The Fullerton Museum Center hosted the Heroes and Villains comic book art show opening ceremony Saturday, Feb. 14. Comic book artist, Alex Ross showed his works for the first time in Southern California.

“This is the first time in the museum’s history, an art show of this kind has been displayed,” said Kelly Chidester, the museum’s curator. “It took years of planning between the museum and the Warhol of Pittsburgh, but it’s finally here.”

Chidester, has been a museum staff member for 10 years and six months ago, was awarded the position of curator. Chidester has enjoyed arranging this event to come to the museum and is proud The Warhol chose them to host the event.

The exhibit is an international sensation and has toured Canada and Paris before making its way to California.

“Besides the show in Stockton, this show will be the only one to hit Southern California,” Chidester said. “There was a MADD exhibit a few years back but this is the first actual comic book art exhibit the museum has ever displayed.”

Ross, famous for his extraordinary artistic talent, is one of the few artists to successfully cross over from Marvel to DC Comics.

He began his journey to becoming an artist at the age of three, at 13 years old he was scripting and drawing original comic books. Then in 1994, at 24, he was propelled into comic book super stardom, with his breakthrough work for Marvel Comics.

Considered one of the greatest artists in the field of comic books, Ross has revitalized classic superheroes into works of fine art with his brilliant use of gouache paint.

Heroes and Villains is the first museum exhibition of Ross’s work and features over 100 artworks by the artist, in addition to several influential works by Andrew Loomis, J.C. Leyendecker and Lynette Ross, Alex’s mother, who was also a commercial artist in Chicago in the ’50s.

The opening of this exhibition had over 200 people in attendance, many of which are museum members.

Andy and Linda Holman-Koneczony, of Fullerton, attend almost every event the museum holds.

“It’s a great time with great people, and the exhibits are always astonishing,” Andy said. They admitted they weren’t comic book fans, but they do appreciate good art and that is what drew them to the exhibit.

“My family loves Marvel, and loves the work of Alex Ross,” said Julie Daniels of Fullerton, she plans on attending another superhero themed event at the museum in April.

Heroes and Villains comic book show will be running through May 9. The museum has several other shows planned for the family and superhero fans everywhere.

On March 21, the museum will be hosting The Fine Art of Comic Books with Professor Don Lagerberg of Cal State Fullerton, illustrator and noted comic book scholar.

The museum will also be having superhero movies nights April 17, April 24 and May 8. Families can bring their lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic dinners out to the plaza for a screening of some classic superhero movies. Admission is free and superhero attire is encouraged!

The last day of exhibit, May 9, the museum will be hosting “Imagination Celebration Family Day” to celebrate the closing weekend of Heroes and Villains with a action-packed day of family activities.

The Fullerton Museum Center encourages the community to visit and enjoy a one-of-a-kind exhibit before it’s gone.