Will Eisner
Various publishers. All written and illustrated by Will Eisner.
The
Building (DC Comics). [From
DC Comics: Will Eisner utilizes the impending demolition of an old tenement
building as a stage for four ghosts to revisit their lives and examine missed
opportunities. In this black and white trade paperback, the reader experiences
the remorse of a wannabe good samaritan who never pays his debt to society,
the regret of a woman who allowed love to pass her by, the frustration of
a musician who never attained his dreams and the obsession of a businessman
who becomes emotionally attached to the corner building. Linked by a common
address, these four life affirming tales of the past create hope for the
future.] Also contained in Will Eisner's New York below. 
City
People Notebook (DC Comics). [From DC Comics:
This sequel to Will Eisner's New York: The Big City is not so much a graphic
novel as a series of vignettes and graphic essays, centered on an examination
of three facets of city life: Time, Space and Smell. Eisner brings to this
task a lifetime of memories, encounters and experiences and shares them
with consummate skill.] Also contained in Will Eisner's New York below. 
A
Contract with God (DC Comics). [From DC Comics:
The Will Eisner Library begins In 1978, Will Eisner, creator of THE SPIRIT
and one of the most influential comics artists of all time, revolutionized
the comics field with the publication of A CONTRACT WITH GOD AND OTHER TENEMENT
STORIES, the first modern graphic novel. Drawing on his memories of growing
up in the Bronx in the 1930s, Eisner created a series of moving, thematically
related stories exploring the immigrant experience and the struggle with
life in a new nation. In April, DC Comics begins reprinting the twelve books
that comprise The Will Eisner Library, starting with (appropriately enough)
A CONTRACT WITH GOD. A powerful generation-spanning story of love, anger,
faith, and betrayal, CONTRACT is an unforgettable work whose influence can
be found in the best works that have followed in its wake. In months to
come, DC will publish Eisner's other acclaimed works.] Also contained in Contract With God Trilogy below. 
The
Dreamer (DC Comics). [From DC Comics: In this
semi-autobiographical graphic novel, Will Eisner tells the tale of a young
man who dreams about being a comic book artist in the 1930's. A revealing
and entertaining look into his early career, Eisner draws on actual events
from his own life, such as his job at a printing press, his infamous encounter
with the mafia and Tijuana bibles, and the death knell of pulps. This well
crafted graphic novel not only paints a portrait of the early days of comic
books but also the obstacles and hurdles that any man must overcome to fulfill
their dreams.] Also contained in Life, in Pictures below. 
Dropsie
Avenue: The Neighborhood (DC Comics). [From
DC Comics: In this black and white trade paperback, Will Eisner examines
the life, death, and rebirth of a South Bronx neighborhood over the span
of 120 years. Examining the diverse ethnic experiences of Dutch, Irish,
Jewish, English, and Italian settlers during the early 20th century, Eisner
depicts the evolution of a rural area into an urban mecca as waves of immigration
and its resulting social trauma mold a city. Witnessing these events through
the eyes of workers, dreamers, reformers, and criminals, the reader is taken
on a journey of hope, heartbreak, and healing.] Also contained in Contract With God Trilogy below. 
Fagin
the Jew (Doubleday Books). [From Doubleday:
From his early newspaper comics to the sophisticated graphic novels he produces
today, Will Eisner has been a pioneering force in comics for more than sixty
years. Ron Goulart, writing in Book World, declared, “A shrewd, thoughtful
man, Eisner has always had a knack for deftly combining dialogue and images
to tell his story,” and fellow graphic novelist Alan Moore simply said,
“Eisner is the single person most responsible for giving comics its
BRAINS.” And Amazon.com, which called him "the Elvis of comics,"
said, "It's fair to say that Eisner invented modern comic art."
In FAGIN THE JEW, Eisner proves himself to be not only a master of comic
storytelling, but also an incisive literary and social critic. This project
was first conceived as an introduction to a pictorial adaptation of Oliver
Twist, but as he learned more about the history of Dickens-era Jewish life
in London, Eisner uncovered intriguing material that led him to create this
new work. In the course of his research, Eisner came to believe that Dickens
had not intended to defame Jews in his famous depiction. By referring to
Fagin as “the Jew” throughout the book, however, he had perpetuated
the common prejudice; his fictional creation imbedded itself in the public’s
imagination as the classic profile of a Jew. In his award-winning style,
Eisner recasts the notorious villain as a complex and troubled antihero
and gives him the opportunity to tell his tale in his own words. Depicting
Fagin’s choices and actions within a historical context, Eisner captures
the details of life in London’s Ashkenazi community and brilliantly
re-creates the social milieu of Dickensian England. Eisner's fresh, compelling
look at prejudice, poverty, and anti-Semitism lends an extraordinary richness
to his artwork, ever evocative and complex. Like the modern classics Maus
and The Jew of New York, FAGIN THE JEW blends image and prose in an unforgettable
exploration of history.] 
