The Spirit Archives, Vol. 21

This volume covers 6 months of Will Eisner's The Spirit towards the end of its original run. I've been reading these out of order. Normally, that hadn't been a problem as continuity wasn't an issue. However, controversial, but universally loved, sidekick Ebony White is missing from this work, replaced by 2 really annoying sidekicks (and wannabe detectives) Sammy and Willium. (Actually, Willium isn't that bad. But he's no Ebony.) 

Eisner's writing style at this point in time has exploded with creative plotting, experimental narratives and other elements that you'd only find in a masters level English Lit class. Reading this book was like attending a writing clinic. You can see how generations of comic book artists, writers and prose novelists were inspired by Will Eisner's The Spirit. The crazy thing is some of the best Spirit stories don't even have the main character as an active player. Heck, sometimes, he's nowhere to be found!

Something new, at least in the volumes I have read so far, is a multi-issue story arc about a lawman named Dick Whittler. A sheriff from another town, he's called the Spirit in to help with a murder case in which we discover that our hero is the prime suspect. Over the course of 3 chapters, the Spirit must clear his name while proving that Commissioner Dolan wasn't an accomplice to the crime. 

The Spirit is known for solving extremely puzzling mysteries. This volume solved a long-standing puzzle for myself. A couple of years ago, I read The Christmas Spirit. Produced in 1994 by Kitchen Sink Press, the holiday treasury collected all of the Christmas themed stories to appear in the series' original run. One story told of a little girl named Darling O'Shea, the richest girl in the world who wants to capture Santa Claus for skipping her house for the past several Christmas Eves. I wondered who in the heck just this little tyke was and thanks to this book, I finally learned her origins. 

As I've gotten older, heading into my late 40s, I've really been craving the comfort foods of Carl Barks, Stan and Jack, and Don Rosa. Add Will Eisner to that menu. I know that their works have flaws. But nobody is perfect. History is full of prejudices, stereotypes and ignorance. Eisner's Ebony White was steeped in black stereotype and was phased out eventually by the comics legend who was troubled by the character's legacy. When I try to read comics from 'a simplier time', I'm not oblivious to the blemishes. But man are the 2020 such a downer that I need some escape!

My first degree is in history. I love learning about the past. Especially the pop culture era of 1938-2000. And I have found that one of the best ways to learn about this time period is through the entertainment of the day. Who better than Will Eisner to learn about the highs and lows of the American storyteller? He might not have been a perfect man but his works are far superior than a lot of modern comic creators who act like they've never made a mistake in their entire life. 

I'll keep on reading and doing my darndest in trying to collect the entire Eisner library.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Grateful Dead Comix #1 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Despite the cover indicating that this is #1 of Grateful Dead Comix, it's actually the 6th issue in the series. Issues #1-5 were originally published by Kitchen Sink Press in a larger magazine sized format. Sales were fairly decent and Deadheads, fans of the world famous Grateful Dead, loved seeing their favorite songs brought to life in 4-color form. However, rising costs in the production of the book, especially in terms of multicolored ink and paper, resulted in editors needing to shrink the size of the book done to the standard comic book size of 6.625 inches x 10.25 inches. 

Unfortunately, the new format as well as renumbering of the book couldn't keep the book from becoming a victim of the dramatic drop in overall sales of comics in the early 90s. The retooled Grateful Dead Comix was cancelled in April, 1994 after just 2 issues. It didn't help that it took nearly a full year for issue #2 to see print. Knowing how some fans are picky about their collection of hardcover and softcover collected works all looking uniform, the format change was probably met with some level of complaint as well.

The issue contains full comic adaptations of 2 Dead songs. Reed Waller and Kate Worley interpret Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter's 'Ripple' as a woman remembering a lost love through the items she finds in her attic. Paul Ollswang's depiction of Hunter's 'Attics of My Life' seems to stay away from the bowels of the sky parlor; instead focusing on a strange man with antlers who battles fierce beasts in a land of feminine-looking sprites. 

This issue also continues a project by Tim Truman. Based off of the never produced 6 song concept album 'Eagle Mall', Truman crafts a story full of creatures and characters that look like they were taken straight out of the animated cult classic film Heavy Metal, engaging in an epic war on an unknown battlefield. This segment features songs #4, 'Lay of the Ring' and #5, 'At The Pass'. Songwriter Robert Hunter worked with Tim Truman in this attempt to finally see his passion project come to fruition. The following issue promised to bring 'Eagle Mall' to an stunning conclusion. 

Grateful Dead Comix didn't just cover visual representations of the band's songbook. Previous issues covered legendary sets performed by the Grateful Dead, including their 1967 performance at the Monterey, CA fairgrounds. Cartoonist (and Deadhead) Terry LaBan, contributed to a frequent series called 'True Life Experiences of a Reluctant Deadhead'. Another segment was on tap for the next issue. Other future plans for Kitchen Sink's franchise license included a special edition hardcover collection of issues #1-4. Limited to 500 copies, it included a bookplate autographed by guitarist Jerry Garcia.

Completing this review completes Task #34 (With a Three Word Title) the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

The Christmas Spirit

Will Eisner's The Spirit ran as part of a 16-page syndicated supplement in newspapers from June, 1940 to October, 1952. During this print run, a total of 9 annual holiday set tales were published. (Eisner was drafted into the Army during the height of World War II, resulting in the yule tide Spirit capers to be postponed from 1942-1944.) These stories were published as 'The Christmas Spirit.' In these festive adventures, The Spirit takes a backseat; in fact, he's not even in a couple of these stories. The anti-hero formerly known as Denny Colt refuses to work on Christmas, claiming that another Spirit works in his stead every December 25th. For many fans, these are some of the most beloved stories from Will Eisner's most famous creation and I might just have to agree.

