Eisner, Will - The Spirit, 9-21-1947, page 1
Artist: Will Eisner (All)
10 Comments - 1,803 Views - 3 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionWill Eisner had many continuing characters when constructing his ‘The Spirit’ strip. While not part of the strip's character pantheon, the Navy ship S.S. Raven is revisited three times over the years.The S.S. Raven first appears in strip #47 (‘The S.S. Raven’) dated April 20, 1941 – ‘a killer ship if ever there was one!’ says Eisner. The ships life begins ominously as it slips off its chocks when she is launched, killing five men. She’s described like a human being – ‘sneering’, ‘a wild, ornery murderess’, ‘angry’, ‘jealous’ are the words Eisner uses to describe her in the first story of the Navy ship (as told to us by the ship’s current skipper, Captain Ferguson). Like the car from Stephen King’s Christine, she’s got a mind of her own and is not to be messed with. Along those lines, her U.S. Navy captains last no more than a year (courtesy of her) until she is eventually sold to ‘some South American republic’…where she continues to off her captains. She’s eventually sold again to a well-known gambler…and that is where The Spirit enters the story as he ends up boarding the Raven to confront the gambler who has just committed a crime. The first story would end with the Raven being badly damaged…but then repaired and put back to sea. The story is left open, implying that we will hear of the ship’s exploits again. That would be in strip #98 (‘The Return of the S.S. Raven’) dated April 12, 1942. Interestingly, it’s not quite a year later…and Captain Ferguson is still alive and acting as narrator. He begins the story by telling us the ship now only kills her crews! The story brings together the Raven, her arch nemesis ocean liner and the Sprit once again…and ends with Captain Ferguson looking for a new crew. We next see the ship in strip #382 (‘The End of the S.S. Raven’) dated September 21, 1947. It’s the third and final appearance - the Raven survives Pearl Harbor and the subsequent bombing of Hiroshima. Two years later, she is boarded by a harbor patrol somewhere off the U.S. coastline that discovers her Captain's log - which details how The Spirit once again crossed paths with the boat. He and the boat battle it out while returning to the U.S. - at which point the boat is last seen ominously for sale as a converted Navy vessel. The last panel somewhat contrasts with the story title…Eisner certainly leaves us with the feeling that we have not seen the last of the S.S. Raven. All in all, a very pretty piece of Spirit history. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Matt W 
Member Since 2009
Posted on 3/17/2015
What a wonderful page! As always, thanks for all the background information.
Ron S
Member Since 2007
Posted on 3/17/2015
Classic Eisner in his prime. Just a wonderful splash with a neat historical story to boot! Thanks for sharing!!
Oystein Sorensen
Member Since 2005
Posted on 3/18/2015
An absolutely wonderful page and a great description.
Mark Howland
Member Since 2004
Posted on 3/20/2015
As others have said, a piece of history (in numerous ways)! Congratulations, Chris! Another great score by you.
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