Do you remember the first comic book you ever read? Who doesn’t know that Peter Parker’s alter-ego is Spider Man? Can anyone escape childhood without some exposure to comic books?

The University Museum is now hosting a new exhibition that is part of its occasional Collector’s Whimsy series. "Carl Buchanan’s Silver Age and Modern Marvel Comics" exhibits 74 examples of comic book covers and panel art. All pieces featured were selected from the extensive collection of the late faculty member of the English Department.

Under the creative direction of Stan Lee, Marvel Comics rose from relative obscurity in the late 1950’s to become the dominant publishing firm in the country by 1970.

Its stable of characters include Iron Man, Spider Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, and such notable super hero teams as the Fantastic Four, X-men and the Avengers.

The exhibition presents work representing Marvel’s fantasy and super-hero comics dating between 1941 and 2003, a survey of one of one unique format of American literature.

The public and campus community is also invited to attend a gallery presentation at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, in the museum. A brief account of comic books as art forms and cultural records will be presented, and there will be time available to walk through the exhibit.

The University Museum is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and at other times by prior arrangement with the curator.