Reviews for Eisner/Miller

The average rating for Eisner/Miller based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-08-26 00:00:00 BROOKE NOBLE I've reread this a number of times, and I continue to enjoy it and find insights about the craft, business, and history of comics here. It's a conversation, over the course of several days, between longtime friends and colleagues Will Eisner (who created one of the first superhero comics in the 1930s, ushered in a new chapter for comics though his graphic novel A Contract with God in 1978, and continued creating comics until his death in 2005) and Frank Miller (who revitalized Daredevil and Batman, became a leader in the fight for creators' rights, and was acclaimed for his gritty approach to Sin City). The conversation ranges from how often they wash their brushes to the complex relationship between creators, publishers and readers and how it plays out in issues of censorship, exploitation, and storytelling. Miller describes pounding out a huge chapter of Sin City in a creative fever pitch. Eisner remembers working with the wild personalities who shaped the early comics industry. Eisner's perspective is particularly fascinating because he's been an independent creator, a boss, and an employee, and has been pushing the limits of what kinds of stories the medium can tell through some of the worst censorship and wildest experimentation of the twentieth century. So when he talks about contracts, for example, he's been the creator worrying about losing rights to his character, but he's also been the one setting salaries and howling at a late or sloppy artist who has thrown off a production schedule. It's also nifty to see a firebrand like Miller wanting respect and recognition from Eisner: no matter how badass we are, we all fanboy over someone. The conversation format brings out elements that I don't think a solo book by either would have explored as well: while the two are in agreement on some issues, they tell different kinds of stories and are of two vastly different generations, and Eisner often questions Miller, "How have things changed for young creators?" or "That statement feels more rooted in your experience than in absolute truth, how do you account for X?" What's surprising is that neither of them has any clue how the internet was already transforming their field in 2005, let alone the changes that have occurred in the decade since, which makes some of their advice for breaking in feel more like a time capsule than a handbook. But the back-and-forth is delightful, and their insights into their craft and the history they've experienced (and shaped) make this a valuable read for anyone interested in reading or making comics.

Review # 2 was written on 2008-06-30 00:00:00 Sarah Faux As one of the five remaining Frank Miller fans this was a great read. I've got a soft spot for these old master new master discussions, and while Eisner's contribution was a bit muted as I haven't read any of his work (Soon to be remedied I assure you) he proved a dynamic and outspoken foil. As for a fan of Miller it was an illuminating look into the man's mind (as frightening as that might be) and anyone whose wondering what the hell is going on with All Star Batman and Robin need look no further. The book does get a little "Inside Baseball" at times, I'm still a burgeoning comics fan, and when things got into the inner workings and complaints against some stylistic quirks of the medium, my eyes would glaze over just a bit. Still an engaging and illuminating piece.