HARTFORD — In Spring 1933, the Waterbury-based firm of Eastern Color Printing invented the modern form of the comic book when a salesman conceived of folding tabloid-sized (11 by 17 inches) comics supplements into halves and selling them to advertisers. That first modern format comic book was called Funnies on Parade. Soon after, illustrators, writers, press operators and publishers of comic books were making Connecticut their home.

Through April 25, The Connecticut Historical Society is presenting an exhibition, "Heroes, Heartthrobs and Horrors: Celebrating Connecticut's Invention of the American Comic Book," which explores the state's important but sometimes underrated role in the creation and evolution of the American comic book.

Visitors to One Elizabeth Street (at Asylum Avenue) can discover how comic books are made and learn about how comic books can provide surprising insights into American society and culture. Examples of rare and historically significant comic books from CHS's expansive and eclectic collection of over 700 Connecticut-made comics, artifacts and other memorabilia are on view. Visitors can get up close and personal with beloved superheroes rooted in Connecticut, from Captain Marvel (who once "visited" Hartford) and Plastic Man to Blackhawk and Blue Beetle.

The young and young-at-heart will enjoy the interactive environment and opportunities to dress up as comics heroes.

The dynamic exhibition focuses on Connecticut'important role in the colorful creation and evolution of the American comic book during the genre's Golden Age, from the '40s through the '50s.

The exhibit also explores the controversial impact of comics in American society, censorship challenges, plus the endurance of resonant stories and art that helped shape and reflect American culture as the genre transitioned from its Golden Age through to the 1970s.

Related Special Events

On Saturday, January 18, from 2 to 4 pm, CHS will offer the workshop "Create A Comic Strip." Participants will be joined by Brad Gilchrist, the nationally syndicated cartoonist of "Nancy" and the creator of The Hartford Courant's popular "Connecticut Fan," to let their creative sparks fly while learning to draw their own comic strip.

Mr Gilchrist will share some tricks of the trade with children and adults in a fun-filled workshop designed to spur the imagination. Budding artists will learn to draw everything from crazy characters to amusing animals, taught with a sense of fun and wonder by one of America's favorite comic artists.

An evening discussion, "The Good, The Bad, and The Banned," will be offered Monday, February 9, from 7 to 8 pm.

The discussion will be loosely centered on Dr Fredric Wertham's 1954 book Seduction of the Innocent, the released of which was followed years of heated debate on the impact of comics on children and "innocent minds."

The evening will explore Connecticut's role in the censorship of comic books in the 1950s as well as more recent censorship issues impacting other media.

Amy Nyberg, the author of Seal of Approval: The History of the Comics Code, will lead a lively discussion with panelists to include Hartford Courant columnist Denis Horgan, an outspoken local critic of censorship in the media at large, and additional panelists to be announced.

Then on Thursday, March 11, at 7 pm, stand-up comedian and writer Arie Kaplan will offer a program called "How The Jews Created the Comic Book."

Superman was the brainchild of two Jewish young men — the writer Jerry Siegel and the artist Joe Shuster. While visitors to "Heroes, Heartthrobs and Horrors" will learn about the comic book's history in Connecticut, Mr Arie will discuss the backstory of Superman and other legends, which gets even more fascinating with the tracing of an event from the height of the Great Depression, FDR's presidency and Hitler's emergence into power in Germany to sharing the story of Jewish heritage that is at the heart of the comic book's creative origin.

Mr Kaplan, who writes for MAD magazine and Entertainment Weekly, among others, will discuss the Jewish experience and creative spark of so many Jewish writers and artists who entered the comic book field in its early years, excelling in one of the few arenas open to them without discrimination. This program is being co-sponsored with the Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford.

These programs are included with museum admission but reservations are requested; call 860-236-5621 extension 238.

Other Exhibitions On View

Also currently on view at CHS is "Tours and Detours Through Early Connecticut," an award-winning exploration of rustic life in Connecticut more than 200 years ago; "Amistad — A True Story of Freedom," another award-winning exhibition, which offers five galleries exploring the struggle of Africans for their freedom and the Connecticut people who tried to help them achieve it in New London, New Haven, Hartford and Farmington following the 1839 revolt on the ship Amistad; and "Join The Circus," a weekends-only romp through circus life where adults and children can create, direct and star in their own center-ring performance through costumes, props and more, while viewing photos from the CHS collections which explore the history of the circus in Connecticut.

Exhibition hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for seniors, students and ages 6-17, and free for ages 5 and under. During the week of February 14-22 (the week many schools will have vacation), students will be admitted free of charge.

Call 860-236-5621 or visit www.CHS.org for further information.