The "Spirit" of Sweetwood
“Just like watching the detectives
Don't get cute
It's just like watching the detectives
I get so angry when the teardrops start
But he can't be wounded
'cause he's got no heart
Watching the detectives
It's just like watching the detectives
Watching the detectives
Watching the detectives”
--Elvis Costello, “Watching The Detectives” from My Aim Is True, 1977.
I recently picked up my latest copy of Will Eisner’s The Spirit Archives. Sadly, this volume (23 of 24) is the close of the Eisner years, as he handed the controls to Jules Pfeiffer (later author of the Great Comic Book Heroes—the coolest book my sister ever gave me for my 12th birthday and thanks Karen) and in the final Volume due out in three month—The Spirit was done by Wally Wood—which improved it, but not much as the Spirit ends up in space.
I have always loved the character—whether it be from my introduction in the Great Comic Book Heroes or from the Warren Magazines.
DC bought the rights and published the stories in color as they were republished from the original scripts by Kitchen Sink Press.
Perhaps some background is in order—The Spirit was different than any other “comic book hero” as the stories were originally included in a Sunday Newspaper supplement that would produce a “comic book” in addition to the Comic pages. Very few papers ran it; but bigger cities usually had a paper that would run it—a signature Front Full Panel page and then seven pages of a story. The strip started out in a more serious form of detective stories and then switched when creator Will Eisner served in WWII. He originally smuggled scripts and art across enemy lines to mail from various spots in Europe. After deciding this might be a bit risky for want of sustaining life; he allowed other writers/artists to fill in the work in his absence.
After he returned home, his stories took a more comical, film noir, and “human” approach in covering city life mixing the greatest strengths of America with some Pathos. Eisner’s greatest contribution was creating a film-like scripting approach that included character traits in the art; panoramic views in the art, and a sense of morality and parables in the writing.
I wrote about this phenomenon for those interested in reading my Grad School paper from 2001. I sent the paper to Eisner (for whom the Eisner Award—the Oscar of Comic Books—is named). He wrote a typed response back and congratulated me on “my well-deserved A.” He died a few years later, and I am so happy to have the letter.
That said, why do I love the character?
The answer is simple: I can identify so well.
The Spirit is a sucker for women. He fights hard. He has a pure sense of justice and what is just. He has a warped sense of humor. He has a sense of responsibility to give back to mankind. He can be relatively stupid when dealing with his common sense—meaning he makes more than a few mistakes. Sometimes the situations he puts himself in (notice the phrasing) causes him to become beat-up (figuratively and emotionally) and he always comes back for more. I will admit he is in much better shape than I am, but just a minor difference.
And I am so sad that the books are coming to a close. DC, as of the Spring, will have reprinted every single strip of the character’s 12 plus years span. They have created a new series, but in honesty, The Spirit was a character of his time and was based on Eisner’s experiences. No one can recreate the mood, the quality, the tone, the look, and the moment of time captured by Will Eisner’s original series. I really do not like the new series, but out of respect for the company, I buy it just the same.
So here’s to my late correspondence friend and a friend of every comic book fan—Will Eisner. You may be gone, but rest assured that DC has given your work a wonderful representation that will be preserved forever for all generations.
--Elvis Costello, “Watching The Detectives” from My Aim Is True, 1977.
I recently picked up my latest copy of Will Eisner’s The Spirit Archives. Sadly, this volume (23 of 24) is the close of the Eisner years, as he handed the controls to Jules Pfeiffer (later author of the Great Comic Book Heroes—the coolest book my sister ever gave me for my 12th birthday and thanks Karen) and in the final Volume due out in three month—The Spirit was done by Wally Wood—which improved it, but not much as the Spirit ends up in space.
I have always loved the character—whether it be from my introduction in the Great Comic Book Heroes or from the Warren Magazines.
DC bought the rights and published the stories in color as they were republished from the original scripts by Kitchen Sink Press.
Perhaps some background is in order—The Spirit was different than any other “comic book hero” as the stories were originally included in a Sunday Newspaper supplement that would produce a “comic book” in addition to the Comic pages. Very few papers ran it; but bigger cities usually had a paper that would run it—a signature Front Full Panel page and then seven pages of a story. The strip started out in a more serious form of detective stories and then switched when creator Will Eisner served in WWII. He originally smuggled scripts and art across enemy lines to mail from various spots in Europe. After deciding this might be a bit risky for want of sustaining life; he allowed other writers/artists to fill in the work in his absence.
After he returned home, his stories took a more comical, film noir, and “human” approach in covering city life mixing the greatest strengths of America with some Pathos. Eisner’s greatest contribution was creating a film-like scripting approach that included character traits in the art; panoramic views in the art, and a sense of morality and parables in the writing.
I wrote about this phenomenon for those interested in reading my Grad School paper from 2001. I sent the paper to Eisner (for whom the Eisner Award—the Oscar of Comic Books—is named). He wrote a typed response back and congratulated me on “my well-deserved A.” He died a few years later, and I am so happy to have the letter.
That said, why do I love the character?
The answer is simple: I can identify so well.
The Spirit is a sucker for women. He fights hard. He has a pure sense of justice and what is just. He has a warped sense of humor. He has a sense of responsibility to give back to mankind. He can be relatively stupid when dealing with his common sense—meaning he makes more than a few mistakes. Sometimes the situations he puts himself in (notice the phrasing) causes him to become beat-up (figuratively and emotionally) and he always comes back for more. I will admit he is in much better shape than I am, but just a minor difference.
And I am so sad that the books are coming to a close. DC, as of the Spring, will have reprinted every single strip of the character’s 12 plus years span. They have created a new series, but in honesty, The Spirit was a character of his time and was based on Eisner’s experiences. No one can recreate the mood, the quality, the tone, the look, and the moment of time captured by Will Eisner’s original series. I really do not like the new series, but out of respect for the company, I buy it just the same.
So here’s to my late correspondence friend and a friend of every comic book fan—Will Eisner. You may be gone, but rest assured that DC has given your work a wonderful representation that will be preserved forever for all generations.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 7:32 PM
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