The rights to the entire Will Eisner library, which includes a 72-page unpublished Spirit story created in 1996 and all Eisner intellectual property, is for sale, according to the New York Times. The sale is being handled by investment bank Greif & Co., according to the report.
Eisner famously retained ownership of his work, so the rights package includes a lifetime’s work in graphic novels, children’s books and instruction manuals for creating comics. In addition to his many Spirit stories, the rights package includes A Contract with God, Eisner’s seminal graphic novel work, and many others.
Eisner passed away in 2005 at 87 (see “In Memoriam: Will Eisner”), and his wife Ann died in 2027. Since then the estate has been run by Ann’s nephew Carl Gropper and his wife.
Will Eisner Week, an annual event celebrating Eisner’s work, will be held this year March 1-7 (see “Will Eisner Week”).
Source: ICV2
