A Life Force page 8 by Will Eisner

Artist: Will Eisner (All)

7 Comments - 3,018 Views - 6 Likes

A Life Force page 8 by Will Eisner Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	A Life Force page 8 by Will Eisner
Artist:	Will Eisner (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	3,018
Likes on CAF:	6 7
Comments:	7
Added to Site:	12/14/2019
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Here is an early page from A Life Force which is the second book in the Contract with God/Dropsie Avenue trilogy. These comics are extremely powerful reading material. They don't have any costumed heroes, just the kind of everyday heroes one might encounter soldiering on despite the adversities of circumstance and life in general. This page features the main character Jacob Shtarkah in a two panel layout that utterly brilliant. The top panel is almost two panels and the space gives time between the left and right of the panel as if it were two. The lighting is remarkable with Jacob being lit through a window with shadows adding to his sense of despair in losing his employment mid-depression. With the hat and shadows, it a very Spirit-esque image. The body language of the the characters speaks volumes such that the text doesn't need to. Benjamin is looking at the plaque with pride of the study that Jacob has built over the past 5 years and will now be named after the donor(Goldfarb) and Jacob is out on his own without any further work. The black background removes noise from the panel and gives the desk the ability to be a white silhouette which also gives the second panel more room to fit in a bigger character. The desk now is a brilliant light coming down and providing a spotlight on the floor as if Jacob is now a lone actor on a darkened stage talking to himself. It is a simple page but so masterful in design and execution. What strikes me most about Eisner's work on this series and his other works around this time are the self reflections and questions he poses. In just a few pages from here Jacob is sitting in an alley next to a cockroach laying on its back and contemplating why we keep on going, what drives us to live when things are so bad. He questions whether man made God or God made man. In the end he saves the cockroach from being stepped on at his own peril. The story goes on through the great depression and tells the story of a people and a city as much as it does of Jacob and his family.

I had the honor of meeting Will Eisner almost two decades ago at a comic convention in Toronto. I had met many artists by that point in my career but meeting him was something special. It was only for a moment, a hand shake, a little signature and a brief five or six sentences back and forth. What I took away from that left a tangible memory that still stands out for me. He had a presence to him of confidence and humility. He was gracious and a gentleman toward some young stranger he had never met but who had stood in line for 2 hours for this brief moment. I have read so many interviews with him since and seen him speak but never got the chance to meet him a second time but once was enough...I had been in the presence of greatness... and I knew it at that time.

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About the Owner

	Jeff Singh ( 7 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	November 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	http://www.art4comics.com
Country:	CANADA
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Jeff's Classifieds Jeff's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About JeffSingh

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Comments on this Artwork

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Comic Art Channel
Member Since 2018

Posted on 12/14/2019

Masterful cartooning in the expressiveness and control of light!

Bob Kopman
Member Since 2007

Posted on 12/15/2019

An excellent example of Eisner's work, Jeff.

Malcolm Bourne
Member Since 2005

Posted on 12/15/2019

What a wonderful piece of art and storytelling at the same time - the process that Will originated and excelled at

Ron S
Member Since 2007

Posted on 12/15/2019

Great artwork, great story (A Life Force is pretty good too!).

Chris K.
Member Since 2008

Posted on 12/15/2019

A thing of beauty, Jeff - a real shocker to see it in your gallery :)

Keith Becker
Member Since 2018

Posted on 3/19/2020

This is one of the best parts of the story. I love this book. Thank you for posting this page, and congrats for being it's care taker. I think Jeff that i'm going to have a fun time looking through your collection. The first click made me say: "yup there's a page i love!"

M,B The collector
Member Since 2008

Posted on 6/30/2020

Maravillosa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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