  "By Bob Andelman" "By Bob Andelman" By Will Eisner Web Links By Bob Andelman Business Celebrities Comics & Cartoons First Person Health Law Media Meetings/Incentives Murder, I Wrote Music Politics Profiles Radio Real Estate Retail Sex Sports Tampa Bay Travel Reviews A Spirited Life Athlete Hardcover Paperback Audiotape Audio Download Official Web Site Hardcover Official Web Site (Japanese Edition) Paperback Hardcover Audiotape Hardcover Web Site Watch Football Hardcover Web Site With the Orange Orange Web Site for Kids Mr. Media Archives 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 Established Oct. 7, 1999 |
eNewsletter No. 23 Author, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life
legendary artist and writer Will Eisner REPORT FROM THE WILL EISNER MEMORIAL SERVICE IN NEW YORK CITY, APRIL 7, 2005 Several hundred people packed the Angel Orensanz Foundation (http://www.orensanz.org/) at 172 Norfolk Street on Manhattanıs Lower East Side on April 7 to pay tribute to the late Will Eisner, who died on January 3, 2005. In attendance was a literal whoıs who of the comic book and graphic novel industry, as well as Eisnerıs widow, Ann, and more than a dozen Eisner family members. Frank Miller, riding the huge press wave of the film adaptation of ³Sin City,² nonetheless interrupted his promotional schedule to attend the service and an informal wake the night before at the Mercury Bar. Also in attendance at the service: Mike Richardson, Michael Martens and Diana Schutz from Dark Horse; Bob Schreck from DC; artist Mike Mignola; and Bob Chapman from Graphitti Designs. Organized and sponsored by DC Comics, the setting for the event was particularly evocative of Eisnerıs best-known work. The Foundation is housed in a neo-gothic building that was designed as a synagogue in 1849. According to its web site: ³This structure witnessed the birth of the Jewish reform movement in America, but after the decay of the Yiddish Lower East Side after World War II, dozens of synagogues and other significant structures disappeared.² Paul Levitz, president and publisher of DC Comics guided the informal service, which included brief remarks by Ann Eisner and a 10-minute clip from Andrew and Jon Cookeıs remarkable documentary, ³Will Eisner: The Spirit of An Artistic Pioneer.² The clip included comments and anecdotes from Art Spiegelman and Michael Chabon as well as Eisner himself. (See the clip yourself: http://www.montillapictures.com/.) To share a flavor of the afternoon, I offer these excerpts from many of the speakers: (Referring to Ann) ³If we didnıt know already, we know now where Willıs ability to write strong women came from ³Will was a natural resource so great as to be a landmark.² ³I had the honor of working with Will over the last 35 years of his career. During that time, Will became more than someone I published he became a mentor to me (and), in many ways, a father ³One day I criticized Will for creating the World Bartenderıs Guide. He said, That book sold 250,000 copies. It makes my mother happy. The books I sell through you make my father happy ³He pointed out to me that there is good in everyone and every institution. Will was a humanitarian. And an inspirational (man). ³He also taught me many lessons; loyalty was one of them. Will was loyal to me through 30 years through various ups and downs. My companies his rough times; at one point, many young artists jumped ship. Will stayed till the bitter end When I was in the depths of depression, Will called and asked if I would be his art and literary agent ³The best thing about being his publisher and agent was that I got to read everything first!² ³(In the introduction to The Art of Will Eisner), Jules Feiffer wrote that Will was cheap. I thought, I canıt publish this!ı So I called Will and said, Jules Feiffer says youıre cheap!ı Itıs true,ı Will said. ³Will was not ever predictable. When I thought he was a hard-hearted businessman, he was the artist. Whenever I thought I saw the artist, he became the hard-hearted businessman ³He didnıt have to work; he wanted to work.² (Uslan recalled all the works in film that will forever remind him of Will Eisner) ³ Every time I see films by Alfred Hitchock, Orson Welles, and now, Frank Miller, Iıll think of Will Eisner.² ³How do you say a few words about Will Eisner? Itıs like trying to say a few words about comics ³He once said, Iıve been through three or four deaths of the industryı and itıs still around ³He saw comics as a way to teach people in practical means ³He did not create the Eisner Awards (contrary to popular belief). But once he lent his name to them, he thought it important they represent what he really thought. What was important (to him) was what was nominated, that the full spectrum of what is done in comics be represented, including what was put out by the big companies, by small companies whatever was quality. A lot of people get the ballot and say, I never heard of this.