I was very fortunate to be able to attend the media preview for a new exhibition at The O2 in London – DC Exhibition: Dawn of Super Heroes.

This has transferred to London from Art Ludique – Le Musée in Paris, and opens on February 23rd. The official information says that it includes “more than 200 original comic pages, around 200 preparatory sketches and concept artworks for the cinema, together with 45 original costumes, models and props use in the iconic films.”

And I can absolutely believe that’s how many items were on display. The walls and displays at the exhibition are packed with art, sketches, cels, proofs, and all manner of methods that can be used to represent the DC characters. These often had information on the audio guide about the concept, use, and heritage of the art that gave even more insight into it all.

In every room are props or costumes or models that were used in a lot of films, including both Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. It’s amazing how some of these are still available – costumes from Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns were on display and in surprisingly good condition.

I managed to speak to Jean-Jacques Launier whilst there, who is the curator of this exhibition as well as the Founder and Present of Art Ludique. He was an absolute force of nature, and clearly so proud of everything on display, talking about the iconic nature of the characters and artwork, and giving some great insight into the origins of the folklore. A recording of the interview is available on the podcast here and is well worth a listen.

If you’re in London at all between February and September 2018 I recommend seeing this exhibition. It has something for everyone, even fans who like to deep dive into the lore. The audio guide was a great way to add something to the experience without needing people to crowd round written boards. The O2 is also great for a day out – there are restaurants, a cinema, and the cable car from North Greenwich is a good way to see a different part of the city.