Will Eisner was a cartoonist and writer who coined the term “graphic novel.” His contributions to comics were incredibly important to the advancement and study of sequential art. The Eisner Awards, the annual awards for notable achievements in comics, are named in his honor. Along with Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Joel Shuster, Jerry Siegel, Bill Finger, Marie Severin, and others, Will Eisner is one of the most important figures from the 20th century comics industry.

Will Eisner Week, March 1-7, is an annual celebration held in Eisner’s honor to promote comics, graphic novel literacy, free speech and Eisner’s legacy. The week is marked by comics-related events across the country.

So, how can you celebrate Will Eisner Week? Read a comic book or graphic novel! You can stop into any Library location to browse our graphic novel collection or you can hop on to hoopla from the comfort of your home to read a digital comic. If you’re new to graphic novels or just looking for a recommendation, you can also take advantage of the Library’s Give 3 Get 3 service where a librarian will give you personalized reading suggestions.

To dive deeper into Eisner’s legacy and the history of comics, here are some great picks to get started:

Will Eisner Graphic Novels

History of Sequential Art

Contemporary Comics for Graphic Novel Newbies – Available digitally on hoopla

Featured Image Credit: “Will Eisner: The Centennial Celebration // 14” by jmm is licensed by CC BY-NC-ND 2.0