Comics scholar will discuss the women of 'Avengers' at Mentor Library

We've been talking about heroes all summer long, so it's no surprise that we have a program dedicated to the hottest heroes of the summer (give or take Ant-Man or Chris Pratt.)

Comics scholar Valentino Zullo will present on the history and impact of one of comics' most influential group of superheros, The Avengers, at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, July 23, at Mentor Library's Main Branch.

Zullo will pay special attention to the increased roles that superheroines now play in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

"As Marvel’s cinematic universe continues to expand, so does its sense of diversity," Zullo said. "In particular, the representation of women has become ever more prominent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe both on the big screen and on TV."

Zullo's discussion will trace a brief history of the superheroine in comics from early representations at the onset of World War II to our current era with Black Widow and Scarlet Witch on the big screen in Avengers: Age of Ultron, as well as Marvel’s embrace of a feminist worldview in their TV shows Agent Carter and Agents of Shield.

He will explore the ways that women in comics have been presented, from the complicated and often critiqued hypersexuality, to the current representation of more realistic, powerful women.

"Together we will discuss the evolving state of feminism in the Marvel cinematic universe and consider the changing comics world through the figure of the superheroine," Zullo said.

Zullo is a doctorate student in the English department at Kent State University. He also holds a Master of Arts in English and Women’s Studies from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University.

His talk is free and open to everyone. You can register for it on Mentor Library's website.

Play Book Bingo at Mentor Library

Play Book Bingo at Mentor Library and get more chances to win Summer Reading prizes.

Are you signed up for summer reading yet? We have programs for all ages—kids, teens and adults.

Kids can earn raffle tickets to win prizes for each hour they read or are read to. Meanwhile, teens and adults can earn their own raffle tickets by reading books and attending library programs. Prizes for teens and adults include Captains tickets (donated by The News-Herald) and gift cards for Chipotle, gas, Starbucks, Target and more. The grand prizes are $50 Amazon gift cards.

If teens and adults want to earn an extra raffle ticket—and, consequently, increase their chance of winning something—they can play Book Bingo.

It's easy to play. All you need to do is pick up a board at our Main Branch and start reading!

Read a book from one of our displays; read a book with a road trip; read nonfiction, a romance, a book with a black cover until you have Bingo; and then get your bonus raffle ticket from our reference desk. For every Bingo you earn, you'll get an extra entry into our prize drawing. If you fill in your entire card, you'll get an entry into a bonus drawing.

So read, play Book Bingo and have a super summer!

Mentor Library kicks off summer reading with super party

Colt and Rusty help kick off summer reading at Mentor Library. This year's theme is "Every Hero Has a Story."

Thanks to everybody who helped us kick off our Summer Reading program on Saturday! (And sorry about the rain. I blame Thor.)

The party may have ended, but the fun has just begun and there's still plenty of time to sign up for summer reading.

And just a glance at our calendar shows you all the fun events and programs we have coming up.

Grant and Linsey take aim at supervillains during our Summer Reading kickoff party.

On Marvelous Mondays, kids can have fun with superhero crafts, games and experiments on the Read House lawn. Our first is June 8. Kids can come dressed as their favorite superhero.

On Thursday evenings, community heroes like nurses, police officers and firemen will join the library for special story times. After all, not all heroes wear capes. On June 11, a nurse will lead a teddy bear clinic.

The library will also be celebrating literary heroes like Junie B. Jones, Wimpy Kid and Dr. Seuss this summer. For example, kids can learn the power of positive thinking with Pete the Cat at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, at our Main Branch.

Tristan hulks up during our kickoff party.

We believe that reading is its own reward. However, kids can still receive prizes from us for reading or being read to. Every hour they read earns them a ticket in a raffle where they can win everything from telescopes and microscopes to Lego sets and Princess Powerful Barbie. If they read 20 hours this summer, they also receive a golden ticket in a raffle to win one of two $50 gift certificates from Toys 'R' Us.

Additionally, children who read or are read to up to 15 hours will receive a Library Champion lawn sign and window cling.

Matt tests his accuracy with a shield during our Captain America challenge.

We've talked a lot about kids here, but summer reading is for anyone who wants to stimulate their creativity and satisfy their curiosity.

Our summer reading program for teens is Unmask! and for adults is Escape the Ordinary. You can register for both the teen and adult programs online. (However, to apply for our children's program, you will have to come to one of our branches.)

Everyone who participates in the summer reading programs—either by reading books or attending library programs—has a chance to win prizes. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

For more information on Mentor Library’s summer reading program, call 440-255-8811 or visit Mentor Library’s website.

Natalie is really excited about the Hulk Smash.

For more photos from our Summer Reading kickoff, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.