Spirit comics to read before seeing the flick.

[mego joe]

Frank Miller doesn't like DC's "The Best of The Spirit" because it's in color, he prefers The Spirit in black and white as Warren and Kitchen Sink Press printed The Spirit.

GABRIEL MACHT: I bought the "best of" Spirit collections. When I got to set, Frank said, "Listen, I don't want you to look at those. I'm not crazy about the coloring." He wasn't a fan. He liked the black and white. So he gave me his best picks, and I read through all of those Spirit comics and put them up in my trailer. You couldn't see any wall. It was all comics.

http://www.wizarduniverse.com/091908macht.html

And Will Eisner himself preferred The Spirit in black and white. Eisner said, “I prefer The Spirit in black and white — I prefer all of my work in black and white, to be honest with you. I believe the black line is a more pure contact with the reader. Color tends to obliterate or interfere with the flow of the story. I try very hard to make emotional contact with my reader early and to maintain an intense relationship as the story goes on. I find that anything that interferes with that is counterproductive.” (From Comic Book Artist, in an article by Jon B. Cooke)

http://comicfoundry.com/?p=820

So I recommend the black and white Spirit magazines published by Warren and Kitchen Sink Press and the black and white Spirit comic book-sized comics published by Kitchen Sink and the black and white Spirit: The Origin Years published by Kitchen Sink (the first issue reprints the origin story in glorious black and white). It's all black and white reprints of Eisner's 1940-1953 Spirit newspaper strips.

And, although it's in color and apparently wont be released until January, I also recommend DC's The Spirit Special #1 because it's only $2.99 and collects four stories that influenced Frank Miller's The Spirit movie into one book. 1947's "Sign of the Octopus," which the battle with the Octopus in the film is influenced from, 1949's "Black Alley," which influenced the shadowy noir look in the film, "Sand Saref" and "Bring in Sand Saref," both from 1950, in which The Spirit narrates, in typical noir style, the tale of how he and Sand Saref grew up in the slums and The Spirit having to go up against his long lost love turned to crime is a major component of the movie. "I was just 13 years old when I came across Will Eisner's 'The Spirit,' published by Jim Warren, and was blown away, I thought it was somebody new to comics, because it was so far ahead of anything else coming out. I felt it, religiously. There was one night when I picked up the latest issue of 'The Spirit,' and I was so excited, I had to stop by a lamppost in Vermont where I lived and read it on the spot. That was the Sand Saref story, which is now the basis of this movie." - Frank Miller speaking with MTV.

You know what's interesting is that there are two different version of 'black and white.'

One in which the original art is simply printed without coloring and one in which the already printed color sections are copied and then printed. This second process achieves a black and white televison sort of look with shades of grey, where as the first process is totally black and white. I wonder to which one Eisner was referring?

But none the less, Miller's film is neither of these.

 

[theMan-Bat]

You know what's interesting is that there are two different version of 'black and white.'

One in which the original art is simply printed without coloring and one in which the already printed color sections are copied and then printed. This second process achieves a black and white televison sort of look with shades of grey, where as the first process is totally black and white. I wonder to which one Eisner was referring?

But none the less, Miller's film is neither of these.

Miller's film is similar to the second process where the already printed color sections are copied and then printed in black and white. All of the footage in Miller's film was filmed in color, and was changed to black and white with shades of grey, and select splashes of color.

 

[mego joe]

Miller's film is similar to the second process where the already printed color sections are copied and then printed in black and white. All of the footage in Miller's film was filmed in color, and was changed to black and white with shades of grey, and select splashes of color.

I don't know- that sounds like SIn CIty, but not what the SPirit looks like. The Spirit looks like he just dressed everyone in blacks, whites and grays and did the production design the same way.

 

[theMan-Bat]

I don't know- that sounds like SIn CIty, but not what the SPirit looks like. The Spirit looks like he just dressed everyone in blacks, whites and grays and did the production design the same way.

The black and white with shades of gray is like the black and white Spirit material. I'm glad that the movie is presented primarily in black and white since black and white was Eisner's preference, without going totally retro, which is why I'm glad that there is also color and CGI in the movie since it gives it a very modern contemporary touch for audiences of today, and Eisner requested - "Don't limit yourself to what I did in 1940 or 1950. Make it relevant for today and for the needs of movie going audiences of today. These are things you need to do and you shouldn't be tied to something because it was in the 11th issue." Black and white, with the modern touch of color and using entirely CGI backgrounds with real actors is a technique that makes it very striking just to look at and sets it apart from the average film. The combined effect of black and white with select splashes of color was pioneered in the Sin City movie, of course, and it fits The Spirit, in my opinion, since The Spirit was presented in both black and white and color in the comics, and the color is similar to the color Spirit material with the red tie and so on. It's a feast for the eyes.

