Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Writer: Matt Wagner
Artist: Dan Schkade
Editor: Joe Rybrandt
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Price: $3.99

List any iconic comic book character you want and you will find hundreds of writers and artists who have had a hand in shaping that character’s history, some for better, some for worse. Not so with The Spirit. As the cover has always proudly proclaimed this is Will Eisner’s The Spirit and the fact that Eisner kept the character all to himself, apart from a few ghosted stories during his sojourn in the army during WWII, means that The Spirit stories have maintained a unique style and focus unparalleled in the history of comic books.

For a character celebrating his 75^th year it’s amazing to think that the initial run of the title lasted just twelve years from 1940 to 1952. Somehow, The Spirit has contrived to be omnipresent during that whole period, inspiring legions of writers, artists and characters that came along in The Spirit’s wake.

Since Eisner’s death in 2005 the creative reins have passed to others to continue the legacy. From the Eisneresque cover by Eric Powell, through the mini-story lead in to the final cliff-hanger reveal which introduces the new villain on the block, writer Matt Wagner and artist Dan Schkade have done a wonderful job of maintaining Will Eisner’s towering standards.

Wisely opting to forgo the popular re-boot format, Will Eisner’s The Spirit #6 sticks to the period setting and maintains the original cast of supporting characters which have served The Spirit so well for these last three quarters of a century. New readers and long-time fans alike will feel right at home here and with the Will Eisner’s The Spirit #6 December release date, this is one Spirit of Christmas you will want to come back again and again.

Here then are the seeds of the next 75 years of Will Eisner’s The Spirit.

 

Reviewer: Gary Orchard
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker