Last updated at 13:55, Friday, 22 February 2013

Spider-man and the Incredible Hulk are among six iconic superheroes who are starring in a debut Marvel Comics art exhibition at a gallery in Keswick.

RARE CHANCE: Carolyn Imber, arts advisor at Treeby & Bolton gallery in Keswick, with some of the Superheroes images from the Marvel Comics exhibition, all signed by co-creator Stan Lee

Each limited edition item in the Marvel collection now on display at Treeby & Bolton in Keswick has been signed by Stan Lee, the 90-year-old American comic book legend who co-created the characters.

The set of superheroes art hanging at the gallery in Lake Road is completed by Iron Man, the Silver Surfer, X-Men and the Avengers.

All are enlarged versions of original US comic book covers, dating back to the 1960s, which have been specially chosen and curated by Stan Lee. Each features the price in cents plus strap lines and Marvel’s trademark colours and style.

The exhibition, Superheroes, consists of six different images all of which were immediately familiar to Carolyn Imber, arts advisor at Treeby & Bolton.

Carolyn, 28, said: “I have been a massive Marvel Comics fan since my teens. It was around the same kind of time there was a burst of hit comic movies such as the Hulk, Spider-Man and X-Men.

“Fans love the characters because they have qualities as real human beings and are strong inside. We love the fact that they are all ‘normal’ people who have got superhuman powers, like Peter Parker.”

The collection of signed limited edition art is available in three different formats – framed boxed canvas, framed paper and a paper portfolio of six. The canvas and paper editions are in sets of 195 and 295 respectively, priced from £695 individually, with those at Treeby & Bolton numbered 172. The paper portfolio is only available as a set.

Carolyn added: “There has been tremendous interest in them. It’s surprising how many Marvel devotees there are out there. These characters are known to several different generations via comics, TV and cinema.

“The fact that Stan Lee has signed them is really special. He is the godfather of the comic book industry.”

Besides being a writer and editor, Stan is a former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. He co-created all six of the characters featured in the collection, plus others including The Fantastic Four and Thor.

First published at 13:22, Friday, 22 February 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk