A strategic partnership between Event Comics and Marvel Entertainment, entitled Marvel Knights, launches into comic stores everywhere in September. Unleashed on the Museum September 18, Daredevil (seen on the cover of our latest newsletter, Contact Us for a copy) is joined by Black Panther, The Punisher and The Inhumans to create our most exciting super hero exhibit to date.

Event Comics, the publishing house founded by Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti, both recognized stars has teamed up with Marvel Comics and bring to the Marvel Knights partnership the all-star creative teams seen above. “This is a chance to take a set of characters and give them a fresh and unique spin without changing the formula that Stan Lee gave the world, ” Quesada noted in a recent interview. He added “we will take that classic formula of super heros with human frailties and bring it into a new millennium.”

Words & Pictures is delighted to unveil this terrific line up of work and guests. The exhibit will showcase work from each of the four titles including covers, interior work and scripts. Additionally we’ll showcase work exclusively in the Event Comics lineup, including Ash and Painkiller Jane. The four Marvel Knights titles are linked not so much through their storylines as through their distinctive visual style. Quesada and Palmiotti are handling the art chores on Daredevil and are being joined by writer Kevin Smith, best known as writer and director of such films as Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy and the upcoming Dogma.

While this is not the first appearance at the Museum by many of these creators it does mark the first time we’ve brought together so many super heros at one time. This also marks the ONLY appearance by so many of the creators for Marvel Knights at one time. The appearance of Hollywood film maker Kevin Smith spotlights the unique ongoing partnership that comics and the movies share.

The exhibit will be open to the public from September 18 – November 15 with most members of the creative teams appearing at the Museum on October 17. The day long events will begin in the morning with a panel discussion at 10:30 AM. This event is FREE for Museum Members and $5.00 for the general public, and admission is limited to 75 people. The afternoon signing runs from 1:30 to 4:30 PM, and signings will unfortunately have to be limited to two per creator given the terrific line up and number of guests we anticipate. This is not our usual policy and we regret any inconvenience it may cause but we want to ensure that anyone who joins us gets an opportunity to get a Marvel Knights book signed. Don’t forget that, time permitting you can always join the line of eager fans again and make the rounds to get more material signed. General admission fees apply to the signing ($3.00 adults/$2.00 seniors and students/ $1.00 under 18).

In the evening from 7 – 9 PM we’ll host one of our ever popular gala gallery receptions to honor all of our Marvel Knights VIP guests and give you the opportunity to mix and mingle with them. The evening reception is the opportunity to chat with your favorite creators and these receptions are always attended by a number of other creator friends of the Museum, you never know who may show up. Tickets for the evening reception are $15.00, $10.00 for Museum Members and include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Attendence for the evening reception is limited, so get your tickets now. All profits from these events benefit the Museum’s ongoing fundraising campaign.

In addition to all of the creators who are donating their time and energy to this exhibit and event, the Museum would like to extend special thanks to Nanci Dakesian of Event Comics, writer Paul Jenkins and Kim Loughran of ViewAskew productions for their help in the curating and assembling of this showcase. Mark your calendars now.

Marvel fans, Event fans, Museum fans and Movie fans will not be disappointed!