Will Eisner
Birth of the Graphic Novel
Will Eisner is known as “The Leonardo of the comic-book form.” But did you know that the man who gave birth to the graphic novel form did it while working with the Army?
After World War II, the U.S. Army tapped Eisner to create publications about preventative maintenance. His job took him to various locations where he gathered information. Soldiers, bored with dry text-only manuals, found they retained the advice more easily when it was presented in comic form.
Last Day in Vietnam
Will Eisner would have turned 95 on March 12th, 2012. To celebrate Will’s work, Dark Horse Books printed his “Last Day in Vietnam” graphic novel in hardcover for the first time. It’s a deeply personal memoir of his own experiences in the military during World War II. It was first released in 2000, garnering the Harvey Award for Best Original Graphic Album in 2001.
Precious Photograph
I am proud to reveal that a photograph I took of Will Eisner at the San Diego Comic Con in 2004 (he died in 2005) now graces his bio in the book. I remember asking him if I could photograph him and his warm response, “Of course!” It was a brief but unforgettable moment in the presence of a humble man who would be legendary.
