380) Will Eisner…
Will Eisner (1917–2005) was a pioneering figure in the comic book and graphic novel industry, best known for creating The Spirit, a comic book series that began in 1940. Eisner’s work is celebrated for its innovative storytelling, expressive artwork, and the development of the comic medium as a form of literature.
The Spirit was a weekly comic strip that ran from 1940 to 1952. It featured a masked detective named Denny Colt, who was believed to be dead and fought crime as the titular character, The Spirit. The series was notable for its narrative depth, humanistic themes, and Eisner’s innovative use of the comic book format, including his attention to page layout and panel transitions.
After The Spirit, Eisner focused on producing educational and instructional comics for various organizations, including the U.S. military. In the 1970s, he turned his attention to longer-form comics, which would eventually be called graphic novels.
Eisner is often credited with popularizing the term “graphic novel” with the publication of A Contract with God in 1978. This and his subsequent works set the stage for graphic novels as a recognized literary form.
Eisner’s contributions to comics have been widely recognized and celebrated. The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards (commonly known as the Eisner Awards), are named in his honor.
Beyond his contributions as a creator, Eisner was also an influential educator and theorist on the art of graphic storytelling. His books Comics and Sequential Art (1985) and Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative (1996) are seminal texts in the study and teaching of comic art.
I acquired the page posted below a few decades ago. At the time I was thrilled to have an original by this master of comic art, but over the years its depiction of racial stereotypes began to wear on me. I realize that the piece was created when there was less sensitivity to such issues. I display prized pieces of comic art on all the available wall space in our house, but I never felt like I wanted hang this piece up despite its historical significance and it is masterful art. I sold the piece some years ago.
If you have any questions or comments, please email me at themythfits@gmail.com
Will Eisner art formerly in my collection. Date unknown
