Will
Eisner A Spirited LifeBut that is not what the new book by Bob Andelman is about. Yes, it does talk about his career and the work he did and how Eisner created some of his characters but the whole thing is less about a cartoonist and artist named Will Eisner then it is about a man named Will Eisner.
From the first chapter where a young William draws a Comic strip for his high-school newspaper and his father supports his dream of becoming an artist we see this book will be something more then the standard biography of 'this is how I draw, look at this it made me famous, see how important I was to the field?"
It is a touching look from a writer (Andelman) who loved his subject, not a scribe who was given a job and did it well enough to finish. Andelman clearly loves Eisner and it is easy to see that Eisner respected Andelman enough to not only open his life, but to share with Bob something of this own essence, his soul and -ahem- his Spirit.
Bob Andelman spent weeks doing interviews with Eisner and the stories he shared are nothing short of sentimental memories of two friends talking. Also included are interviews with other professional artists and writers in the Comic industry, including Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Neil Gaiman, Denis Kitchen, Joe Kubert, Jim Warren, Stan Lee, Dave Sim, and Patrick McDonnell, relating some past moment when they met Will Eisner or how he influenced them.
Andelman talks about and with the Eisner his fans knew, the man who helped found Comics and created the Graphic Novel, but it is the man Will Eisner that we finally get to learn about. We have the chance to watch a young William struggle from job to job, as he learns more and more about the varying aspects of the occupation he wants.
We see his first meeting with Jerry Iger, when his experience working in a printing shop and on his high-school newspaper paid off, impressing Iger with his ability to think quickly. From this meeting came the famous Eisner and Iger studios, which lead the way for the new industry Comic Magazines by creating original characters and stories. Not only do we get to see Eisner at his start, but we also get to see the beginning of talented people like Bob Kane, George Tuska, Bob Powell and a young man named Jacob Kurtzberg. You might recognize Kurtzberg under another handle, Jack "King" Kirby.
That's right sports fans, had it not been for Will Eisner the entire face of the Comic industry would have looked quite different.
But the book isn't just about Eisner and his professional life. It also looks deeply into the personal life of this man. It shows his life in the Army, his nervousness around women (oddly enough, Will Eisner seemed to have the same problem so many Comic book males have, to quote "Eisner was so preoccupied with cartooning that he never made time to develop a social life that would enable him to meet girls." Sound familiar, oh fellow Comic book nerds and geeks? Our own ineptitude might stem from a genetic anomaly started by William Eisner. See how important he was in each of our lives?) his honesty as demonstrated during a lawsuit over a character that cost Eisner and Iger $3000, a small fortune in those days, his first meeting with a blind date set up by his partner Iger (a hooker, unknown to Will who didn't pay her), the tough times when they lost Kirby and other artists because the money just was not there.
And for struggling and up and coming artists (as well as writers) there is a very important lesson in the second chapter of the book. Eisner has a meeting with Everett Arnold of Quality Comics. They have an idea for a new type of newspaper strip. A 16 page insert, much like the TV listings in today's Sunday paper.
Even though Quality already had a stable of artists and writers they knew Eisner could be depended on to meet a deadline every week. Think about that struggling artist, next time you are given a chance at an eight-page story and still can't turn it out on time.
It was from this simple meeting and compliment that one of the most enduring and loved characters of all Comics time was created, The Spirit.
This was interrupted a couple of years later when Eisner was drafted. However, unlike many people today, Eisner didn't shirk his duty and responsibility as a citizen. He was strongly patriotic and wanted to repay the Nazis for the murder of is people, the Jews.
But even the military could not stop Will Eisner from doing what he did best, creating characters that entertained people. He drew and wrote Pvt. Otis Dog Tag for the base newspaper, designed posters and helped create a new type of training manual using Comic book style work to demonstrate the process.
I could go on and on about the stories and anecdotes in this book. I loved it, and would happily re-read it again. Andelman has done a fantastic job of giving us a look into the life of one of the Founding Fathers of American Comic books.
This is a chance for us, his fans, to see what formed Will Eisner and where he truly came from and how he became the man he was.
Thanks to Dark Horse and "M" books for this one.