ı That was the idea, to find gems! (Eisner didnıt want the ³Eisner Award² to be a statue of himself or The Spirit.) ³ıThatıs looking at the past.ı He said, I want something looking at the future. Maybe a globe because comics is an international medium.ı² (McCloud said he once teased Eisner about learning to use new computer-driven drawing tools such as a Wacom tablet.) ³But I loved his hand-drawn artwork. I didnıt really want to see him ruin it with these clumsy (new) tools ³Will was always happy to debate any new idea at all. And he was just as glad to absorb any new idea. (McCloud was with Will & Ann Eisner at a German art festival when the mayor personally took them on a tour of his city and present Eisner with the key to his city.) ³He was treated like a demi-God. And that was the truth of it. We didnıt see that treatment as much here in the States. He wanted to be a kid. He joked that all he wanted was to be named Most Promising Young Artist.ı His whole attitude was, I think Iım finally onto something. I think Iım finally getting it.ı² ³Harvey Kurtzman died too young. When I got the word that Will died, I thought he died way too young.² ³Youıre all so fucking somber! ³Iım 8 years old at the Hotel Breakers in Sandusky, Ohio My mother dragged me away so my father could regain his sanity. There was a newspaper lying on a sofa in the lobby and I saw funnies. I loved funnies. So I lay on the floor, right in everyoneıs path, reading this. I was reading The Spirit. And I loved it. Just loved it (Years later, in the mid-1970s, William Friedkin, hot on the success of The Exorcist, acquired the rights to do a film adaptation of Will Eisnerıs The Spirit. He asked Ellison to write a screenplay.) ³I said, Why did you pick me?ı And Friedkin said, Will Eisner recommended you.ı ³I loved the treatment I wrote. It was terrific. I cut out Eisner drawings and put them in the script. Will loved it. Of course, it never got made. ³He was a funny guy. He didnıt have this much bullshit in him. He was very pragmatic. And phonies he could spot them immediately. ³There are a million people standing on line in Rome to see that guy (Pope John Paul II). And I think that there should be a million people waiting here to see Will.² ³I was 18 when I first met Will. I tried to absorb a lot of what Will was doing, particularly in his opening (splash) panels.) (Jackie Estrada pointed out that Robinson has the distinction of being the last person to receive an Eisner Award from Eisner; Robinson was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in July 2004.) ³The stories that Will wrote and drew reminded me of my own parents and grandparents. (Berger edited two of Eisnerıs graphic novels, Minor Miracles and Name of the Game) ³Working with Will was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Being with Will was like being with family. Mishpacha. (Hebrew for ³family.)² ³I was in awe of the man. I never thought he would die. To me, he was like Johnny Carson. I never thought he would die, either. ³I was 11 years old when I first discovered The Spirit. Twenty-five years later, we worked together at Warren and I got to know him. He was a no-nonsense authority figure. With Will, what you heard what you saw was what we got. And what we got was the greatest of the Greatest Generation. ³When Will spoke, you listened. In an industry of flaming egos, he was Gregory Peck a voice of reason. He made us proud of what we do. ³If our hearts are heavy now, itıs not because we hardly knew you, Will. Itıs because we knew you so well.² ³Iım probably Willıs last book editor. ³I was overcome with his generosity of spirit. He would not let us pay for a meal. Maybe he changed is the last years. But he took us to the Princeton Club. And he insisted on paying! ³What motivated an 87-year-old man to tackle an extremely challenging history (The Protocols), I will never know. But this is a man who felt he could do something about prejudice.² ³I tend to see the world in comic book terms. The first time I saw San Francisco, I thought it looked like it had been drawn by Gene Colan. As I look at this environment, it looks like it was drawn by Will Eisner. Iım picturing an angry Jewish man standing in front of this ark, clenching his fist, angrily, saying, We had a contract!ı Here in the Lower East Side, it is a Will Eisner world and we just live in it.² "I met Will at a comic store in Philadelphia. He gave me some advice: 'Stick to your dream, kid. You might make it.'" ³Will wanted to recognize comics retailers with an award. He lent his name to that award, as well. Some people said, Maybe weıre not ready yet (to give an award). Will said, Sometimes itıs better to have halitosis than no breath at all.ı² ³A number of us asked the School of Visual Arts to have a comics class. Silas Rhoades said, Great. Who do you want us to hire?ı We put Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman at the top of the list. And they hired them! ³Harvey was more easy-going. Will was a hard taskmaster. You were there for boot camp with him. He was even tougher on me because he knew for me to be good he had to instill discipline.² ³(Will) was a mensch. Really wonderful to work for. And he was a tough negotiator. He was always looking out, not just for his side of the (deal), but for us, too.² ³He was the patriarch of our field. He was ever-present. And his presence itself was an inspiration. The only way to say good-bye to Will Eisner and honor him is to live by his example.² (When Kitchen Sink Press announced plans in the 1990s to publish a comic book featuring new adventures of Will Eisnerıs classic character, The Spirit, Denis Kitchen anointed relative newcomer Garnier to edit the book. With top creators such as Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and Neil Gaiman contributing stories, it was a formidable challenge.) ³Will said to me, Babe, if any of these boys give you any trouble, send them to me!ı And itıs testament to the esteem with which people held Will that I never had to take him up on that offer.² ³I saw Will speak at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. last year. In his audience were many librarians. He said, Itıs great that youıre the ones who preserve the books and youıre here talking about comics.ı² (As an aside Catron said he looked up Eisner at http://www.comics.org and discovered 1,300 entries for Eisner as a writer, 1,300 as a penciler, 1,400 as an inker and one for Eisner as a publisher (of Baseball Comics). He encouraged fans to log in and contribute to the Eisner index.) ³I told Will that as a young man, I wanted to be a cartoonist. And the reason I gave it up was because I saw his work. I couldnıt draw as well as him, so why bother? Little did I know, no one could draw as well.² PRE-ORDER ³WILL EISNER: A SPIRITED LIFE² TODAY Three years after starting on this book, itıs exciting to announce that you can now pre-order the book on Amazon.com. Order two; theyıre small. COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATES WILL EISNER, JULY 14-17, 2005 Will Eisner is featured on the front cover of Comic-Con Internationalıs ³Update #1² and the San Diego-based convention is sending out signals that this yearıs event will recognize Eisnerıs career, the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards and the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award. For more information, click here. FINAL EISNER STORY IN ³THE ESCAPIST² IN STORES THIS WEEK Will Eisnerıs last finished work is a crossover between his character, The Spirit, and Michael Chabonıs The Escapist, in the pages of ³The Escapist² #6 comic book, arriving in stores this week. You can also order it directly from Dark Horse Comics by clicking here. And in case you hadnıt heard, Chabon wrote the introduction for ³Will Eisner: A Spirited Life.² And Neal Adams wrote an appreciation of Will Eisner that also appears in the book. GOOGLE TRIBUTE TO WILL EISNER Tom Galloway, writing in to the Will Eisner Listserv on Yahoo, noted that documentation for the new Google Desktop feature apparently recognizes Will Eisner in an interesting and unique way. Go to http://desktop.google.com/features.html and look at the examples under ³Advanced Email Search.² WILL EISNER IN THE NEWS "Jeph Loeb to adapt Eisner's The Spirit for screen" Newsarama The film version of Will Eisnerıs The Spirit today got another familiar name added to its roster, as the trades announced that Jeph Loeb will adapt the classic character for the screen. The film is being developed by Odd Lot Entertainment and Batfilm Productions, with Odd Lotıs Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete will produce along with Batfilmıs Michael Uslan. Benjamin Melniker and Steve Maier will serve as executive producers, with F.J. DeSanto and Linda McDonough co-producing. Odd Lotıs Deborah Del Prete said in a release: ³Will Eisner created a tremendous character and story, and Jeph Loeb is the perfect writer to enhance and honor his legacy. Michael and I met with Will just before he passed away in January, and we all agreed that our film will encompass the same integrity, artistry and handsomely crafted look that The Spirit is so well-known for.² Read the rest of the story. The Hollywood Reporter version. ³Graphic novels go legitimate: 'Sin City' movie helps comic storytelling get more respect² By Jeffrey Lee Puckett The Courier-Journal For fans of comic art and the art of filmmaking, the boldly innovative "Sin City" movie represents not only a new standard but, arguably, an entirely new category: There has never been such a literal translation of the printed page to screen. Read the rest of the story. And the sidebar. Asbury Park Press profile of Michael Uslan "Frank Miller puts his comic book stamp on Hollywood" By Brian McTavish The Kansas City Star Frank Miller sounded a little tired on the phone from New York, occasionally punctuating his sentences with small coughs that could pass for bursts of distant gunfire. Read the rest of the story: Kansas City Star Will Eisner is mentioned in most stories and reviews about Millerıs ³Sin City²: Springfield News-Leader Rocky Mountain News Washington Times The Bergen News "The spirit of popular art" Reason By Brian Doherty WILL EISNER, who died in January, was a founder of the graphic novel--a medium in which serious, extended narratives appear in comic-book form. With his 1978 work A Contract With God, he began a series of semi-autobiographical tales about big-city ethnics, earning acclaim both inside and outside the comics community. But that was phase two of Eisner's career. His first claim to fame lay in his weekly newspaper supplement, The Spirit (1940-1952).Those comics told tales of a masked crime fighter who battled grotesques and gangsters in a comic-noir New York called Central City. They dealt more with archetypes than with characters, and they often offered more violence than insight. But they were tense, funny, deeply urban, and deeply human; they have been reprinted repeatedly, continuing to capture readers even as the original pulp they were printed on flakes away to nothing. As with the film noir of the '40s that The Spirit resembles, unique craftsmanship--even in so "low" a field as comics or B movies--will not only attract new audiences; it will often be embraced, eventually, by cultural gatekeepers. On the front page of the Los Angeles Times, the image teasing Eisner's obituary was not an anguished old man yearning to God but a lithe young Spirit punching out a crook. COPYRIGHT 2005 Reason Foundation "The growth of graphic novels" The Roanoke Times By Paul E. Fitzgerald As early as last summer, there was talk in publishing circles that 2005 would be The Year of Will Eisner. His death at age 87 on Jan. 3, following heart surgery, has only served to heighten interest in his life and work. ACQUIRE FOREIGN RIGHTS TO ³WILL EISNER: A SPIRITED LIFE² Send inquiries to Lance Kreiter lancek(at)darkhorse.com Or call 1-503-652-8815. WILL EISNER LINKS Will Eisner Official Site; Who is Will Eisner? http://www.willeisner.com Order Will Eisner: A Spirited Life from Amazon.com: Click HERE to order now! Order Books by Will Eisner http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?search-type=ss&tag=andelmancom&keyword=%22Will%20Eisner%22&index=books Will Eisner: A Spirited Life Official Web Site http://www.aspiritedlife.com Will Eisner & The Spirit: Biography and History of a Comics Legend http://deniskitchen.com/docs/bios/bio_will_eisner.html The Comics Reporterıs Eisner Page http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/commentary/674/ Will Eisnerıs John Law, New Adventures Online http://www.johnlaw.us.com Wildwood Cemetery: The Spirit Database http://www.angelfire.com/art/wildwood/ Will Eisner Original Art For Sale http://deniskitchen.com/ DC Comicsı Will Eisner Library http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/dc_category.html?cat=eisner Dark Horse Comics http://darkhorse.com NBM Publishing http://www.nbmpub.com/fairytales/eisner/eisnerhome.html IMPACT Books (a division of F+W Publications) http://www.artistsnetwork.com/impact_books/titles.asp PODGallery http://www.podgallery.com/eisner The Spirit Checklist http://www.luckymojo.com/spiritchecklist.html Rare Eisner: Making of a Genius http://www.comicartville.com/rareeisner.htm Fagin the Jew, Doubleday Books http://www.randomhouse.com/doubleday/catalog/display.pperl?0385510098 Kitchen & Hansen Literary Agency http://www.kitchenandhansen.com Who is Bob Andelman, Anyway? http://www.andelman.com  (Photo by Pete Eisner) If youıd like to subscribe, send an e-mail to Subscribe@ASpiritedLife.com with the words ³Eisner Newsletter² in the subject line. If youıd like to unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Unsubscribe@ASpiritedLife.com with the word ³Unsubscribe² in the subject line. |