Columbia, Mo. − Science is a central theme of superhero comics. There’s a seemingly plausible explanation for just about everything that happens in the Marvel or DC universe, including the biological origins of super powers. Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the Hulk get their powers from exposure to radioactivity, which supposedly changes their DNA. The X-Men carry rare genetic mutations that give them incredible, superhuman powers. The villains Mr. Freeze and Dr. Octopus rely on technology such as cryogenics and prosthetics, while others clone and genetically engineer their minions in secret laboratories. Many superheroes are even scientists themselves. To name just a few: the Hulk is a nuclear physicist; Poison Ivy is a botanist and biochemist; and the Flash is a forensic chemist.
In affiliation with the MU Life Sciences and Society Symposium “Decoding Science,” the MU Libraries are hosting an exhibit during the month of March featuring comics from the Ellis Library Special Collections and Rare Books. This exhibition looks at four themes in superhero comics: Evolution, Genetic Modifications, Technology and Anatomy. Each section challenges the viewer to identify the ways that comics and superheroes have contributed to his or her understanding of science and the natural world.
As part of the Superhero Science! Exhibit, Dr. Tim Evans will give a talk titled “Everything is Toxic: Do We Need Superheroes or Historical and Scientific Literacy to Survive in a Toxic World?” on March 12 at 11 am in the Ellis Library Colonnade. Dr. Tim Evans is the Toxicology Section Leader Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and Associate Professor Department of Veterinary Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Evans is the recipient of a 2013 Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence, and dressed in mask and cape, “The Antidote” is Tim Evans’ alter ego, spicing up the field of toxicology at MU for 12 years.
In addition, the MU Libraries and the Bond Life Sciences Center are sponsoring a scientific superhero contest for MU students. Detail for the contest can be found at http://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/superhero-challenge/.
For more information, visit the MU Libraries online at library.missouri.edu.