In an effort to keep a series of classic graphic novels by the late comics legend Will Eisner in print, W. W. Norton has published new trade paperback editions of four semi-autobiographical fictional works, The Dreamer, To the Heart of the Storm, Will Eisner Reader and The Name of the Game. Norton first published these books combined in a single volume, Life in Pictures, which was released in October of 2007.
“These four books represent some of the most personal books in the Will Eisner library,” Norton’s Tom Mayer, editor of the books, says. “They are about his family, his wife, his early years, war, anti-Semitism, great themes of human and American experience.” Initial print runs for each of the four books are 5,000 to 7,000 copies.
While not straight autobiography, Mayer classifies the books as “fictionalized autobiographies.” The most “nakedly autobiographical” of the books, according to Mayer, are The Name of the Game and The Dreamer. The Name of the Game, first published in 2001 by DC Comics,is loosely based on Eisner’s wife’s family and it explores ideas of power and finances in the context of marriage and love.
The Dreamer on the other hand is “openly about him,” Mayer says, “the main character is Eisner as a young artist.” Originally published in 1986 by Kitchen Sink Press, The Dreamer chronicles the early years of the comic book industry, and “shows the Eisner that pioneered the field and how it happened.” This edition of The Dreamer includes new annotations by cartoonist Denis Kitchen, Eisner’s friend and literary agent. Eisner uses pseudonyms for the characters in the book, such as Billy Eryon for himself and Ken Corn for Bob Kane, the creator of Batman; Kitchen explains who each character is, as well as clarifies events, books, and the publishing companies mentioned. “Eisner was there for the forming of comics’ history, and this is the closest thing to an autobiography of the time we have,” says Mayer.
“Eisner was a close observer of everything,” Mayer says. “Eisner chronicled everyday life and the passions and subconsciousness of people; he was also a great chronicler of New York, of the New York immigrant and Jewish experience.” To the Heart of the Storm, first published by Kitchen Sink Press in 1991, depicts these experiences in a sprawling narrative, which Eisner also described in the introduction as a “thinly disguised autobiography.”
The Will Eisner Reader is comprised of seven short stories, one of which “A Sunset in Sunshine City” is inspired by Eisner’s retirement to Florida. The stories in Will Eisner Reader were originally serialized in Will Eisner’s Quarterly, published by Kitchen Sink Press, in 1985, 1986, and 1990. Kitchen Sink Press then collected the stories in a single volume in 1991.
“These books represent books that he did when, he was done with comics,” explains Mayer. “Will was always trying to move forward; he turned a corner in the seventies; he realized he was aging and there were stories he still wanted to tell, stories about life and how people deal with things.” .
Norton acquired these books, along with the rest of the Eisner library (with the exception of The Spirit), in 2004. Published originally by Norton in three large compilations, The Contract with God Trilogy, Will Eisner’s New York, and Life in Pictures, the Eisner library contains fourteen books. The Plot, the first original Eisner book Norton acquired, and Eisner’s instructional book series are not included in this fourteen. Norton has published eleven of these books individually; Minor Miracles, Life on Another Planet, and Family Matters still remain to be published separately. Norton executive editor Robert Weil is the editor for these three books, and they are scheduled to be released on the next list.
“Eisner is a classic graphic artist of the 20th century and we are positioning him as a great in American literature,” Mayer says. “Literary readers are now aware of graphic novels, and Norton wants to make sure Eisner’s books are available on all levels, not just comic stores.” Furthermore, Norton is marketing Eisner’s graphic novels to colleges, to both professors and students. “Comics classes are springing up everywhere—criticism classes, comics history classes, comics art classes, and Norton wants to make sure Eisner is on their minds when teaching these classes,” says Mayer, noting that its Norton’s intention to make sure that Eisner is “included in the curriculum and recognized as a comics’ great.” Norton also plans to utilize the 10 to 15 foreign publishers of Eisner’s works to ensure the books are available internationally.
“Norton wants to create books that will be useful for years,” Mayer proffers, “these books represent Eisner’s grand vision, his last vision of his work, and for fans these books tell the most about Eisner and where he came form.”
