The Birth of the Modern Graphic Novel (and the Rebirth of a Legend):
by
Dan Johnson
By the late 1970s, Will Eisner was already a legend in the comics industry. As one of the founders of the Eisner-Iger Studio, and the creator and co-creator of such classic characters as Blackhawk, Doll Man, Uncle Sam, and Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, Eisner had already earned a place in the annals of comic-book history. And lest we forget, there was also the Spirit. Through Denny Colt’s alter ego Eisner had obtained an iconic status in the field and a legion of fans. By 1978, Eisner had already done more in the comics industry than most of his peers from the Golden Age. By this time, many of the artists and writers who had come up with Eisner during the 1930s and the 1940s had already left the business, and of the ones who were still working in the field, no one was looking to them to revolutionize the medium. In 1978, though, that was just what Eisner did, producing A Contract with God, the first modern graphic novel. With the release of this work, Eisner reassured his place as comics’ premier artist. He also redefined himself as a storyteller, and forever redefined comics. The story of A Contract with God began in 1971. By that time Eisner had left mainstream comics and was producing educational pamphlets
“And this is what inspired Will to get back into doing comics”. . . . . .says editor Diana Schutz of Eisner’s desire to explore autobiographical material, even heartbreaking personal stories, in the graphic-novel format. © 2005 Will Eisner Estate.
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