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Post by rberman on Mar 30, 2019 17:53:57 GMT -5
I picked up this work recently after seeing it mentioned in the Miller/Eisner interview book. It's Eisner's roman à clef about his early career, from the time he was cleaning presses at a print shop until he got hired to produce The Spirit as a sixteen page comic book insert in Sunday newspapers. It covers the time the mob tried to hire him to draw Tijuana Bibles, the time the mob tried to hustle him for bathroom towels, the time... well, anyway there was a lot of squirrelly stuff in the publishing industry in NYC. Along the way he gives thinly veiled character sketches of his compatriots and rivals from Harry Donnenfeld to George Tuska to the Jack Kirby memoir below. Fun stuff, if a little dizzying due to the fast pace which it moves through people and scenarios that Eisner knew well. The 2007 edition comes with endnotes by Denis Kitchen explaining who was who, and times that Eisner's narrative drifted from strict history.  |
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 30, 2019 19:29:53 GMT -5
Excellent work; but, yah, Will fictionalized much of it. Also check out To The Heart of the Storm, which is also a memoir, covering not only the industry; but life in youth and early adulthood, being a Jew, and many other parts of Eisner's life. The Dreamer is probably more entertaining; but, To The Heart of the Storm is deeper.
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Post by kirby101 on Mar 30, 2019 19:44:44 GMT -5
Agree with cody (again) . Heart of the Storm is a great work. I think that and Dropsie Avenue are his two best.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
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Post by shaxper on Apr 1, 2019 19:54:25 GMT -5
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Post by rberman on Apr 2, 2019 3:12:33 GMT -5
You may merge this thread into that one if you like. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
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Post by shaxper on Apr 2, 2019 5:12:11 GMT -5
You may merge this thread into that one if you like. No need. Just thought you might be interested. |
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Post by MDG on Apr 2, 2019 9:49:05 GMT -5
....The 2007 edition comes with endnotes by Denis Kitchen explaining who was who, and times that Eisner's narrative drifted from strict history. That's my problem with roman à clefs--I'm constantly trying to figure out who's who and what's true. In The Dreamer, it's pretty obvious who characters are based on if you know a little comics history or want to look around a little. But it really made it hard to read Chaykin's "Hey Kids! Comics!" since I didn't find any of the characters particularly interesting beyond trying to "figure things out." The Dreamer has more heart and you can feel for the character without constantly thinking that he's a stand-in for Eisner. |
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