Exhibit: George Washington, Cloaked Crusader at Fraunces Tavern

New York Comic Con is coming up in early October, and it probably makes you think of the Javits Center filling with geeks costumed in capes, spandex and lightsabers — less so about George Washington and the American Revolution. But Lower Manhattan historians want to send a reminder of the first president as America’s first superhero, too. 

Find out how Washington influenced and shaped the world of popular fiction in a new exhibit opening at Fraunces Tavern (54 Pearl Street), tied to this year’s Comic Con. The exhibit, Cloaked Crusader: George Washington in Comics and Pop Culture, kicks off with an opening reception October 5. The event will feature live sketch drawing, a silent auction, original art, rare comics and a keynote speaker, Marvel’s former editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.

Cloaked Crusader will show how Washington’s persona has been interpreted throughout pop culture history, influencing Superman and Captain America while becoming a mythical figure of his own. The focus will be on Washington’s relevance to our collective past, and his role as a metaphor for justice in these modern times. 

Tickets start at $25. Find out how to reserve a spot here. 

photo: iStock