Staff Picks (September): Will Eisner - Champion of the Graphic Novel HC

When you think of comics and storytelling, one of the first name that pops into your head should be Will Eisner. Eisner is considered by many the modern day creator of the graphic novel with the Baronet edition of A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories. With my introduction to the Spirit in Jules Feiffer’s Great Comic Book Heroes, I knew I had to find Spirit comic books. Atlanta was not the easiest place to find back issues, but thanks to Harvey’s issues of The Spirit, I could finally see what made Eisner the dean of comic book storytellers.

Paul Levitz, who’s proven his comic historian credentials with Taschen’s 75 Years of DC Comics, has written Will Eisner: Champion of the Graphic Novel. This book is a tribute that celebrates Eisner and his important contribution to the comic book industry from the early studio days and The Spirit on to the twenty-plus original graphic novels from his first, Contract with God to The Plot: The Secret Story of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the last graphic novel produced prior to his death.

Will Eisner: Champion of the Graphic Novel also features an introduction by novelist and comic book author Brad Meltzer. This book featuring unpublished and rare art, photographs, letters, and sketches from the archives. It also contains original interviews with creators such as Jules Feiffer, Art Spiegelman, Scott McCloud, Jeff Smith, and Neil Gaiman.

This book from Abrams ComicArts is another fine addition to their line of books which includes Kirby: King of the Comics, Out of Line: The Art of Jules Feiffer, The Art of Harvey Kurtzman, and PS Magazine Best Preventive Maintenance Monthly featuring work by Eisner and his studio.

This will be a great book to add to the book shelves next to the DC and Dark Horse Spirit Archives, the WW Norton Eisner library, as well as my other books on Eisner like Will Eisner: A Dreamer’s Life in Comics, Will Eisner: A Retrospective MOCCA, Will Eisner: A Spirted Life, and The Will Eisner Companion.

—Steve Leaf

Publisher: Abrams ComicArts Item Code: SEP150893 Release Date: 11/11/15 SRP: $40.00