A DC Comics Fans Dream…. The DC Exhibition: Dawn of Superheroes

I had been looking forward to the DC Exhibition: Dawn of Superheroes as soon as I heard about it and it definitely delivered! I loved every second of it! It is genuinely any DC Comics fans happy place, including mine. I had always planned to go once or twice, but then the PR Agency for the show allowed me to attend the media day. This was my first ever official blog ‘gig’ and what an introduction to it! At first I was really nervous, worrying about what to wear and everything, in the end I donned a Wonder Woman tee, with a matching ring and earrings – subtly cool right?

Superman Costumes - Superman The Movie and Superman Returns, worn by Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh
Superman Costumes – Superman The Movie and Superman Returns, worn by Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh

As you enter you are given an audio guide which gives you more information on the displays as you walk through the exhibition, which is a great touch! The guide gives you an incite into the inspiration used by the characters’ creators, as well as unknown facts about the franchise, it’s artists and it’s directors. Each time I turned around I either gasped or whispered ‘wow’, the whole exhibition is truly unreal! It’s clear that the exhibition focuses on three heroes in particular, but there are lots of hints and links to the wider DC universe too.

The exhibition has numerous genuine costumes that are worn by the actors/actresses themselves on the big screens, from old and new. At the press day we were graced by the presence of Lindy Hemming, the costume designer who worked on the iconic and beautiful costumes in Wonder Woman and The Dark Knight trilogy. Also attending was an actress who played one of the Amazonian Warriors of Themyscira in Wonder Woman and Justice League – Jenny Pace.

Christopher Reeve's Cape in Superman: The Movie
Christopher Reeve’s Cape in Superman: The Movie
Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman Costume in the TV show.
Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman Costume in the TV Show.
Christian Bale's Batman Costume in The Dark Knight
Christian Bale’s Batman Costume in The Dark Knight

You truly cannot appreciate the detail and work that goes into each costume when you watch the films. When you stand next to them, face to face, that is when you can truly admire the craftsmanship, like the Kryptonian writing across Cavill’s Man of Steel suit, or in fact the material used for his iconic cape.

Henry Cavill Superman Costume from Man of Steel
Henry Cavill Superman Costume from Man of Steel

As well as the real costumes, the exhibition features real props used in the film. You can get close up to the Kryptonite used in Batman V Superman along with the Batmobile used in The Dark Knight.

Kryptonite Prop Used in Batman V Superman
Kryptonite Prop Used in Batman V Superman
Batmobile from The Dark Knight
Batmobile from The Dark Knight

You can also see some of the concept art that sculpted and conceptualised epic DC scenes – from Superman: The Movie, Man of Steel, Batman V Superman, The Dark Knight, Batman & Robin, Wonder Woman, Justice League and many more. Below are the concepts of some of my favourite scenes, and the digital artwork is even more detailed!

Superman Scene - Batman v Superman - Henry Cavill
Superman Scene – Batman v Superman – Henry Cavill
Batman and Doomsday Scene from Batman V Superman
Batman and Doomsday Scene from Batman V Superman
The Justice League Concept Art
The Justice League Concept Art

And you can cop a look at the ‘never before seen’ concept art and drawings of Tim Burton’ Superman Lives, which was supposed to star Nicholas Cage as Superman, thankfully it was scrapped. Although, I would love to see Tim Burton’s take on Superman.

Superman Lives Concept Art
Superman Lives Concept Art

Among these incredible features you also have iconic artwork from the most famous artists in the comic book industry – including Jim Lee, Alex Ross, Neal Adams, Jerry Ordway, Frank Miller, John Cassaday – the list is endless but you catch my drift. The artwork is THE original pieces from the artists’ drawing board, you can see where they have sketched, tip-exed, cut, stick and scribbled over aspects of their work in order to get it right.

Neal Adams Original Artwork - Superman V Muhammad Ali
Neal Adams Original Artwork – Superman V Muhammad Ali
Jerry Ordway Original Artwork - The Adventures of Superman
Jerry Ordway Original Artwork – The Adventures of Superman
Jim Lee Original Artwork - Batman
Mike Mignola Original Artwork – Batman
Poison Ivy Costume Design
Poison Ivy Costume Design
Alex Ross Original Artwork - Green Lantern
Alex Ross Original Artwork – Green Lantern
Superfriends Original Artwork
Superfriends Original Artwork

I had an incredible day and experience and I was speechless for a majority of the exhibition. If you are a DC Comics fan, this is a MUST on your to-do list. The exhibition opens to the public on 23rd February and will run until 9th September at The O2 in London.

For more information and to get your tickets booked for the DC Exhibition, head over to www.DCExhibition.co.uk.

7 thoughts on “A DC Comics Fans Dream…. The DC Exhibition: Dawn of Superheroes

  1. The whole thing looks so cool! I really love the artwork they have, and the Batmobile… Oh man! I’m gonna have to try and go some time!

    Oh, and I’m glad you decided to wear the Wonder Woman tee. Good on ya!

  2. Wow! Congrats on getting to see this exhibit. I’m really glad that they are using appropriate mannequins for the costumes unlike the ones they had them on during Superman’s 75th anniversary. The Reeve and Routh costumes were really stretched to their limits.

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