 

[mego joe]

The black and white with shades of gray is like the black and white Spirit material. I'm glad that the movie is presented primarily in black and white since black and white was Eisner's preference, without going totally retro, which is why I'm glad that there is also color and CGI in the movie since it gives it a very modern contemporary touch for audiences of today, and Eisner requested - "Don't limit yourself to what I did in 1940 or 1950. Make it relevant for today and for the needs of movie going audiences of today. These are things you need to do and you shouldn't be tied to something because it was in the 11th issue." Black and white, with the modern touch of color and using entirely CGI backgrounds with real actors is a technique that makes it very striking just to look at and sets it apart from the average film. The combined effect of black and white with select splashes of color was pioneered in the Sin City movie, of course, and it fits The Spirit, in my opinion, since The Spirit was presented in both black and white and color in the comics, and the color is similar to the color Spirit material with the red tie and so on. It's a feast for the eyes.

The reprinted Spirit stuff in the Warren magazine issues were the black white and grays, the Kitchen SInk stuff in comic book form were actually the original art reprinted in only black and white- no shades of gray.

What I was pointing out was that the Spirit had been reprinted both ways.

 

[Dr.Omega]

How is that spirit pop up book?

 

[mego joe]

How is that spirit pop up book?

What pop up book?

 

[Dr.Omega]

What pop up book?

i was trying to reserve the spirit movie companion at my borders but nothing was coming up so they went in the back and found this graphic novel that came in pop up form, looked pretty cool with eisners art and all.....i dont know should i buy it?

 

[CrimsonMist]

i was trying to reserve the spirit movie companion at my borders but nothing was coming up so they went in the back and found this graphic novel that came in pop up form, looked pretty cool with eisners art and all.....i dont know should i buy it?

THE SPIRIT POP-UP BOOK IS AWESOME!! It's so fun. I don't actually own it, but since i go to Borders all the time, i always play with it.t: It's really cool.


anyways, comics to read:

Man-Bat suggested the recently released Spirit Special that DC released. I bought it today and it's good. It's the Sand Saref story, Black Alley and an Octopus story. Worth getting.

I also found the Harvey Comics Spirit #1 for 15 bucks in great condition. Haven't gotten around to reading it yet though. Great cover.

 

[theMan-Bat]

anyways, comics to read:

Man-Bat suggested the recently released Spirit Special that DC released. I bought it today and it's good. It's the Sand Saref story, Black Alley and an Octopus story. Worth getting.

Oh, it's out now? There were conflicting reports about it's release date.

 

[CrimsonMist]

Oh, it's out now? There were conflicting reports about it's release date.

Yea, DC's site said Nov. 19th, but i didn't see it. I went today because my comic shop was having a huge holiday sale and there it was, sitting on the shelf. Not exactly sure what happened.

 

[theMan-Bat]

Well, better late than never.

DC's site said it was releasing on November 19th, but it also said this "low-priced special" was $32.00! So I knew that must be wrong:

http://www.dccomics.com/dcu/comics/?cm=11017

Written by Will Eisner; Art and cover by Will Eisner
With Frank Miller's highly anticipated movie adaptation of The Spirit coming in December, DC Comics presents THE SPIRIT SPECIAL, the perfect introduction to Will Eisner's greatest creation! This low-priced special includes four classic stories: 1947's "Sign of the Octopus,"1949's "Black Alley,"and "Sand Saref"and "Bring in Sand Saref,"both from 1950.

• Will Eisner Library | 32pg. | Color | $32.00 US
  
  On Sale November 19, 2008

Many legitimate sites like newsarama said it was releasing on January 7th:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/081020-january09-dc-solicitations.html

THE SPIRIT SPECIAL #1
Written by Will Eisner
Art and cover by Will Eisner
With Frank Miller’s highly anticipated movie adaptation of The Spirit coming in December, DC Comics presents THE SPIRIT SPECIAL, the perfect introduction to Will Eisner’s greatest creation! This low-priced special includes four classic stories: 1947’s “Sign of the Octopus,” 1949’s “Black Alley,” and “Sand Saref” and “Bring in Sand Saref,” both from 1950.
On sale January 7 • 32 pgs, FC, $2.99 US

So I wasn't sure when the hell the damn thing was actually coming out. But I knew it was a good collection worth getting especially for only $2.99.

 

[Comics N' Toons]

i love a lot of these. the flick was bad