Hawks
of the Sea (Dark HorseComics). [From Dark Horse
Comics: In 1936, a 20-year-old artist using the name Willis B. Rensie
jump-started the comic-book medium. Writing and illustrating an action-packed
weekly serial called "Hawks of the Seas" --a pirate adventure
series set in the 18th-century Caribbean--the artist created one dynamic
strip after another, honing his storytelling craft and shaping the comics
medium with each one. That artist was none other than comics' grand master
Will Eisner! From 1936 to 1938, Eisner's "Hawks of the Seas" weekly
stories were translated into several different languages and distributed
all over the world, and now they're collected here in this handsome hardcover
edition. The stories themselves stand the test of time, as thrilling and
exciting as they were almost 70 years ago. Featuring an introduction by
comics veteran Al Williamson and a new foreword by Eisner himself.]
Invisible
People (DC Comics). [From DC Comics: The winner
of the Harvey Award for "Best Writer" and "Best Cartoonist,"
this graphic novel sheds a powerful light on the nameless and unknown people
of the world. Inspired by the dismal death of a forgotten elderly woman,
Will Eisner crafts a tale of three anonymous people linked by a common theme
as they each reach a dramatic crossroad in their lives. Mixing irony, subtlety,
and passion, Eisner illustrates that every life, even those that society
has lost sight of, is significant and valuable.] Also contained in Will Eisner's New York below. 
Last
Day in Vietnam (Dark Horse Comics). [From Dark Horse
Comics: Dark Horse is proud to present the newest graphic novel by Will
Eisner, one of comics' pioneers and inarguably the medium's first "maverick"
creator! Last Day in Vietnam is Eisner's memoir of stories about soldiers
who are engaged not only in the daily hostilities of war but also in larger,
more personal combat. During Eisner's years in the military, and particularly
during the many field trips he made for P.S. Magazine, he observed camp
life at close range. Some of the stories in this novel are comical, some
heartrending, some frightening, yet all display the incredible insight into
humanity characteristic of Eisner's entire oeuvre. The first edition of
this 81/2"x11" graphic novel will feature a full-color cover painted
by the artist, with a matte and spot-gloss finish, interior cover flaps,
and special sepia-colored ink printed on high-quality antique paper.]
A
Life Force (DC Comics). [From
DC Comics: In this moving urban portrait, Will Eisner revisits his familiar
South Bronx neighborhood and shows how the historical events of the 1930s
and '40s influenced the lives of everyday people. During the tumultuous
times of the Great Depression and World War II, Jacob Shtarakah is a simple
man trying to make a better life for his family. Unfortunately, he is confronted
at every turn by the far-reaching effects of global events. In this graphic
novel, the reader experiences the hopes and fears of this hardworking immigrant
as he copes with events that are beyond his control but in control of his
life.] Also contained in Contract With God Trilogy below. 
Minor
Miracles (DC Comics). [From DC Comics: New York
City. It may be the toughest city on Earth in which to survive. The endless
flow of people, the breakneck pace. But, amid the glistening skyscrapers
of Manhattan are the neighborhoods that are the city's heart and soul. They
are places filled with love, death, betrayal, spiritual longing, and earthly
poverty. Places of miracles large and small. MINOR MIRACLES is the first
original work for DC Comics by master storyteller, comics innovator and
legend Will Eisner—following the recent Last Day In Vietnam graphic
novel from Dark Horse Comics—as he returns to the New York City of
his youth, proving miracles can happen every day in unlikely places to unlikely
people. MINOR MIRACLES, the latest addition to the Will Eisner Library and
available at the same time in both hardcover and softcover versions, is
a collection of four remembrances of the apocryphal stories or "meinsas"
that filled the air of the tenements and streets of the Dropsie Avenue of
Eisner's youth (the same neighborhood found in Eisner's A CONTRACT WITH
GOD and DROPSIE AVENUE). These are stories of outrageous fortune and unlucky
coincidence that, like memories themselves, are subjective and often unreliable
- but ultimately, miraculous. In "The Miracle of Dignity," a rags-to-riches-to-rags
tale, Uncle Amos is a fast-talking beggar (some say con man) who learns
that dignity comes at a price above worldly wealth. "Street Magic"
is a neighborhood parable about surviving the pitfalls of being a newly
arrived immigrant in New York that proves brute strength and violence is
no match for good sleight-of- hand. In "The New Kid on the Block,"
a strange and primitive boy turns up on Dropsie Avenue, bringing with him
a mysterious wave of good luck and harmony. But when he becomes a victim
of the social forces of the neighborhood, everyone's fortunes are affected.
