Comics Icon Will Eisner Honored at Philippe Labaune Gallery Exhibition

A retrospective of the legendary Will Eisner's groundbreaking work is now on display at New York's Philippe Labaune Gallery. The exhibition features 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" story featured in the exhibition:

The Spirit: "Tarnation" - Exhibition Preview

6 Images

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

"Will Eisner’s The Spirit, debuting in 1940, revolutionized comics with its innovative style and storytelling," Labaune shared with IGN. "His cinematic techniques—dynamic layouts, varied perspectives, and seamless transitions—mimicked film. Eisner masterfully used visual symbolism in backgrounds and environments to convey character emotions and scene tone, adding depth. His use of splash pages and fluid page designs broke from rigid structures, creating a more immersive reading experience. Eisner redefined comic art and showcased the medium's potential for sophisticated narratives."

The exhibition opens Thursday, February 13th, with a reception from 6pm to 9pm ET, running through Saturday, March 8th. The Philippe Labaune Gallery (534 West 24th Street, New York) is open Thursday-Saturday, 10am-6pm ET.

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