A retrospective of the legendary Will Eisner's work is gracing the Philippe Labaune Gallery in New York City. This exhibition showcases 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" storyline featured in the exhibit:

The Spirit: "Tarnation" Gallery Preview

6 Images

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

According to Labaune, "Will Eisner’s The Spirit, first published in 1940, revolutionized comics with its innovative style that transformed storytelling. His masterful use of cinematic techniques, dynamic layouts, varied perspectives, and clever transitions mimicked film's flow. Eisner's visual symbolism, using backgrounds to reflect character emotions and scene tone, added layers of meaning. His splash pages and fluid designs broke from rigid structures, creating a more immersive experience. Eisner set new standards 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.

For further exploration of the comic book world, explore upcoming releases from Marvel and DC in 2025.