Finally, "Special Wedding Ring" is the heartbreaking tale of Reba
and Marvin - two young people forced to the fringes of life by intolerance
for their physical disabilities. After being forced into an arranged marriage
by their meddlesome mothers, the pair seems to find happiness…until
fate intervenes. Eisner's graphic storytelling is as brilliant as ever.
While he weaves these four stories against a specific backdrop, the power
of this new work, like that of his past masterpieces (THE DREAMER, INVISIBLE
PEOPLE), is in the universality of his themes. Like the tall tales still
told in neighborhoods everywhere, the stories in MINOR MIRACLES provide
people with something to share, something to cling to, and something to
believe in. Most important, they give one hope and wonder.] 
The
Name of the Game (DC Comics). [From DC Comics:
Following the success of MINOR MIRACLES (the first original addition to
DC's Will Eisner Library), one of comics' most influential and groundbreaking
storytellers presents the 176-page softcover version of the acclaimed, Eisner
Award-winning THE NAME OF THE GAME. Written and illustrated by Will Eisner,
THE NAME OF THE GAME is a tumultuous generational saga of a wealthy Jewish
family's assimilation into New York society, spanning the first half of
the 1900s. It's also the story of the American Dream, and the game of marrying
for social advantage. With this book, the author relates in modern form
the classic fairy tale story of the pauper's hope of advancement by marrying
into royalty. Conrad and Alex Arnheim are two rich sons who inherited their
family's successful garment business, and over the years, they each, in
turn, destroy the family legacy. Conrad, the adored eldest son, grows up
to be a ruthless businessman and womanizer, true to no one but himself.
Alex becomes a life-long alcoholic, destroying himself and those who love
him. An emotionally rich tale, THE NAME OF THE GAME delves into the lives
of the many people who are connected to the Arnheims, painting a compelling
picture of life, family, religion, and social status from the turn of the
century through post-World War II America.] Also contained in Life, in Pictures below. 
New
York: The Big City (DC Comics). [From DC Comics:
There is no city in the world that embodies man's loftiest aspirations and
most base desires like New York. This perceptive graphic novel examines
multi-faceted metropolitan life, and all the flavor, color, and commotion
that go with it. Through 70 vignettes based around everyday elements such
as windows, subways, and stoops, Eisner shows us how small elements make
up the big city.] Also contained in Will Eisner's New York below. 
The
Plot: The Secret Story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion (Norton).
[From Norton: Will Eisner, the great American master of comics, has
undertaken what he regards as his most powerful work yet. The Plot examines
the outrageous fabrication of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which
purports to be the actual blueprint by Jewish leaders to take over the world.
Hatched as an anti-Semitic plot by the tsar's secret police to deflect widespread
criticism of the government, the Protocols, first published in 1905, succeeded
beyond the propagandistic ambitions of its originators; the lie became an
internationally accepted truth. Presenting a pageant of historical figures
including Tsar Nicholas II, Henry Ford, and Adolf Hitler, Eisner exposes
the twisted history of the Protocols from nineteenth-century Russia to modern-day
Klan members to Islamic fundamentalists. The Plot unravels one of the most
devastating hoaxes of the twentieth century.] 
To
the Heart of the Storm (DC Comics). [From DC Comics:
A young man recalls his life while riding a troop train during World War
II: his poverty stricken home life, the anti-Semitism he and his family
have encountered, and the family stories his parents recounted. Widely regarded
as Eisner's finest autobiographical work, in which his mastery of storytelling,
art and dialogue combine with universal themes to make this his most moving
and powerful graphic novel.] Also contained in Life, in Pictures below. 
Will
Eisner Reader (DC Comics). [From DC Comics: A
legendary writer and illustrator, Will Eisner uses his understanding of
humans and their emotions to depict realistic and stirring portraits of
society. A master of sequential storytelling, Will Eisner creates tales
in which his characters are motivated and affected by the fundamental emotions
of love, hate and fear. In this poignant book of reality and fantasy, the
comic master presents seven of his best graphic stories in which he explores
the strength and fragility of the human condition. The WILL EISNER READER
includes the classic stories, "The Long Hit," The Appeal,"
and "Sunset in Sunshine City."] 
The Contract with God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue (Norton; contains
A Contract With God, A Life Force, Dropsie Avenue).. [From Norton: WITH GRAPHIC NARRATIVE that "was closer to the writing of Bernard Malamud or Isaac Bashevis Singer than any comic art which had preceded it" (The Economist), A Contract with God, originally published in 1978, was the first graphic novel: the prototype— along with Life Force and Dropsie Avenue—for such seminal works as Maus and Persepolis. Set during the Great Depression, this literary trilogy, assembled in one volume for the first time, presents a treasure house of now near-mythic stories that fictionally illustrate the bittersweet tenement life of Eisner's youth. With nearly two dozen new illustrations and a revealing new foreword, this book ultimately tells the epic story of life, death, and resurrection while exploring man's fractious relationship with an all-too-vengeful God. This mesmerizing, fictional chronicle of the universal American immigrant experience is Eisner's most poignant and enduring legacy.] 
Will Eisner's New York (Norton; contains New York: Life in the Big City, The Building, City People Notebook, Invisible People). [From Norton: There is no city in the world that embodies man's loftiest aspirations and most base desires like New York. This perceptive graphic novel examines multi-faceted metropolitan life, and all the flavor, color, and commotion that go with it. Through 70 vignettes based around everyday elements such as windows, subways, and stoops, Eisner shows us how small elements make up the big city.] 
Life, in Pictures: Autobiographical Stories (Norton; contains The Dreamer, To the Heart of the Storm, The Name of the Game, two shorts). [From Norton: In what will be the closest thing Eisner fans will see to an
autobiography, the great master and pioneer of American graphic arts
presents the most intimate and personal perspective yet on his life as
a writer, a professional, and an artist. "The Dreamer" and "To the Heart of the Storm" describe Eisner's gritty early life and career, while "The Name of the Game" chronicles a personal history of his wife's family. Finally, two shorter pieces illuminate the bookends of a legendary career: "The Day I Became a Professional"—which will appeal to any hopeful young artist—describes Eisner's first rejection from a potential publisher, and "A Sunset in Sunshine City" provides a poignant portrait of Eisner in old age. The book features famous characters from the world of comics (under pseudonyms, of course) and other historical figures and family members, all drawn with Eisner's characteristic mastery and technique.] 
Eisner/Miller
(Dark Horse; interview book). [From Dark Horse Comics:
Finally available is this fascinating discourse between two of this medium's
greatest contributors-living comics legend Will Eisner and Sin City creator
and co-director Frank Miller. It would be hard to imagine any creators who
have affected their chosen medium more than Eisner and Miller have influenced
the world of comic books and graphic novels. Now, life-long comics fans
and culture-curious readers are invited to listen in as a legendary innovator
and godfather of sequential art (Eisner) and the modern master of cinematic
comics storytelling (Miller) discuss one on one, in an intimate interview
format, the ins-and-outs of this absorbing and often controversial art form.]
Will
Eisner: A Spirited Life (Dark Horse; w Bob Andelman).
[From Dark Horse Comics: 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 beautifully illustrated biography explores the fascinating
life of Eisner, detailing a career that exceeds six decades in which Eisner
spearheaded the cause of comics for adult readers and created the first
widely accepted graphic novel, A Contract with God. His influence has been
felt by such diverse talents as Batman creator Bob Kane and Jack Kirby.
Underground comics legend R. Crumb and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists
Jules Feiffer and Art Spiegelman have hailed Eisner's cinematic approach
to comics and his enduring character The Spirit. From his childhood to educating
Army soldiers to famously turning down a proposal for Superman, Eisner's
personal and professional life is told in dramatic detail.] 
The
Will Eisner Companion (DC Comics; w Cristopher Crouch & Stephen
Weiner). [From DC Comics: Will Eisner's career spans
the entire history of American comic books, from his formative days in the
1930s into the 1940s when he revolutionized narrative sequential art with
his internationally famed series The Spirit, to the 1970s when he created
the contemporary graphic novel form with A CONTRACT WITH GOD, to the present!
THE WILL EISNER COMPANION is the first comprehensive, critical overview
of the work of this legendary writer/artist. Divided into two sections —
his Spirit work and his graphic novels — this authorized companion
features all-new critical and historical essays by noted comics historians
N.C. Christopher Couch and Stephen Weiner, as well as alphabetical indexes
relating to all aspects and characters in his oeuvre. Also includes a chronology,
a bibliography and suggested reading lists, as well as an introduction by
Dennis O'Neil. THE WILL EISNER COMPANION is a must-have celebration for
new fans as well as old!] 