"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Shivers, dude. The Chippewa Valley Museum (1204 E. Half Moon Dr., Eau Claire) recently unveiled its new exhibit, "America’s Monsters, Superheroes, and Villains: Our Culture at Play," jam-packed with vintage and original toys, comic books, games, posters, packaging, and media developed by SuperMonster市City.

The exhibit features items from David Barnhill’s 200,000-plus-item personal collection, highlighting and reflecting on iconic characters – monsters, superheroes, and villains from the 1960s through the 1990s – including Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Dracula, Wolfman, Darth Vader, the Green Goblin, and many others. The collection is tied into five explorational themes, including "Unintended Consequences: The Atomic Age and America's Search for Identity" and "Myths and Legends: How Star Wars Saved America." 

"America's Monsters, Superheroes, and Villains: Our Culture at Play" will be hosted at the Chippewa Valley Museum through Jan. 3, 2026. The museum is open Tuesday from 5-8pm, Wednesday-Friday from noon-5pm, and Saturday from 10am-5pm. General admission ranges from $5-$12 depending on age with free admission for museum members and those under the age of five.