Most long-time comic fans are aware of the legacy of Will Eisner. But in addition to Eisner’s brilliance in drawing and writing comics, he was also an astute businessman. In 1949, he utilized his talents to start his own publishing company. The initial titles for this venture included Kewpie, Baseball Comics, and forthcoming John Law Detective. However, the low sales of Kewpie and Baseball Comics led Mr. Eisner to reconsider his ambitions. Furthermore, the ongoing attack on the comic industry by politicians and psychiatrist Frederick Wertham adversely affected sales. Consequently, he abandoned his plans for a John Law series despite having created three different John Law stories.
Repurposing John Law Stories
But while things were not looking as positive for his own published books, his character The Spirit was still going strong. However, when he ran into a deadline problem for his popular series, he transitioned his ready-made John Law stories into Spirit tales. The advantage to this was the similarity of the two characters and the use of these stories to supply needed backstory for Denny Colt and his alter-ego The Spirit. This was the genius of Will Eisner.
The Return of Eisner’s John Law
Fast forward to 2001. Creator Gary Chaloner had (thru writer Kurt Busiek) connected with the editor of Kitchen Sink’s The Spirit: The New Adventures. He was enlisted to do a Spirit story for the book but as luck would have it, the book ended before his story was published. However, with Gary’s foot now in the door, he then connected with Eisner Agent and Publisher Denis Kitchen. Gary inquired about possibly developing some of Eisner’s other characters, mainly John Law in a webcomic. Much to his pleasure and no doubt trepidation, Eisner agreed.
So, with the blessing of the man, Gary did his best to live up to the master and his character John Law: Detective using the characters that Eisner’s had established in that world. Characters like Nubbin the Shoeshine Boy, Lady Luck and Mr. Mystic. While incorporating the crime fighting action and the femme fatales that Eisner used to such great effect. Gary’s standard? Try to create stories that would please Will Eisner. If Will was happy, then his fans would be happy as well. Although, Eisner let it be known that Gary had a free hand in his work.
Let’s once again fast forward to the present. Titan Comics, under their Hard Case Crime banner has collected Will’s original John Law stories as well as Gary’s reboot and an unpublished tale into The Collected Will Eisner’s John Law.
The Collected Will Eisner’s John Law
This is a great collection, unveiling Eisner’s original John Law stories as they were meant to be seen including Gary Chaloner’s John Law 2004 reboot in their correct reading order. No color to be found in this book. All displayed in the glorious black and white that Eisner did to such great effect. In between there are a number of excellent essays by the aforementioned Denis Kitchen and Gary Chaloner.
Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
So, if you are a longtime Will Eisner fan, you can see what might have been in 1949 with his John Law stories as well as Gary’s reboot and his unpublished John Law tale. If you are new to Eisner, you will see what the fuss was all about and why Will Eisner’s work is still revered in the comic world. Not to mention why Will gave Gary the green light to put his spin on John Law. This collection also includes unpublished sketches and covers done in the impeccable Eisner style. Be sure to check it out when it hits stands on March 4th.
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Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
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