Showa Era Manga + Art Show in Little Tokyo

Packed into the tiny-buy-lovely Q Pop Art Gallery, LA residents are being treated to a month-long tribute to the wonderful world of Showa Era manga art. Reaching from 1926 to 1989, the Showa Era gave birth to many of the most beloved manga of all time, such as Astro Boy, Lupin III, and Akira. The exhibit opened just last night (June 25th) and I attended to see what it was all about and get a nice little report out for anybody who might be interested!

Upon entering the gallery, one of the first works you're met with is this adorable transparent Astro Boy:

"Visible Atomu" - Alex Kirwan

Astro Boy is a very common theme, which isn't surprising considering the massive popularity the franchise has seen. My personal favorite piece of the entire exhibit is the Astro Boy x Blade Runner crossover, seen below.

"Atom Vs Pluto" - Kim Herbst

"Family" - Yewon Park

"Do Astro Boys Dream of Electric Kitties?" - Sean Danconia

Some other popular series represented on the walls were Lupin III, Robokken Beeton, Osomatsu-kun, and (of course) Akira.

"Oden Akatsuka" - Sam King

"Lupin in the Third" - John Banh

"Robokko Beaton" - Rie Koga

"Kaneda" - Keiko Murayama

In addition to appreciating and purchasing the exhibited art, there were many other goods for sale around the gallery, such as vintage manga and themed merchandise.

All in all, this Showa Era tribute exhibit is a fantastic experience for fans of classic manga. There are some beautiful works of art on display, lovely merchandise available to buy, and Q Pop even set out some delicious complimentary snacks for exhibit guests.

The Showa Era Vintage Manga Tribute Art Show is running at Q Pop in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, from June 25th to July 17th.

Q Pop is located at 319 E. 2nd Street (Number 121), smack in the middle of the many Anime Jungle outlets. You can also like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, or visit their Website. Q Pop is an incredible art gallery year-round, be sure to keep an eye out for future events!

-Justin

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