Panels, Portals, and Power-Ups
MoPOP’s upcoming exhibit explores the evolution and impact of Asian comics
By Sarah Stackhouse March 4, 2025
It’s hard to overstate the impact Asian comic art has had around the world.
Manga, manhua, and other styles have shaped everything from movies to fashion trends. The stories go deep, the art is intricate, and no genre is off-limits. Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form is MoPOP’s newest exhibit and the biggest of its kind, showcasing more than 400 pieces of original comic art from Japan, China, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Afghanistan, and Vietnam. It explores the evolution of visual storytelling, from folklore-inspired woodblock prints to modern digital comics, and gets into themes like mythology, sci-fi, and censorship-defying political works.
The show runs March 8 through Jan. 4, 2026, with original art, hands-on interactives, and an exploration into how Asian artists have shaped the medium. But first, MoPOP is throwing an opening party on March 7, transforming the museum into the Forest of Lunarda, a fantasy world inspired by isekai — the anime and manga genre where characters are transported to other realms. Expect a mythical atmosphere with an Asian street food night market featuring local chefs, and Prometheus Brown and KEXP Eastern Echoes DJ Diana Ratsamee. There’s also an anime rave with DJs Sake Bomb and Aleksa Manila, and a cosplay contest with prizes for the best looks, so you can bet the halls will be packed with spirits, warriors, sailors, cowboys, and who knows what else.
Tickets for the opening party are on sale now.
Follow Us
A New Year of Influence
Seattle magazine’s Most Influential list kicks off 2026 with leaders across the city.
New year, new issue! As we kick off 2026, Seattle magazine is proud to present this year’s cohort of the Most Influential list, which showcases local leaders in politics, philanthropy, arts, hospitality, and business. Determined, creative, empathetic, humble, and bold are just a few of the words you’ll see describing them—each one has achieved great…
The Queen of the Seattle World’s Fair
With a fur coat and gold Cadillac, Gracie Hansen struck a figure. Her business savvy and whip-smart humor made her a star.
In 1960, a group of well-attired men from the Seattle World’s Fair planning committee gathered in a downtown office. With the fair only two years away, people were starting to pitch their business ideas and on this day, some lady wanted to meet with them to do the same. At the scheduled time, the door…
Cookies From Home
Seattle author Kat Lieu introduces a first-of-its-kind cookbook centered on Asian cookies.
Kat Lieu has built a career out of baking, storytelling, and standing up for what she believes in. A former doctor of physical therapy turned bestselling cookbook author, she’s based in Seattle, is the founder of the online community Subtle Asian Baking and is the author of Modern Asian Baking at Home, a book that…
Photo Essay: The Relief of the Moment
Words and photography by Nick Ward.
Photography tricks my ADHD brain into doing something borderline miraculous: It allows me to focus on exactly one thing at a time. When I press the shutter and hear that lovely little ka-chunk, the inner chatter winks out. I feel oddly connected to the moment by being outside it, observing through the frame instead of…