Recently in Graphic Novels Category

So; while there's no creator in the history of comics that I respect more than Mr Eisner, I just feel that I'd benefit from owning up to the fact that I think his work on the Spirit is, as a general principle, far, far superior to anything which he produced from the publication of "A Contract With God And Other Tenement Stories" in 1978 onwards.

The weekly context in which The Spirit's adventures were published demanded both innovation and clarity, emotion and excitement, and just like the very best of any and all popular entertainment, it was largely unpretentious, lacking in worthiness and completely involving. If the message of a typical Spirit tale tended to be somewhat obvious, and most of the themes were never anything other than straight-forward, the storytelling carried the reader onwards towards the story's moral closure with an exceptional vigour. And The Spirit himself, so often decried by Mr Eisner as being no more sophisticated a character than a man in a mask, served so effectively as an everyman, as the reader's POV, as a symbol of an individual caught outside the madness of everyday life trying to impose some sanity upon it. Constantly beaten, wounded, heart-broken, confused, the Spirit moves me far more as a symbol of one type of 20th century person than any of Mr Eisner's later characters do.

It is now fairly common knowledge that Eisner neither invented the term itself nor the form that we call a "graphic novel," but it is fair to say that he popularized the term when he later used it to promote [A Contract With God] upon publication from Baronet Books in 1978, and, for better or worse, the term has stuck.

"Will Eisner's New York" turned out not to be the most accurate name for the New York Comic Con panel devoted to the creator of The Spirit; although a slideshow of 's drawings of the neighborhoods of New York played on a screen throughout the panel, the conversation consisted mainly of memories of the man himself.

Most of the panel members had a personal or professional connection with Eisner: Michael Schumacher, the author of the upcoming biography "Will Eisner: A Dreamer's Life in Comics"; Denis Kitchen, Eisner's longtime publisher and the representative of his estate; David Hajdu, a professor at Columbia University and author of "The Ten-Cent Plague"; Paul Levitz, former president of DC Comics, who worked with Eisner on "The Spirit Library" and wrote an eight-page Spirit story; and Jules Feiffer, who worked in Eisner's studio and recently published his memoir, "Backing into Forward." Comics writer Arie Kaplan moderated the panel which began on a cordial note with the panelists autographing each other's books.

If you would like more information about the events scheduled for Will Eisner Week this year, you've come to the right place. There are events, panels, classes, and contests scheduled in Amherst, Hartford, New York City, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Diego, Savannah, Tucson, and Athens, Greece. There's still time to add your event to the list.

Watch this space for links to the organizations involved. Or click here to receive information about events at specific cities.

If you're close to Columbia University in New York City, make sure to visit Butler Library on their campus in upper Manhattan. Part of their large collection of graphic novels is on display on the third floor of the library. The display cases there present an exhibition designed to encourage interest in using these unique resources in curriculum and research. Seven themes are presented and for each theme an image from traditional art is matched with three images from graphic novels. The exhibition has been put together by Karen Green, the Columbia University Graphic Novels Librarian. For more information visit the University Library blog.

Look for the Will Eisner Booth at the American Library Association Mid-Winter Show in Boston. We'll be there from January 15th thru the 18th with information about Will Eisner, his Comics and Graphic Novels, Will Eisner Week, and the Comic Book Industry Will Eisner Awards. Write to Admin at this website, if you'd like a pass to the show.

There's more information about the ALA Show here: ALA Mid-Winter

Have you read a Graphic Novel lately? If not, don't forget that you can visit your local library and borrow one.

To assist your local library and librarians, we're going to be exhibiting Will Eisner's Graphic Novels at the American Library Association show in January in Boston.

If you're going to be at the show, stop by and say "hello."

Write for more information or to receive a free pass to the exhibits.

Will Eisner Week will take place from February 28th to March 6th, 2010.  

Join us in an ongoing celebration promoting graphic novel literacy, free speech awareness, and the legacy of Will Eisner.

The second annual celebration of Will Eisner's contribution to comics and American culture and is offered as a springboard to advance education of comics and graphic novels in all communities around the world. 

This year's theme is The Reading Revolution: Will Eisner and the American Graphic Novel.

Public events are currently being planned during Will Eisner Week including venues at The Minneapolis College of Art & Design, The Savannah College of Art and Design, and by the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in New York City.  If your organization is interested in participating or receiving information please e-mail the website administrator or post in the Forum under the Will Eisner Week topic. 

