The age of “Marvelocity” visits the MOR

Superheroes – and a world-famous artist who brought them to life – are currently being featured at the Museum of the Rockies.

Some call it a feud, others just a preference. Either way, DC and Marvel comics have been rivals for decades. Initially a friendly competition, small arguments kept the spark alive when one claimed the other stole ideas, seeing many similarities in their respective superheroes - DC’s Plastic Man and Marvel’s Mr. Fantastic, for example. Today the two corporations are on good terms and have even shared authors and artists to work on their projects.

Alex Ross, the illustrator whose work is on display at the museum, was one of these artists.

Ross is a world renowned comic book writer whose acclaimed work has propelled comic book writing and illustration to popularity in the last forty years. Marvels, a limited series with a realistic look at Marvel superheroes—written by Kurt Busiek—was Ross’s big breakthrough in 1993, at age 23.

Later, Ross worked with DC comics and pitched Kingdom Come (1996), a bestselling four-issue miniseries depicting Superman, Wonder Woman and new superhero characters in a world coming to an end, according to Ross’s official website.

The exhibition, entitled “Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross”, was first displayed in 2019 at the DUNN Museum. It was an extensive showcase, including over 50 framed original illustrations, exclusive access to Alex Ross Inc. merchandise, and other introductions to the realm of comic book writing and artistic process, as presented on the DUNN Museum website.

Today, the exhibition can be seen at our very own Museum of the Rockies after traveling around the country.

Between Jan. 28 and May 7, Alex Ross’s experience as a Marvel comic book writer is on display at the Museum. Celebrating Ross’s 2018 book, “Marvelocity: The Marvel Comic Art of Alex Ross” exhibition retraces the thought process behind the writing and illustration of the book, displaying early cover page ideas and other original art included in the book.

Through Ross’s art, the exhibition takes visitors into his artistic process, with “his childhood drawings, preliminary sketches, paintings, and three-dimensional head busts of characters from the Marvel Universe” according to the Museum's description of the event. Fans and visitors will also have the opportunity to participate in Marvelocity-related events, the next one being on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m., with John Townsend-Mehler.Townsend-Mehler is a professor at MSU teaching ecology classes and will be talking about comics and the notion of identity.

The event is free and open to the public. The museum will also hold a drawing workshop with MSU adjunct professor Jade Lowder of the School of Art and Architecture on March 8, which will cost $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Lowder will explain the process of creating comic books and the undertaking that is visual storytelling.

You can register for the workshop at https://sales.museumoftherockies.org/performance.aspx?pid=13026.