Ausstellungseröffnung: Ich, das Tier. Vom bösen Wolf bis Donald Duck – Tiere im Comic

In the organizer's words:

I, the animal.

From the evil wolf to Donald Duck - animals in comics

From April 24 to November 1, 2026

Exhibition opening in Studio B of the Dortmund City and State Library (right next door)

Guest of honor:

Mark Buckingham, main artist of the bestselling comic "Fables" (DC Comics) will be our guest and will sign his comics after the opening!

Welcome:

Sophia Gloe M.A., Director of schauraum: comic + cartoon

Dr. Stefan Mühlhofer, Director of the Kulturbetriebe Dortmund

Introduction:

Dr. Alexander Braun, curator of the exhibition

From the very beginning, the medium of comics has been characterized by anthropomorphic animal figures, i.e. animals that behave like humans. Just think of adventurous Mickey Mouse, unlucky Donald Duck or the antisocial, voracious cat Garfield.

This tradition can be traced back to the Brothers Grimm or the fables of antiquity. However, comics have given such characters a long-lasting existence in series and turned them into pop-cultural superstars who have accompanied the lives of their readers for decades. Whether hero or anti-hero, they always reflect all facets of human nature, both good and bad. While the wolf in the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood only makes a sporadic appearance, in DC's bestselling comic Fables he becomes a supporting, ambivalent heroic figure who is followed with curiosity right through to family planning. Superhero Wolverine also surpasses all previous werewolf myths in his complexity. In short, human history has known humans as animals for thousands of years.

The comic of the 20th century is like a final firework display: the radiant perfection of the "fable" genre. Never before have there been so many and such differentiated animal figures. The exhibition shows original drawings and rare archive material from the 19th century to the present day. It provides exciting insights into the history of comics, from slapstick to superhero action.

A 280-page catalog book has been published to accompany the exhibition.

The exhibition is accompanied by an extensive supporting program.

Opening on 23.04.2026
6:00 pm
In Studio B of the Dortmund City and State Library

No registration required

Free admission