From heartbreaking memoirs to surreal, intergalactic tales, Comics Beyond the Margins showcases the unique ways comics provide a platform for empowering underrepresented voices. Featuring comics from UC Irvine Libraries’ general collections, this exhibit highlights examples from the 1960s to the present, covering wide-ranging themes and diverse modes of storytelling.

With the explosion of mass media in the 20th century, comics evolved into platforms for activism and community building. At the same time, artists and storytellers have used comics to share deeply personal experiences and relay emotions through visual storytelling.

This exhibit traces the underground comics that emerged in the 1960s and later efforts to represent a diverse range of identities. Pushing the boundaries of imagination and propriety, such comics have served as a counterpoint to mainstream pop culture and as outlets for independent voices. With humor and stunning graphics, Comics Beyond the Margins illustrates the current realities of our world and what a better future might look like for all.