Lions released from a zoo in war-torn Baghdad; the cruel conditions of the sheep industry; an American expatriate searching for her identity in Mexico - serious subject matter for any medium, but particularly so for a new wave of critically acclaimed and commercially successful graphic novels.

This weekend, the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts opens "LitGraphic," a major exhibition covering the development of this sequential storytelling form through nearly 150 works by 24 contemporary and historic visual artists: wordless narratives by 1920s woodcut artist Lynd Ward and modern-day commentator Peter Kuper; revolutionary underground comix by R. Crumb and humorous, personal "Girl Stories'" by Lauren Weinstein; the visual thrill of works by "Mad Magazine" co-creator Harvey Kurtzman and "Breathtaker" co-creator Marc Hempel; and the pioneering art of Will Eisner ("Contract with God"), Dave Sim ("Cerebus"), and Terry Moore ("Strangers in Paradise"). The exhibition features original book pages and studies, sketchbooks, along with videotaped interviews with graphic novelists represented here.

Artwork above, left to right, by Will Eisner, Peter Kuper, and Dave Sim, courtesy of the Norman Rockwell Museum.

"LitGraphic" covers a broad and visually rich terrain, from Superman and Donald Duck to the underground comix that originated during the counterculture of the 1960s to contemporary graphic novels with edgy story lines. Artists included in the exhibition are Jessica Abel, Sue Coe, R. Crumb, Howard Cruse, Steve Ditko, Will Eisner, Brian Fies, Gerhard, Milt Gross, Marc Hempel, Niko Henrichon, Mark Kalesniko, Peter Kuper, Harvey Kurtzman, Matt Madden, Frans Masereel, Frank Miller, Terry Moore, Dave Sim, Art Spiegelman, Barron Storey, Lynd Ward, Lauren Weinstein, and Mark Wheatley.

Opening festivities on Saturday, November 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm include a reception with several of the artists attending. The event, which is open to the public with museum admission and reservations, includes a book signing with Peter Kuper, and a gallery talk beginning at 6:30. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be offered at the cash wine bar. The Norman Rockwell Museum has scheduled a series of public programs in conjunction with "LitGraphic," some especially geared to educators and some especially designed for kids. Please visit the website for details. To make reservations for the opening, please call 413.298.4100, ext.221.