“Marvel: The Exhibition – Universe of Super Heroes” comes to the Houston Museum of Natural History in December. Here’s how to buy tickets.
Diehard Marvel fans who already have their calendars marked for December 18 have another reason to celebrate the MCU that month beyond the release of the anticipated “Avengers: Doomsday” movie. An elaborate Marvel exhibit is coming to the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) for a limited time, and it opens to the public on December 19.
According to the museum’s website, “Marvel: The Exhibition – Universe of Super Heroes” covers 85 years of the comic company’s history and features 150 original and rare artifacts from Marvel Studios. Included in the collection are costumes and props from the films, along with artwork and drawings from iconic creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Brian Crosby, who serves as the head of Marvel Themed Entertainment, emphasized the importance of Marvel Comics and how it has positively impacted the entertainment landscape for decades. “Marvel transformed the idea of the Super Hero in the 1960s — and beyond — by ratcheting up the visual spectacle, emotional dynamism and philosophical sophistication of the action-adventure comics genre,” Crosby said.
The museum’s upcoming exhibition pays tribute to that expansion in droves. It was carefully curated by comic book experts Randy Duncan, Matthew J. Smith, and Benjamin Saunders, each of whom are university professors. Danny Fingeroth and Ann Nocenti, two celebrated comic writers, also leant their expertise.
Saunders is the Chief Curator among the talented bunch, and he said of the collection, “We have attempted to tell three distinct but interconnected stories: The company and creators’ real-world history, the characters’ fictional in-world history, and the history of how Marvel has influenced—and been influenced by—the larger culture.”
He added, “Our show begins with the origins of the Marvel Universe and moves through to the present day, giving a chance to see some of the rarest and most precious objects from the past over 85 years of pop culture history, and pointing toward the future with work from some of today’s foremost creators.”
Some of the most exciting items included in that showcase include a display of Iron Man suits worn by actor Robert Downey Jr. in the film franchise, as well as costumes from “Black Panther,” which won the Academy Award for Costume Design in 2018. Life-sized statues of certain superheroes, like Thor and Spider-Man, will also be on display, along with Marvel Comics No. 1 from 1939.
How to grab your tickets
If you’re anything like me, you like buying tickets for things in advance (I’ve had my “Doomsday” tickets on lock since they first went on sale). Thankfully, gaining admission to the Houston Museum of Natural History’s upcoming “Marvel: The Exhibition – Universe of Super Heroes” before it opens is a relatively easy process.
Members of the museum can purchase their tickets between now and October 25. From there, public tickets will become available on October 26. The HMNS Member Preview takes place on December 18 before the exhibition officially opens to the public on December 19. As of writing, it’s unclear how long the collection will be on display in Houston. Additional details are expected in the coming weeks.
When tickets become available, you’ll be able to purchase them through this link. Admission covers access to the Marvel exhibit and all permanent museum halls at HMNS. The Brown Hall of Entomology and select special exhibitions are not covered in that cost and require additional fees for entry.
General admission costs $25 per adult, $16 per child between the ages of three and 11, and $16 for seniors and military personnel. Additional prices and information can be found here. The Houston Museum of Natural History is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The spokesperson for the HMNS, Harry Hogeland, said in a statement, “We’re beyond thrilled to bring this extraordinary exhibition to Houston. Whether you’re a lifelong comic enthusiast or bringing the whole family for an unforgettable day, stepping through our doors directly into these immersive and captivating worlds of our favorite Super Heroes unleashes a pure surge of nostalgia, wonder, and imagination.”
