5 - Eisner Stuffs 17 Comics Character Cameos in 'PS' Sequence

By the time Will Eisner had finished the Continuity for PS 128 (July 1963), he had used the artifice of a dream sequence to flash a cameo parade of 17 comics characters in the eight pages involved.

In their order of appearance—as posted here, not as printed—they are: Pogo and Owl (above), Superman, Mandrake the Magician, Dick Tracy with Junior and Tess Truehart, Daisy Mae, Li'l Abner, Maggie, Jiggs, Donald Duck, Popeye, Dagwood, Blondie, Mutt, and Jeff.

His opening page (above) consists primarily of his trademark masses of solid black, with single pinpoint light sources and stark shadowing. Eisner said frequently that he was influenced greatly in this regard by the works of three woodcut masters: Otto Nuckel, a German; Frans Masereel, a Belgian; and Lynd Ward, an American.

—p.e.f.

Because of Will's relationship with the artists who created those wonderful newspaper strips, he felt absolutely comfortable in using them for this purpose. I think it also reflects Will's belief that these characters add interest and generate the powerful effectiveness to communicate ideas, which was what Will was all about. He had great respect for his fellow "workers in the mines" of ideas.

—j.k.

UPCOMING POSTS:

¶ The One Piece of Art that Delivers the Essence of PS

¶ Artists Mentioned in Connection with PS

¶ Murphy Anderson's Best PS Front Covers

¶ Best PS Front Covers by the "Eisner Alumni" Group

¶ Will Eisner Self-Portraits in PS