This 1994 trade paperback from Kitchen Sink Press collects all 9 stories. There's also an introduction by Eisner that no fan of comic books should overlook. It explains how the very Jewish Will Eisner came to create a yearly story that became a Christian holiday tradition for millions of readers.

To pick a favorite would be like picking the child you like most. There's so many great stories here. But if I had to select the one that was my least favorite, it would be December 1946's 'A Fable'. In this story, a trio of characters are accosted separately by Central City lowlifes. It turns out that these 3 men are ambassadors attempting to solve the crisis of Post World War II European reconstruction. Should they fail, the region will fall back into an endless cycle of conflict. Each one's individual assaults threaten that peace process. Why was it the winner of my least favored read? For one, the story was confusing. For second, the plot of the story is unbalanced, focusing on 2 of the ambassadors while seemingly forgetting the third altogether by page 2 of the tale.

A product of the 1940s and 50s, there are some outdated elements. Elements such as the exaggerated look of Spirit's sidekick, Ebony, have been lamented over often as poor decisions by Eisner. If you are willing to overlook those dreadful parts of history and see this book as a time capsule of how people thought and acted during the time period, you can enjoy this book. While it has its sins, The Christmas Spirit collection is a heck of a lot more positive than just about anything currently being released by any form of multi-media. 2023 feels like a time where nothing can improve. 1940-51 Christmas Spirit stories felt like there was a promise of a new day on the horizon. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

The Spirit: The Origin Years #4

In this issue, Kitchen Sink Press presents 4 stories from the original run of the Spirit. These stories are classic noir, full of hot guns, even hotter dames, and lots of gritty action. Written and drawn by the legendary Will Eisner, these stories are signs of the times they were written in.

African Americans, such as Spirit’s side-kick Ebony, are portrayed as buck-toothed, swollen lipped, and ignorant. The women in these books are either ditzy damsels in distress or cunning femme fatales who get what they want with their feminine whiles and they act like Praying Mantis, eating their mates after they’ve achieved their goals.

This volumes includes a ‘directors cut’ set of notes that go into further detail of the behind the scenes goings on to make the Spirit comics. Will Eisner is often quoted as having said that he regrets the way he portrayed women and minorities. Even though the material in these books wouldn’t fly into today’s comics, they shouldn’t be ignored. As the old adage goes “those who do not learn from history’s mistakes are doomed to repeat it” and by examining the prejudices of yesteryear hopefully we can learn to overcome them.

The most important aspect of these comics that are vitally important is the artwork themselves. Eisner was always crafting unique ways to incorporate the title of the comic into the splash page. He was also looking at different ways to from a panel for heighten drama and symbolism. Without Will Eisner we wouldn’t have Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, or Jim Sternako to name a few.

The stories themselves are entertaining. First up is a patriotic WWII era morality play between two orphans: one who chooses to fool good and one who ends up down the dark path of gang life. Then there’s a rare two-part story involving Orang, an intelligent ape whose biggest flaw is being in love. Finally is a tale that stars Ebony. When a head injury causes him to have x-ray eyes, the Spirit must keep an eye of him after thugs kidnap the youth to break into a bank vault. It’s actually the start of Eisner trying to rectify the stereotypical portrayal of Ebony in the Spirit and proof that people can change for the better.

A fantastic read that is a must for fans of the Spirit or the comics medium.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Will Eisner's The Spirit: The New Adventures #8

The Spirit is on the trail of a brother and sister team of con artists. The woman is a stunner, who mysteriously seduces men to a speedy nuptial and then suddenly dies before the ink on her life insurance policy has time to dry. Oh, and this woman has a tendency to rise from the dead.

A really good final act to a series that paid tribute to the work of Will Eisner. Sadly, this issue didn’t go on to issue 9 as promised in an add in the back of the book. It would have been a Christmas themed issue and from the cover shown, it looked awesome!

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Will Eisner's The Spirit New Adventures #7

In this supposedly Halloween inspired issue, the Spirit’s been overworked and Dolan gets him to go out for a round of golf. At the same golf course, Dolan’s daughter is targeted for death by the Octopus. It’s up to a weary and very unaware of his settings Spirit to save the day.

 

There’s another good Spirit tale. But it doesn’t have any memorable villains and I don’t see where it was any more of a Halloween story than the golf yarn was. The only thing in this issue that is in the spirit of All Hallows Eve was a classic splash page by Spirit creator Will Eisner from the early 40s.

A good issue that doesn’t quite live up to the promises on the cover.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Will Eisner's The Spirit: New Adventures #6

This issue contains two good stories that mix noir, humor, and superhero action all into one. The only thing keeping these New Adventures from becoming instant classics is that there isn’t really any memorable foils for Spirit to combat. This issue could’ve used a Sans Serif or an Octopus, or even the odd Nazi baddie.

The plots were good and the art exceptionable. They just lack that “ummph” that came with an Eisner inspired villain or femme fatale.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Will Eisner's "The Spirit" The New Adventures, #5

The Spirit gets drawn into a murder case that’s a little too much like the films Body Heat and Against All Odds. When a wealthy doctor with a shady past is found dead, it’s up to Spirit and Dolan to weed out prospective patients for the true culprit.

Like I said, the plot has been done to death (forgive the pun) in many film noir pictures. There’s also quite a bit of adult themes, double entendres and sex. It’s not for kids.

One of the more serious takes on Will Eisner’s classic character. Very enjoyable but not 100% what I was expecting either and that’s coming from someone who thought the Frank Miller film was oversexed.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars