In Ancient Greek mythology, Hippolyta was the queen of the Amazons – a race of warrior women – who was given a magical belt by her father Ares that granted her superhuman strength. In Ancient Roman mythology, meanwhile, Mercury was the messenger of the gods whose winged feet allowed gave him extraordinary speed. Hercules embodied both strength and speed, while Poseidon was the god of the sea.
Flashforward thousands of years later, and these gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece and Rome still exist, although they now go by different names. Hippolyta may still be queen of the Amazons but it is the exploits of her daughter Wonder Woman that have been enshrined in the mythology of the twenty-first century. Mercury’s gift of speed has been transplanted to the Flash, Aquaman now rules the sea, and the trials of Hercules have been supplanted by the adventures of Superman.
In 2024, the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego highlighted the similarities between the gods and goddesses of old and the comic book superheroes of the present with The Myth of Superheroes: From Antiquity to Contemporary Art. The exhibit was created by the Italian-based Contemporanea Progetti and contained over 400 objects – from replicas of ancient statues and bust to modern day action figures – that not only connected three thousand years of human imagination but showed that comic book superheroes know no boundaries when it comes to contemporary times.
“It surprises people in a very pleasant way,” Rita Vandergaw, executive director of the Comic-Con Museum, told the Times of San Diego. “They don’t necessarily connect mythology with superheroes.”
In the center of the entrance hall of The Myth of Superheroes is a bust of Captain America and his shield, with additional busts of Superman and Zeus located off to the side. Multicolor spotlights shine on the floor, adding to the ambiance, while a giant mural of superhero action figures standing in front of ancient ruins filled with statues of the gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece and Rome covers an entire wall.
A video map of the world highlights specific countries and continents, as well as their contributions to the myths of the past and superheroes of the present. The iconic dragons from Ancient China, for instance, served as the archetype for many modern monsters, while the sixteenth century novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en was the inspiration for Dragon Ball. Ancient Japanese cultural – filled with samurais and ninjas – likewise influenced modern day manga and anime.
Upon entering the exhibit itself, visitors are greeted by a plethora of original comic books from countries around the world – the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Russia, Egypt, Africa, India, Japan, China, and Australia.
Miraculous: Les Aventures de Ladybug et Chat Noir, for instance, is a French series based on an animated television show that follows two college students chosen to fight the evil Papillon, who has unleashed butterflies on the populace of Paris that have the ability to turn ordinary people into supervillains.
Next up are replicas of Ancient Greek and Roman busts and statues, including the famed Winged Victory of Samothrace that sits at the top of the main staircases at the Louvre in Paris. Further inside are statues of Poseidon, Artemis/Diana, and Mercury sit in front of video screens that transform the ancient gods and goddess into their contemporary personas of Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash.
A display in the middle of the room tracks the myths of Ancient Greece and Rome, as well as the heroes that played integral roles in the narratives, such as Hercules and Achilles. Would Superman have been prone to the negative effects of kryptonite if it wasn’t for Achilles’ own vulnerability? Kryptonite has even crept into modern vocabular to describe someone’s weakness, much like “Achilles’ heel” did in the past.
The old mythologies were originally recited orally before finding their way into the written form, while the stories of modern day superheroes have been transplanted from two-dimensional drawings to the larger canvas of film. These different mediums are explored within The Myth of Superheroes, including newspaper comic strips that highlight the international community as well as the United States, close to twenty motion picture posters from throughout the decades, original artwork, and numerous DC and Marvel comic books.
While the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were enshrined in statues, it is action figures that immortalize contemporary comic book superheroes. The exhibit features an entire room containing floor displays along the middle and additional cases fastened to walls on either side, filled with every DC and Marvel superhero imaginable – from the vintage Mego action figures from 1970s with their cloth clothing to the posable plastic of Mattel, Hasbro, and Kenner.
“While some argue that DC Comics invented the protagonists of modern mythology by establishing their appearance (especially the tights and capes!) and code of conduct, Marvel revamped them in the 1960s.” The Myth of Superheroes exhibit later explains. “Superheroes became more fragile, more human, and closer to the reader and the real world by incorporating themes such as racism, drugs, and gender fluidity.”
The myths of Ancient Greece and Rome likewise incorporated real world events and themes into their fictional narratives. They thus serve as windows into their times much like contemporary comic books – a popular tagline for Marvel even proclaims that the world of superheroes is the “world outside your window.”
While no human has every slain a Minotaur or leaped tall buildings in a single bound, the capacity to be the living equivalent of Theseus and Superman remains within us just the same. “The message that the hero – and this exhibition – wish to convey is easy,” The Myth of Superheroes: From Antiquity to Contemporary Art declares near the exit. “Superpowers are not necessary for being a superhero. Everyone can become one by changing the world around them through small, daily acts of solidarity, understanding and respect.”
Words that the gods and goddesses of the past – as well as the superheroes of the present – would no doubt readily agree.
Anthony Letizia