Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

A Contract With God and Other Tenement Stories by Will Eisner was originally published over 40 years ago. Not the beginning of comic books by a long shot, but Eisner's work came decades before graphic novels were commonly accepted. This work is marked as first in a trilogy.

GR states: Go back to where graphic novels all started, on the Bronx street of Dropsie Avenue and A Life Force, in Will Eisner's groundbreaking 1978 creation. The human drama, the psychological insight -- Eisner captures the soul of the city and its troubled inhabitants with pen and ink. The comics medium was altered forever with the publication of this seminal work.

I’m really looking forward to reading this one, although I may not be able to start right away. This book has been on my to-be-read list for at least a decade.

I plan on reading this one also.

Prior to reading A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories , I was familiar with its author, Will Eisner, only by reputation. I knew that back in the 40s he had written The Spirit, a boundary-defying and influential comic. I also knew about A Contract with God, considered by many to be one the most influential of the early American graphic novels.

Now that I’ve finally read it, what do I think? Well, I can certainly see why it’s admired. I really liked Eisner’s artwork in these stories, especially the detailed depiction of the Bronx neighborhood centering on 55 Dropsie Avenue. What surprised me, and what I am still to an extent struggling with, is just how bleak the individual stories are. I didn’t expect a narrative largely taking place in the Depression-era Bronx to be all sunshine and lollipops, but I was taken aback by Eisner’s rather pessimistic outlook on human nature and on the prospects for any kind of spiritual or moral redemption.

(view spoiler)[While all four of the tales draw on Eisner’s youthful memories, the first and last (“A Contract with God” and “Cookalein”, respectively) are especially autobiographical. In “A Contract with God”, the best of the stories, Eisner grapples with issues stemming from the loss to cancer of his own daughter. “Cookalein” is a veiled account of his own coming of age during a vacation trip to the Catskills (Eisner is the “Willie” of this tale).

A major concern of the book (especially in the first three stories) centers on the nature and utility of “contracts”, both between people and God and between people themselves. The outcome in each case is darkly comic. The title story, for example, suggests that not only are attempts to barter with God meritless, but that He might actually look upon any such attempt as an act of hubris that merits divine retribution! (hide spoiler)]

I liked this book. I’m glad that I finally read it (and I thank the person who nominated it). But my recommendation comes with caveats. Eisner’s view of humanity seems dark and downbeat; I wouldn’t recommend this one to someone who’s depressed. And some of the events/acts depicted in these pages are pretty harrowing.

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I finished the book today and agree with Canavan's point to not recommend this book to someone who is depressed. (I'm glad I didn't read this in winter...)

I thought the title story "Contract With God" was excellent and moving and powerful. Eisner depicted the emotions of his characters in their faces and body movements.

4 stars

For those unaware, the 2021 Eisner Awards were announced just over a week ago at the San Diego Comic Con (virtually, of course). These awards are named after Will Eisner.

If interested in the nominations: https://www.comic-con.org/awards/2021...

If interested in the winners: https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisn...

A couple strong reactions from Canavan and Kathy regarding his work featured for our group in July / August. I'd love to hear more reactions from anyone else who has read it or is currently doing so!

Samantha said: For those unaware, the 2021 Eisner Awards were announced just over a week ago at the San Diego Comic Con (virtually, of course). These awards are named after Will Eisner.

Thanks for posting the links to the award nominees and winners, Samantha. I was only familiar with a handful of the authors/works listed. But by a weird bit of serendipity, the day you posted these I was just finishing up Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf, which won this year’s Eisner for best reality-based work. It’s one of the best things I’ve read this year.

Samantha also said: I'd love to hear more reactions from anyone else who has read it (A Contract with God) or is currently doing so!

Ditto. I’m also considering reading the second and third parts of Will Eisner’s trilogy. If I do, I post my reactions here.

The Kent State graphic novel looks so good. Thanks for mentioning it.