POW! Capturing Superheroes, Chess & Comics

Soar to the World Chess Hall of Fame to experience the interactive exhibition POW! Capturing Superheroes, Chess & Comics!

Featuring over 200 chess-related comic books; 18 rare and limited-edition chess sets, books, toys, playable chess sets; illustration stations; costumes; and a photo booth—this family-friendly show will bring out the kid in all of us!

On View: March 23 - September 17, 2017

Comics Featured in the Exhibition

The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, No. 1

Lewis Carroll (writer), Serge S. Sabarsky (adapter), George O. Muhlfield (penciler and inker), Unknown (colorist and letterer)

The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, No. 1

January 1, 1945

Civil Services Publications, Inc.

Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame

Infamous for its anthropomorphic creatures, The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll, plays with the notion of logic. Here, Serge S. Sabarsky and George O. Muhlfield adapt the tale into a comic book with lively illustrations. After returning from her adventures in Wonderland, Alice once again travels to this alternate world in Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. In this sequel, Alice becomes a pawn in the Red Queen’s game.

Baffling Mysteries, No. 26

Baffling Mysteries, No. 26

October 1955

Ace Magazines

Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame

Clockwork Game: The Illustrious Career of a Chess-playing Automaton

Jane Irwin (writer, penciler)

Clockwork Game: The Illustrious Career of a Chess-playing Automaton

May 2014

Fiery Studios

Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame

Dynamic Comics, No. 12

Gus Ricca (cover artist), Unknown (writer, penciler, inker, and colorist), Typeset (letterer)

Dynamic Comics, No. 12

November 1944

Chesler/Dynamic

Collection of Bernice and Floyd Sarisohn

The Incredible Adventures of Chessman, Vol.1, No. 1

IM John Watson (writer), Chris Hendrickson (artist)

The Incredible Adventures of Chessman Vol. 1, No. 1

1975

Chess Enterprises

Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame, gift of John Donaldson

The Incredible Adventures of Chessman first appeared in 1975 and was co-produced by Chris Hendrickson and International Master John Watson. The two self-published these works, which depict the chess-filled adventures of their character Chessman, from a local copy shop under their business’ name Chess House.

The Incredible Adventures of Chessman: Treachery in Transylvania!, Vol. 1, No. 2

IM John Watson (writer), Svein G. Myreng (artist)

The Incredible Adventures of Chessman: Treachery in Transylvania! Vol. 1, No. 2

1982

Chess Enterprises

Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame

All New! Midnight Tales, No. 3

Nicola Cuti (writer); Wayne Howard (artist); Wayne Howard, Joe Staton, and Tom Sutton (pencilers and inkers); Unkown (colorist); Wayne Howard, Joe Staton, Typeset, and Tom Sutton (letterers)

All New! Midnight Tales, No. 3

May 1973

Charlton Comics

Collection of Bernice and Floyd Sarisohn

Prof. Coffin, Vol. 7, No. 21

Nicola Cuti (writer); Wayne Howard, Joe Staton, and Tom Sutton (penciler, inker, and letterer); Unknown (colorist)

Prof. Coffin, Vol. 7, No. 21

February 1986

Charlton Comics

Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame

This series centers on the adventures of Professor Cyrus Coffin and his niece Arachne as they make their way through stories filled with ancient curses, crazy creatures, and malfunctioning robots. The comics reprinted stories from Midnight Tales, which ran from 1972 to 1976. The cover depicts Professor Coffin playing chess with the king of a medieval court.

Sick, Vol. 2, No. 5

Sick Vol. 2, No. 5

February 1962

Headline Publications, Inc.

Collection of Bernice and Floyd Sarisohn

Sick, Vol. 19, No. 127

Sick Vol. 19, No. 127

June 1979

Charlton Publications, Inc.

Collection of Bernice and Floyd Sarisohn

Simpsons Comics, No. 56

Cover: Bill Morrison (penciler), Mike Rote (inker), Nathan Kane (colorist)Interior: Doug Tuber, Tim Maile, and Steve Luchsinger (writers); John Costanza (penciler); Tim Bavington (inker); Art Villanueva (colorist); Karen Bates (letterer)

Simpsons Comics No. 56

March 2001

Bongo Comics Group

Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame

Mr. Burns plays chess with pieces representing the Simpson family (Bart, Homer, Lisa, and Marge) and his loyal assistant Waylon Smithers. Premiering on December 17, 1989, The Simpsons takes place in a fictional town of Springfield and makes constant pop cultural references parodying the middle-class American lifestyle. Simpsons Comics launched in 1993. On February 9, 1997, The Simpsons surpassed The Flintstones with the episode “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show” as the longest-running prime-time animated series in the United States.

Strange Suspense Stories, Vol. 1, No. 36

Unknown (writer, colorist, and letterer); Maurice Whitman, Steve Ditko, Don Perlin, and Gene Colan (pencilers and inkers)

Strange Suspense Stories, Vol. 1, No. 36

March 1958

Charlton Comics

Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame

This series, Strange Suspense Stories, was published by Charlton between 1952 and 1965. The comic included a blend of science fiction, horror, and mystery.

Unusual Tales Vol. 1 No. 37

Joe Gill (writer); Charles Nicholas, Bill Molno, and Rocco “Rocke” Mastroserio (pencilers); Vince Alascia and Rocco “Rocke” Mastroserio (inkers); Unknown (colorist); Typeset (letterer)

Unusual Tales Vol. 1, No. 37

January 1963

Charlton Comics

Collection of the World Chess Hall of Fame

Figures cower in fear before the hand of fate on the cover of this issue of Unusual Tales. “The Hand of Fate” is a story in which mechanic Joe Anderson seeks to rescue actress Tula Mannix, who has gone missing. Her father is involved with a secretive government project, and her foreign kidnappers hope to have her help uncover its secrets. The foreign agents use “nerve gas” on their captives, and Anderson imagines himself and the other prisoners as tiny pieces on a chessboard being tormented by a giant hand.