Comics Icon Will Eisner Honored at Philippe Labaune Gallery Exhibition

A retrospective celebrating the groundbreaking work of the late, great Will Eisner is now open at New York's Philippe Labaune Gallery. The exhibition features original artwork from Eisner's iconic creations, including The Spirit and A Contract with God.

Below is a sneak peek at some original Spirit pages from the "Tarnation" story featured in the exhibition:

The Spirit: "Tarnation" Gallery Preview

6 Images

The exhibition spans Eisner's prolific career (1941-2002), showcasing pages from The Spirit, New York: The Big City, and a nearly complete presentation of his seminal graphic novel, A Contract with God: The Super.

"Will Eisner's The Spirit, debuting in 1940, revolutionized comics with its innovative style and storytelling," Labaune shared with IGN. "His masterful use of cinematic techniques—dynamic layouts, varied perspectives, and seamless transitions—mimicked the flow of film. Eisner also employed visual symbolism, using backgrounds and setting to enhance character emotions and scene tone, adding depth to his art. His use of splash pages and fluid page designs moved beyond rigid structures, creating a more immersive reading experience. Eisner's advancements redefined comic art and showcased the medium's potential for sophisticated narratives."

The Will Eisner Exhibit opens Thursday, February 13th, with a reception from 6pm to 9pm ET. It runs through Saturday, March 8th. The Philippe Labaune Gallery (534 West 24th Street, New York) is open Thursday-Saturday, 10am-6pm ET.

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