Eisner Exhibit Opens at Philippe Labaune Gallery

Will Eisner, a giant of the comic book world, deserves a place on any Mount Rushmore of the medium. His groundbreaking work is now celebrated in a new exhibition at New York's Philippe Labaune Gallery. The show features original artwork from Eisner's classics, including The Spirit and A Contract with God.

Below is a sneak peek at some Spirit pages from the "Tarnation" story, on display at the exhibition:

The Spirit: "Tarnation" Preview Gallery

6 Images

The Philippe Labaune Gallery's Will Eisner Exhibit spans his entire career, from 1941 to 2002. It showcases pages from iconic strips like The Spirit and New York: The Big City, along with a nearly complete presentation of his seminal graphic novel, A Contract with God: The Super.

"Will Eisner's The Spirit, first published in 1940, revolutionized comics with its innovative style," Lebaune told IGN. "His masterful use of cinematic techniques—dynamic layouts, varied perspectives, clever transitions—mimicked the flow of film. Eisner also experimented with visual symbolism, using backgrounds to reflect characters' emotions and add layers of meaning. His splash pages and fluid designs broke from rigid structures, creating a more immersive experience. He set new standards and showed the medium's potential for sophisticated storytelling."

The Will Eisner Exhibit opens Thursday, February 13th, with a reception from 6pm to 9pm ET. It runs through Saturday, March 8th. The Philippe Labaune Gallery is located at 534 West 24th Street in New York and is open Thursday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm ET.