Date of Birth 6 March 1917, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Date of Death 3 January 2005, Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, USA (complications from quadruple bypass heart surgery)

Birth Name William Erwin Eisner

Nickname Grandfather of the Graphic Novel

Mini Bio (1)

Will Eisner was born on March 6, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA as William Erwin Eisner. He was a writer, known for The Spirit (2008), Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (1955) and The Spirit (1987). He was married to Ann Louise Weingarten. He died on January 3, 2005 in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, USA.

Spouse (1)

Ann Louise Weingarten (15 January 1950 - 3 January 2005) (his death) (2 children)

Trade Mark (4)

Graphic portrayal of Violence

Noir and mystery themes

Unique artwork with heavy emphasis on form and color

Best known as the Creator of "The Spirit"

Trivia (13)

Is the author and illustrator of "Graphic Storytelling" and "Comics and Sequential Art", in which the master artist details the techniques that he uses.

Has taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

The "Oscar" of the comic book industry is named in his honor. "The Will Eisner Awards", also known as the "Eisners", were established in 1987, and until his death in 2005, he personally handed out the awards during the ceremonies held at the San Diego Comic Book Conventions.

The last project he worked on was the graphic novel "The Plot: The Secret History of 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion'". Completed in the last month of his life and published posthumously, it is a dramatized examination of the infamous and libelous anti-Semitic book, featuring an introduction by Umberto Eco and an afterward by Professor Stephen Eric Bronner.

Comics writer Neil Gaiman and writer/artist Frank Miller have both named him as their all-time favorite comic creator.

Grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

He is considered to be among the most important comic book writers of all time.

Attended high school with "Batman" creator Bob Kane.

In the introduction to the 2001 reissue of A Contract with God, Eisner revealed that the inspiration for the title story grew out of the 1970 death of his leukemia-stricken teenage daughter, Alice, next to whom he is buried. Until then, only Eisner's closest friends were aware of his daughter's life and death.

Eisner, while he prided his cultural background, turned against the religion when his family was denied entry to a synagogue over lack of money for admission.

Was a frequent victim of Anti-Semitic violence growing up.

His father was an artist and made a living painting backdrops for vaudeville as well as working in a coat factory and as a furniture retailer. He encouraged Will by buying him art supplies.

Had a brother named Julian and a sister named Rhoda who were four and twelve years younger respectively.