Will Eisner (1917–2005) is universally considered the master of comics storytelling and is best known for his iconic comic strip The Spirit and for his seminal work A Contract With God. Considered the first significant graphic novel, upon publication in 1978 it ushered in a new kind of personal, non-super-hero genre of comics storytelling. Since then, Eisner went on to write and illustrate over twenty award-winning graphic novels. Will Eisner: Champion of the Graphic Novel by noted historian Paul Levitz celebrates Eisner by including not only unpublished and rare art, photographs, letters and sketches from the archives, but original interviews with creators such as Jules Feiffer, Art Spiegelman, Scott McCloud, Jeff Smith and Neil Gaiman, all of whom knew and were inspired by Eisner and have offered their support to help publicise this long-awaited tribute to a comics legend.

"“Eisner was not only ahead of his times; the present times are still catching up to him.”" - John Updike

"“What Will did was and is timeless.”" - Neil Gaiman

"“Will Eisner is, and remains, one of my precious idols.”" - Frank Miller

"He was the greatest.” - Harvey Kurtzman

"“Will Eisner is a national treasure.”" - Jules Feiffer

"“Will Eisner is the heart and mind of American comics.”" - Scott McCloud

"“Eisner is the single person most responsible for giving comics its brains.”" - Alan Moore

"“Eisner was unique in feeling from the start that comic books were not necessarily this despised, bastard, crappy, lowbrow kind of art form, and that there wasa potential for real art.”" - Michael Chabon

"“This is the book that Will Eisner’s life and career deserve . . . informative and entertaining, and belongs in every library collection.”" - ICv2