RDK Posted January 4, 2005 Report Posted January 4, 2005 Most here probably have no clue as to who he was, but I know a few of you do. Creator of The Spirit and one of the undisputed geniuses of the medium... By Bob Andelman, author of the authorized biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life Legendary comics and graphic novel artist and writer Will Eisner died last night, Monday, January 3, 2005, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the age of 87, following complications from quadruple heart bypass surgery. Will Eisner didn’t create Superman, Batman, Spider-Man or even Archie and Jughead. Some comic book fans may scratch their heads when asked to describe his work. But every artist and writer in comic books, as well as graphic artists across the entire spectrum of modern illustration, television and film, owes a debt to him. In 1941, Eisner created a goofball detective named Denny Colt who died (not really) and was reborn as “The Spirit,” the cemetery-dwelling protector of the public — and pretty girls in particular. The Spirit possessed no superpowers. He couldn’t see through his girlfriend’s clothing the way a curious alien like the Man of Steel might scientifically investigate Lois Lane. And he wasn’t a brilliant technologist like Batman, imagineering hokey gadgets and psychedelic compounds for all-night parties with the Joker. The Spirit broke so many molds: * Eisner was the strip’s artist and writer, a feat that is still rare today. * The Spirit was published and distributed as an insert in Sunday newspapers, ala Parade magazine. It was seen weekly by as many as 5-million people from 1941 to 1952. * No two Spirit sections looked alike. Although most commercial operations – from Superman to Pepsi-Cola – spend millions of dollars testing, proving and marketing their logos, Eisner thought it was more challenging to change The Spirit’s masthead every week – for 12 years. * The Spirit was a fun, mature read, aimed at adults but accessible to kids. For all of these reasons, The Spirit was published and reissued in various forms almost uninterrupted for 60 years. Its look, feel and smartass humor is timeless, which accounts for the countless revivals. Eisner, who went to high school with “Batman” creator Bob Kane, provided first jobs in the comics business to everyone from Jack Kirby (co-creator of “Captain America” and the “Fantastic Four”) to Pulitzer-winning writer and artist Jules Feiffer. If not for Eisner’s influence, Pulitzer Prize winner Art Spiegelman might never have published his graphic novel Maus: A Survivor’s Tale (Eisner is credited with popularizing — if not inventing — the medium of the graphic novel with the 1978 publication of his graphic story collection, A Contract With God) and fellow Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay would have been missing quite a few Eisner-inspired tales. For comic book professionals, the highest honor in the industry is either an Eisner Award, named for Eisner and given out every summer at Comic-Con International in San Diego, or a Harvey Award, named for Eisner’s late friend Harvey Kurtzman, the creator of Mad magazine and Playboy’s “Little Annie Fanny,” given every April in Pittsburgh. Kurtzman, who discovered talents as diverse as R. Crumb and Gloria Steinem, passed away in 1993, making Eisner the last man standing. Literally. At every Eisner Awards ceremony, each recipient was handed his or her award by the man himself. Several years ago, a big red velvet chair was put on stage for Eisner. The Eisner Awards promoters said, “Come on, Will, you shouldn’t have to stand up all this time; here, have a seat.” Eisner sat on it briefly, got a laugh out of it, but then he stood up again, and stayed on his feet the rest of the night. Eisner demonstrated his strength of character and enduring physical wherewithal by standing on stage throughout the entire presentation, shaking hands and personally congratulating the winners. Because there is a different presenter for each award, no one else stood for as long as Eisner. That’s why, when Eisner handed the 2002 Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story (Amazing Spider-Man #30-35: “Coming Home”) to writer J. Michael Straczynski and artists John Romita Jr. and Scott Hanna, Straczynski thrust the award in the air and remarked, “You know, you get the Emmy, you don’t get it from ‘Emmy.’ You win the Oscar, you don’t get it from ‘Oscar.’ How freakin’ cool is this?” Quote
Joe Posted January 4, 2005 Report Posted January 4, 2005 Sad news. Great artist, brilliant story-teller, innovater, important thinker. Quote
Man with the Golden Arm Posted January 4, 2005 Report Posted January 4, 2005 Most here probably have no clue as to who he was, but I know a few of you do. Creator of The Spirit and one of the undisputed geniuses of the medium... thanks for posting another piece of news today. sad indeed that most will know more of Frank Miller's "Sin City" and the upcoming flik but will not know from whence it came. Quote
Brownian Motion Posted January 4, 2005 Report Posted January 4, 2005 If not for Eisner?s influence, Pulitzer Prize winner Art Spiegelman might never have published his graphic novel Maus: A Survivor?s Tale (Eisner is credited with popularizing ? if not inventing ? the medium of the graphic novel with the 1978 publication of his graphic story collection, A Contract With God) and fellow Pulitzer Prize-winner Michael Chabon?s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay would have been missing quite a few Eisner-inspired tales. As talented as Eisner was, to assert that he "popularized" the graphic novel is akin to asserting that Miles "popularized" the trumpet as a jazz instrument. Frans Masereel and Lynd Ward were half a century ahead of Eisner. Quote
Bright Moments Posted January 4, 2005 Report Posted January 4, 2005 this is truly sad. RIP will. Quote
brownie Posted January 4, 2005 Report Posted January 4, 2005 Will Eisner was a regular visitor at the Festival International de la Bande Dessinee, the biggest comics show on earth, in Angouleme in the south of France. He was given there the royal treatment he deserved. Quote
Don Brown Posted January 4, 2005 Report Posted January 4, 2005 What Duke Ellington was to music Will Eisner was to comics and graphic novels. A great loss. Quote
Alexander Posted January 4, 2005 Report Posted January 4, 2005 Very sorry to hear this. I've always loved "The Spirit," "Contract With God" and other Eisner masterworks. At least he lived to see his name attached to a major industry award! In any case, he will be missed but his work will be celebrated for decades to come. Rest in Peace, Will. Quote
BruceH Posted January 5, 2005 Report Posted January 5, 2005 OK, I know he was well into his 80's, but he was the kind of guy that you thought would just go on forever. Sad news indeed. RIP Quote
Jazzmoose Posted January 5, 2005 Report Posted January 5, 2005 "Genius" is thrown around on threads like this far too often, but this time it is most definitely appropriate. Quote
alankin Posted January 5, 2005 Report Posted January 5, 2005 (edited) Eisner's "Spirit" had some of the best "splash" pages in comics... Edited January 5, 2005 by alankin Quote
alankin Posted January 5, 2005 Report Posted January 5, 2005 ...and some of the best drawn women... Quote
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