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Will Eisner has played such a large part of my life, it’s difficult to get my mind around the fact that he’s no longer with us. And he was a pivotal figure at many stages of my life.

I first discovered the work of Will Eisner via The Spirit in my high school library, thanks to Jules Fieffer’s The Great Comic Book Heroes. As a fan, I’d notice a lot of my favorite comic book artists would often say Eisner influenced them, while fanzines would describe certain artists taking an "Eisneresque" approach to layouts. At one of the first conventions I attended, Eisner’s name was evoked with a hushed reverence by a panel of pros. I just had to learn more about this Eisner guy!

As an aspiring cartoonist in the early 70s, I studied The Spirit reprint in Steranko’s History of Comics and Kitchen Sink’s "underground" revival. I eventually became one of Will’s students at the School of Visual Arts. It was in his class that I began to rethink and reevaluate my perception of the comics medium. Will was a friendly instructor, but firm. He gave you his honest assessment of your assignments—for better or worse! Many years later, when I became a comics professional, I was heartened and gratified to get Will’s "blessings" and unwavering support on Supernatural Law—but not without a no-nonsense critique of each issue! Will was on my comp list, and every time he saw me at a convention following a new issue, he’d come over and tell me what the strong and weak points of the issue were. Will must’ve been on scores of comp lists, yet it was obvious that he had actually read my comic, because he would mention passages, plot twists, and characters in the specific story he was critiquing. I still felt like I was in his class—not that I minded. I was still learning from him!

My wife Jackie and I both enjoyed Will’s company and friendship. Will had known Jackie independently of me (in fact, I had just met her a few weeks before the 1990 San Diego Comic-Con and was there at the Spirit 50th anniversary party when he first approached her about being the administrator of the Eisner Awards!). Will was always in touch with us and very much a part of our lives. He was more than generous to us with his time, advice, guidance and wisdom. Will and his wife, Ann, welcomed Jackie and me into their home several times and treated us like friends and colleagues. I couldn’t believe that the guy whose work I first saw in my high school library was schmoozing with me about comics and life in general by his pool over lox and bagels! I considered myself very fortunate.

Anyone who ever met Will or saw him at a convention, lecture, or personal appearance couldn’t help but be impressed by his infectious energy, enthusiasm and optimism. If Will had only The Spirit to his credit, his position in the comics pantheon would be secure. But at the age of sixty, he reinvented himself with the semi-autobiographical A Contract With God, ushering in the age of the graphic novel. It was also a harbinger for a time when the comics form would be accepted and taken seriously by the culture at large (indeed, the news of Will’s death made page one in major newspapers around the country, including The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times).

Will’s contemporaries recall that even in the rag-tag early days of the comic book industry, when artists looked at comics as the bottom of the barrel or a stepping stone to other media, Will was telling anyone willing to listen that comics was a legitimate art form, a worthy medium for an artist. He talked the talk and walked the walk. He was always upbeat in a volatile industry (he had very little patience for doom-sayers; one of my favorite quotes of his regarding the demise of comics was "I’ve seen this business die five times already!"). Will was never satisfied with the past; he felt he was just getting started as far as his work was concerned—the possibilities were endless. For all the acclaim heaped upon him, he was modest; distinguished, yet self-deprecating. He took his work seriously, never himself. A true gentleman; a mensch. Will Eisner was the best role model the comics field ever had.

Since Will was well into his eighties, his passing should come as no great surprise, right? But this was Will Eisner. For 60+ years, he always looked ahead; being innovative, producing, creating, and inspiring both the wide-eyed neophyte and the jaded old pro. And with such energy! I’m not the only one who thought he’d be with us forever. Well, in a way, he will be. Will had great faith in the medium he helped pioneer. He always believed that passion for comics is far too powerful for anyone to let slip away. Although the lights are dimmed on Dropsie Avenue and the flags fly at half-mast in Central City, as far as I’m concerned, Will Eisner is still with us; his inspiration and encouragement remain to remind us to pursue our passion and never let it slip away.