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Will Eisner Original Spirit Art: Page 2 Election of Mr. Bowser (1947)

* NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE *
Will Eisner Original Spirit Art: Page 2 Election of Mr. Bowser (1947)
    Price: $2,200.00
    Sold Art


                        





    (Note, the image above is rather large so that you can see details.  Give it several seconds to load the 2MG file.  Then click the pop-up.)

    WILL EISNER (1917-2005) • Original page 2 to “Election of Mr. Bowser” (November 9, 1947)

    Nearly all Spirit fans agree that Will Eisner’s art during the comic’s 12-year run as a newspaper insert peaked in the late ‘40s. Not that he became a less-talented artist in the 1950s; he simply had less time to devote to the strip starting around 1950 and he increasing had to rely on assistants of varying talents to keep the stories on schedule. Even though the leads character is absent, this 2nd page from “The Election of Mr. Bowser” in 1947 is a great example of Eisner’s magnificent art and storytelling technique, starting with the wordless upper tier. The close-up of Ward Healy in the 2nd tier displays Eisner’s masterful brush technique: The “feathering” on Healy’s face, hat, shirt, tie, and hand are the sure strokes of a genius cartoonist. If this panel were blown up to billboard size, it would still be strikingly beautiful.

    Medium/Size/Condition: Drawn with brush, pen and ink on Bristol board measuring 15 inches wide x 22 inches high. Eisner placed white tape at the very top and bottom of the page, presumably to cover the typical rubber cement stains of the title and page number placed there in 1947. Minor use of White-out. Otherwise excellent condition.

    Footnote: The thug who has just arranged the “suicide” if Mayor Blast, is seen humming this tune in the first panel of the 2nd tier: “Oh evv’y little bug got a honey to hug but me” is a ditty originally written by Will Eisner and set to music by his friend Bill Harr. An attractive and extremely rare music sheet was published in the late ‘40s by Robbins Music, but “Ev’ry Little Bug” was not recorded until 1987 as a 33 rpm “picture disc” produced by the Ordinary Record Co. (a division of Kitchen Sink Press), featuring new art by Will Eisner, and various interpretations of the song by John “Chris” Christensen and his Beat Brothers cohorts. We still have a handful of these rarities in Steve Krupp’s deepest catacombs (along with the “Omaha” picture disc; if you are interested in either, contact us.

     



    Provenance: The Will Eisner estate is exclusively represented by the Denis Kitchen Art Agency, an affiliate of Steve Krupp’s Curio Shoppe and Gallery. This drawing is warranted to be an authentic original created by Will Eisner, and sold on behalf of his estate. Note: Image is © Will Eisner Studios, Inc. Reproduction for commercial purposes requires permission. (Displaying the art on comic art fan sites does not constitute commercial use.)

    Further reference: Much other Eisner art, plus out-of-print graphic novels, Spirit comic books and magazines, signed serigraphs, his Famous Cartoonist Button, and numerous other Eisner-related items are accessible from our sister store Steve Krupp’s Curio Shoppe. Just type his name (or The Spirit) into our search bar.
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