Multiverse has been selected to be an exhibit site for the original Sun-Man action figure. Sun-Man was created by Yla Eason in 1985. She was inspired to create the character after her son, Menelik Puryear, said he could not be a superhero because he was not white. Eason wanted to create a positive image for her son and other Black children, so she made Sun-Man a Black superhero whose powers came from the melanin in his skin. The figure went on to be manufactured by Mattel.
The original Sun-Man action figure was originally part of the Philadelphia Doll Museum, one of the largest collections of Black dolls as artifacts of history and culture. The museum closed the doors of its North Philadelphia location in 2020. Since then, curator Rob Blackson has worked to place items from the collection on display in businesses and community centers throughout the city. Sun-Man will be on display at Multiverse (8026 Germantown Ave) from January 28-March 31.
In celebration of this action figure display, Multiverse is teaming up with podcasters The Blerd Bar to host a live podcast recording in store on Friday, February 7th from 6-7:30pm. Multiverse co-owner Gralin Hughes will be in conversation with The Blerd Bar hosts Dan “BigDan” Rhodan, Joshua “J-Hawk” Hawkins, and Richard “The Producer” Elam about Black action figures. The event, Solar Flair: Black In Action (Figures) will be free and open to the public, though space is limited due to the small size of the store.
The event will be followed by a meet and greet reception with Yla Eason, the creator of Sun Man.
About The Blerd Bar
The Blerd Bar brings cocktails, content, and culture together through a Black lens. We celebrate nerd culture and spark conversations connecting fandom to real-life experiences. From anime to sci-fi, there’s always a seat at the bar for authentic vibes and community! https://youtube.com/@theblerdbar?feature=shared
About Philadelphia Doll Museum Forward
Philadelphia Doll Museum Forward displays dolls from the Philadelphia Doll Museum's unique collection of 300 Black dolls in places that honor Black history and culture. This initiative has received support from the Ruth Foundation for the Arts. Please visit phillydollmuseumforward.com to learn more.
About Yla Eason
Yla Eason is an award-winning educator and entrepreneur who is largely credited with pioneering the Black and brown toy market at mass market stores. As an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice at Rutgers University, her focus is Business Communications, Multicultural Marketing, and Digital Marketing.