In addition to events, a variety of academic papers and group activity assignments are being generously donated by comic educators and will be available on the Will Eisner Week website. Our wish is that these materials will you to have your own event in your community. Ideas include events held at schools, libraries, and book groups. 

The 2009 Will Eisner Award winners are:

Special Awards:
Will Eisner "Spirit of Comics" Retailer Award: Tate's Comics, Fort Launderdale, Florida, USA
Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award: Denis Kitchen
Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer: Eleanor Davis
Bill Finger Award:for Excellence in Comic Book Writing John Broome, Frank Jacobs
Will Eisner Awards:
Best Short Story: Murder He Wrote, by Ian Boothby, Nina Matsumoto, and Andrew Pepoy (Bongo)
Best Continuing Series: All Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely (DC)
Best Limited Series: Hellboy: The Crooked Man, by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben (Dark Horse)
Best New Series: Invincible Iron Man, by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larocca (Marvel)
Best Publication for Kids: Tiny Titans, by Art Baltazar and Franco (DC)
Best Publication for Teens/Tweens: Coraline, by Neil Gaiman, adapted by P. Craig Russell (HarperCollins Children's Books)
Best Humor Publication: Herbie Archives, by Richard E. Hughes and Ogden Whitney (Dark Horse)
Best Anthology: Comic Book Tattoo: Narrative Art edited by Rantz Hoseley (Image)
Best Webcomic: Finder, by Carla Speed McNeil, www.shadowlinecomics.com/
Best Reality-Based Work: What It Is, by Lynda Barry (Drawn & Quarterly)
Best Graphic Album--New: Swallow Me Whole, by Nate Powell (Top Shelf)
Best Graphic Album--Reprint: Hellboy Library Edition, by Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
Best Archival Collection/Project--Strips: Little Nemo in Slumberland, Many More Splendid Sundays, by Winsor McCay (Sunday Press Books)
Best Archival Collection/Project--Comic Books: Creepy Archives, by various (Dark Horse)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material: The Last Musketeer, by Jason (Fantagraphics)
Best U.S. Edition of International Material--Japan: Dororo, by Osamu Tezuka (Vertical)
Best Writer: Bill Willingham, Fables, House of Mystery (Vertigo/DC)
Best Writer/Artist: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library (Acme)
Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team: Guy Davis, BPRD (Dark Horse)
Best Painter/Multimedia Artist: Jill Thompson, Magic Trixie, Magic Trixie Sleeps Over (HarperCollins Children's Books)
Best Cover Artist: James Jean, Fables (Vertigo/DC); The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse)
Best Coloring: Dave Stewart, Abe Sapien: The Drowning, BPRD, The Goon, Hellboy, Solomon Kane, The Umbrella Academy (Dark Horse); Body Bags (Image); Captain America: White (Marvel)
Best Lettering: Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library #19 (Acme)
Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism: Comic Book Resources, produced by Jonah Weiland (www.comicbookresources.com)
Best Comics-Related Book: Kirby: King of Comics, by Mark Evanier (Abrams)
Best Publication Design: Hellboy Library Editions, designed by Cary Grazzini and Mike Mignola (Dark Horse)
Will Eisner Hall of Fame: Harold Gray, Graham Ingels, Matt Baker, Reed Crandall, Russ Heath, and Jerry Iger

For more information visit the Comic-Con International Website

Paul Fitzgerald has announced the availability of a limited edition of his new book, Will Eisner and PS Magazine. Paul Fitzgerald was PS Magazine's first managing editor and had a 52-year friendship with Will Eisner. This is warmly reflected throughout the 224 page softcover book. The book is currently only available directly from the author in a signed and numbered limited edition of 500 copies.

For more information and to order a personal copy go to the
Will Eisner and PS Magazine Website.

A great review of Will Eisner's Last Day in Vietnam from the PopMatters Comics Blog:


In the titular story from Will Eisner's anthology Last Day In Vietnam, an unnamed Major in the USMC and civilian news-reporter plan an impromptu escape from a Marine Firebase.

The beauty of this sequence lies in Eisner's superb skill at telling a story across dimensions. It appears as if the Major literally crawls out from two dimensions into three, as he clambers aboard the Huey helicopter. Viewed from inside the Huey, the Major running towards the chopper is ordinary fare for comics. It is the world at a distance, the theatrical fourth wall remains undisturbed. But over the course of the two panels that follow, the fourth wall is breached and the violence and horror of a base camp under enemy fire recedes into the distance.

Read more at The PopMaters Comics Blog here.

Still available at Amazon.com:

This week's homework assignment (only kidding) is to read one of Danny Fingeroth's books about comics. Danny was an Editor and Writer at Marvel for twenty years before putting out his own shingle. Danny developed Write Now! for TwoMorrows Publishing including the current Spring, 2009 issue with some great interviews and articles about Will Eisner.

Here are a couple of Danny's other recent books:

IBPA, the Independent Book Publishers Association, serves 4,000 book, audio, and video publishers located in the United States and around the world.

Will Eisner's The Spirit: A Pop-Up Graphic Novel has been named as one of three finalists in the Graphic Novel Category.

The 2009 Benjamin Franklin Award winner will be chosen from the three finalists and one will receive the Benjamin Franklin Award during a ceremony during Book Expo America in NYC.

Buy The Spirit: A Pop-Up Graphic Novel

For more information visit the publisher, Insight Editions.

COMICS EXPERT DANNY FINGEROTH WILL GIVE A FREE PRESENTATION ON THE LIFE AND ART OF GRAPHIC NOVEL TITAN WILL EISNER AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ON MONDAY, MARCH 23, AT 8:00 PM.

Take a tour through Eisner's life - in effect, a journey through comics history. The presentation will serve as an introduction to those who'd like to know more about the graphic novel phenomenon which spawned hit movies like The Dark Knight and Watchmen, or for those more knowledgeable, learn new insights about the work of Eisner and his creative descendants.

For more information visit The Comics Waiting Room Newswire at
The Comics Waiting Room

The first week of March will mark the inaugural Will Eisner Week, a celebration of Will Eisner's legacy in graphic novel literacy and free expression. A collaborative project of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, The Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation, and a variety of comics
institutions, Will Eisner Week is chaired by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design's Assistant Professor Barbara Schulz. Will Eisner Week will be celebrated this year from March 1 to March 7, commemorating the 92nd anniversary of Eisner's birth.

Will Eisner Week is intended as an ongoing celebration that will promote graphic novel literacy, free speech awareness, and the legacy of Eisner himself to a broad audience. This first annual celebration is themed "The Spirit of A Legend," examining Will Eisner's seminal Spirit comic, as well as the spirit inherent in his work that has inspired generations of comic readers and artists. This theme will be explored at events in Minneapolis at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, in Savannah at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and in New York City.

In addition to events, a variety of academic papers and group activity
assignments are available on WillEisnerWeek.com

These include:

Diana Schutz: Comic Artist Will Eisner
Diana Green: Other Trench(ant) Coats: Dr. Drew and the Wraith as
Spirit Pastiches
Frenchy Lunning: The Hero High Above the City
Ivan Brunetti: Worst. Page. Ever.
Paul Karasik: Will Eisner, Grandaddy to the SuperHero Generation.

Will & Ann Eisner Family Foundation President Carl Gropper says, "The Foundation is very excited to be working with three such prestigious organizations to celebrate the accomplishments and the position of the Graphic Novel in current culture. Will Eisner spent his seven decades-long career showing what could be accomplished with Sequential Art and Will Eisner Week will continue that work. In 1978 no mainstream publisher would publish Will Eisner's first graphic novel and in 2008 the graphic novel was the one of the few areas of growth in all media including publishing, television, and the movies adding billions to the worldwide economy."

CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein says, "Will Eisner was a staunch advocate of comics and free expression throughout his life. His work for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was tireless, and we are proud to honor his legacy through this initiative. Over time, we hope that Will Eisner Week will be used to focus ever more attention on graphic novel literacy and the wide range of free expression that
comics encourage."

Check out www.willeisnerweek.com for more information.

Thanks to Genus Corp, a software development firm based in L.A. that specializes in mobile devices, a new generation of comics readers is likely to discover the work of the late and legendary cartoonist Will Eisner on the iPhone.

The [Kamikaze!] software was developed by Melissa Pope and Helen Cho Anthos, co-CEOs of Genus Corp, who were on hand at the recent New York Comic-con to tout the application and the licenses to such classic Eisner works as A Contract With God, The Building and Life on Dropsie Avenue.

Pope and Anthros said they expect to announce additional graphic novel licences by the end of the week. "What we are noticing is that Contract with God is appealing to an audience outside of the traditional comic fan base," said Anthros, "But we also want to introduce a new generation to Will Eisner's work."

Read the full article here.

Buy the graphic novel for your iPhone or iPod Touch here.