May 2004
IDW is proud to announce a new collaboration with one of the true masters of illustrated narrative, Will Eisner. In June, 2004, IDW will publish a collection of John Law stories by Eisner and Gary Chaloner. We talked a little with Mr. Eisner about the bacIDW: Please tell us a little about how you came to create John Law, and specifically how he relates (or doesn't) to
The Spirit stories you were doing at about the same time.
Will Eisner: Around 1948 I began a comic book line. The first three titles were Baseball Comics, Kewpies, and Pirate Comics. I felt I also needed a detective book and created John Law. I used a copy of the Spirit's costume, fedora and suit. I used an eye patch to make him more realistic, and produced a first story around Sand Sarif.
Unfortunately, the comic book line didn't sell and I closed it down. In 1950, I changed John Law into The Spirit. I eliminated the eye patch and pipe and included the story into
The Spirit series.
IDW: Why did you agree to let new John Law stories be created so long after you had stopped doing them? And how did Gary Chaloner come into the mix?
WE: I always felt that I never gave John Law a chance. However, over the years I abandoned my interest in comic books to go forward with graphic novels for a more mature audience. Clearly, I would never go back to adventure comics, so when Gary Chaloner offered to continue it, I readily agreed.
IDW: Is there any possibility that you'll do more John Law stories in the future, or is this the last word in his career?
WE: A lot depends on how successful Gary Chaloner is with John Law. I've authorized a continuation of the character in whatever medium is most receptive. Chaloner has a free hand.
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