Dark Horse's Will Eisner bio

[JCVaughn]

Press Release

Dark Horse's prose imprint M Press is proud to present a new autobiography on one of comics' true legends, Will Eisner. Will Eisner: A Spirited Life is the only authorized and extensively researched autobiography of Eisner over three years in the making. Chock full of entertaining anecdotes told by the comic industry's top talents, A Spirited Life pays tribute to a true American original whose legacy will forever be felt not only in comic books and graphic novels but in commercial illustration, fine art, film, television and multimedia.

Pop culture would never have been the same without Will Eisner. Internationally recognized as the founding father of an utterly American medium -- comic books --Eisner pioneered this art form in the 1940s, and continued to shape its direction until his passing at 87 in 2005. This personality-driven biography, written by Bob Andelman, explores the fascinating life of Eisner and details a career that stretched across six decades. Eisner spearheaded the cause of comics for adult readers (including 30 years spent producing comics for the U.S. Army and corporate clients such as General Motors and the United Nations) and in 1976 created the first widely accepted graphic novel, A Contract with God.

Eisner influenced some of the world's greatest comic art talent: Bob Kane (Batman); Jack Kirby (Fantastic Four); Jules Feiffer; Dave Berg (Mad); and Joe Kubert (Tarzan). Eisner also inspired generations of modern artists and writers, including Frank Miller (Sin City), Robert Crumb, Harlan Ellison, Brad Bird (The Incredibles) and Art Spiegelman (Maus).

"As Will's authorized biographer, I spent the last three years with the artist in his studio and his home, as well as poring through his substantial archives at The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library and interviewing dozens of his colleagues, friends and family," commented biographer Bob Andelman. "We should all be lucky enough to have left such consistent and positive impressions on so many people for so many years."

Featuring an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon and an appreciation by Neal Adams, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life arrives in stores September 2005 with a retail price of $14.95.

[marksparacio]

Hey Jeff, Thanks for letting all the Shi-fans hear about what I'm sure is going to be a great book. Will was a truly fantastic guy and was the most inspirational teacher that I ever had. He was also very, very humble, so to hear others tell anecdotal stories about him will be wonderful. Another former student of Will's, Alex Saviuk had told me about this book, but I just couldn't remember the release date.  Anyhow, thanks again! I know that I'll be picking up this book...

[JCVaughn]

Hey Jeff, Thanks for letting all the Shi-fans hear about what I'm sure is going to be a great book. Will was a truly fantastic guy and was the most inspirational teacher that I ever had. He was also very, very humble, so to hear others tell anecdotal stories about him will be wonderful. Another former student of Will's, Alex Saviuk had told me about this book, but I just couldn't remember the release date.  Anyhow, thanks again! I know that I'll be picking up this book...

I don't have many Will Eisner stories, Mark, and you know the couple I have, but what a tremendous figure in comic book history!