true believers!

On July 20, 2018 I along with Culture Snap Photography aka Henry VanderSpek visited the newly renamed Museum of Pop Culture (it was originally called the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. Whew! As the wordy name suggests this large museum hosts music related exhibitions (Pearl Jam is upcoming) and all kinds of science fiction artifacts. If you ever find yourself in Seattle it is #PantsWorthy).

Located at the base of the iconic Space Needle the Museum of Pop Culture has organized Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes the “world’s first and most extensive exhibition celebrating Marvel’s visual and cultural impact.” Marvel will be 80 years old in 2019…that’s 80 years of comics plus the recently celebrated cinematic milestone: 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It’s daunting to grasp the scope and size of the impact Marvel has had on our lives and our pop culture. Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes has been curated by three scholars of comics Benjamin Saunders, Matthew J. Smith and Randy Duncan and by two comics writers familiar to most Marvel readers…Ann Nocenti and Danny Fingeroth.

(Actually 1 other name you’ll recognize? Hans Zimmer! He and Lorne Balfe created the soundscape as you wander the rooms…because every room needs music as epic as the superheroes they’re celebrating!)

So Now…there are over 300 original artifacts, classic pages from comic book artists, MCU costumes and props, blown up covers and I dunno what else from Marvel’s storied history.

It starts from the beginning with a “Timely” issue number 1 (of course it does!) Marvel Comics #1 cover dated October 1939.

And from there you wander deeper into the rooms: covering Captain America especially his war efforts during WWII, the Moral Panic of the late 50s which lead to the creation of  Comics Code Authority (“Won’t somebody please think of the children?”) then Stan Lee’s Big Bang which lead to Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four and well the Marvel we know and adore.

(Stan Lee is among the rare pantheon of big-bang creators harnessing the sparks of his imagination to ignite a powerful universe…that short list of George Lucas and Jim Henson. (And fine Walt Disney’s in that rare club…but his stuff sucks.) Excelsior Stan The Man Lee. What a fantastic life: you made mine better.)

And that’s just how it starts: room after room of incredible characters and uncanny props.

What you can expect as you wander through the exhibition? Cue the photos. Recognize these items?

MoPop Guardians Collage.jpg

“There’s some Thing special about lazy Sundays: a comfy couch, a fantastic book…not wearing pants and a rock solid friend. 4 of my favourite Sunday elements… a break from all the heat of the week being stretched thin and just being invisible.” (Photo by Culture Snap Photography aka Henry VanderSpek.)

Sleeping With The Thing.jpg

In 1939 on August 31st the first issue of Marvel Comics (cover date October) was published by Timely Comics (which would eventually become Marvel Comics). Marvel Comics #1 featured the first appearances of the Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch. That’s hot.

Eventually…in 2018 almost 80 years later Culture Snap Photography aka Henry VanderSpek and I would find ourselves in Seattle at Museum of Pop Culture’s exhibition Marvel: Universe of Superheroes. (Is that the butterfly effect?). With over 300 original artifacts spanning Marvel’s storied 80 year history there’s lots to see and in Henry’s case…lots to miss as well.

MOPop Marvel 2.JPG

You’ll recognize these Iron Man armors from the mighty Marvel movies. At the time while I was taking this photo a teenage girl in front of me was explaining Tony Stark’s armors to her little brother this way: the first one is the first iPhone…s’bit clunky; it doesn’t work very well. That second one is better…that’s like the iPhone 4. The last one is like iPhone 7.” They sadly did not have the Hulkbuster. Just goes to show if you wanna make a “Mark:” it doesn’t matter how you start; all that matters is that you start. #SuperheroMotivation

MoPop Iron Man Collage.jpg

So much more I can share but really? Go. This is #PantsWorthy for Marvel nerds and civilians. See it for yourself. 80 years of Marvel…I mean what an incredible and amazing and uncanny and fantastic adventure. If you’re not near Seattle expect Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes to be a travelling exhibition.

-28-

Sammy Younan is the affable host of My Summer Lair: think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

Movies, True Sammy Stories Tags:Culture Snap Photography, Marvel Comics, Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes, MCU, Pantsworthy, Seattle

Post navigation

Previous Post: #CouchWorthy: A&E’s Michael Jackson Cultureshock
Next Post: Lazy Sunday

More Related Articles

#PantsWorthy: Hot Docs 2022 – Part 2 Movies
DC Films Fail at Hip Hip Hooray! Comic Books
Urine Inspiring True Sammy Stories
#PantsWorthy: Hot Docs 2022 – Part 1 Movies
Smell Ya Later 2020 Handle Your Business
Trial by Trailer: Including…Mindhunter Movies
  • #SetTheVCR: March 27 – April 02, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR goes down a Rabbit Hole after a Knock At The Cabin. The dinosaurs are loose, there's a murder mystery and a couple of a-ha moments you can take…s'all on me? You're welcome!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Big Names in this week's #SetTheVCR: The Sandman, Mr. October, David Koresh and Tom Cruise. All they require is a Watcher, Britpop supplies the soundtrack.
  • #SetTheVCR: March 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is a fantastic TV tour: from Local comedy, to Irish hospitality to an Essex County visit after seeing Changeland you'll want to wear comfortable pants. Or no pants…even better!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    We got historical farts, spies in a cold war and a talking seashell…that can only mean it's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 27 – March 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Selective Outrage, a ghost and a Lil Yoda…obviously it's time for #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Smile! It's a fresh week of TV; you don't need The Consultant to know the Circus is back in town. It's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week in #SetTheVCR we go to space, technology runs amok and the American Government has been keeping UFOs secret. Welcome to the future…in this week's TV.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    A #SetTheVCR week that starts with a #GOAT…but will it end with a #GOAT?
  • #SetTheVCR: January 30 – February 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Ark you excited for another #SetTheVCR? Train your Watchful Eye on these fresh recommendations that'll make you Stand and cheer.
  • #SetTheVCR: January 23 – 29, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Can you read my Poker Face? You People are gonna enjoy this week's #SetTheVCR selections.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: DCEU Is Pee-Ew | Batgirl vs HBO MaxAugust 5, 2022
    Sammy & Rob Gaudette discuss and review the status of the DCEU following the cancellation of Batgirl on HBO Max. Rob still has hope.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: Contact Photography Festival 2022 | Culture SnapMay 12, 2022
    Sammy is joined by photographer Henry VanderSpek aka Culture Snap to discuss and recommend a happy handful of Contact Photography Festival exhibitions.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: A Taylor Hawkins MemorialMarch 28, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss the shocking and sad passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: All The Batmans | Keaton To Nipples to BatfleckMarch 10, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss All The Batmans: from Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: 2021 Induction Ceremony | Rock & Roll Hall of FameNovember 25, 2021
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss their happy highlights from the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

  • Yaron Weitzman (Tanking to the Top) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 148
    Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers
    by Sammy Younan
    Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sportsby Yaron WeitzmanPublished by Grand Central Publishing on March 17, 2020NBA // Non-Fiction // 76ers One of the best lines in Yaron Weitzman’s NBA book: “Hinkie triggered a culture war.” Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and...

    READ ON “Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers” »

  • New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: January 3-7, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 8-12, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

Copyright © 2023 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme