Featuring over 200 comic books and original comic art, the exhibition at the Montclair (NJ) Art Museum traces how comic books have reflected national events, aspirations, and attitudes -- from the battles waged against Axis powers and corp. corruption by Superman and Captain America, to the era of the 1960s when Spider-Man emerged as the quintessential super hero of his time -- an adolescent who had to contend with his own insecurities while fighting evil. Includes a section exploring the impact of the 9/11 crisis as super heroes of the new century worked alongside real, ordinary heroes to address the greatest catastrophe on American soil. Includes contributions by Michael Uslan, Patterson Sims, and Twig Johnson. Full-color illustrations.