MIAMI, FLA.- The Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU presents a new exhibition “Will Eisner: Comic Creator, Illustrator and Innovator,” featuring original illustrations, first edition comic books from “The Spirit” series, army works, graphic novels and self-portraits.

“This exhibition and Eisner’s story and work are unique because they tell the story of not only one of the earliest and most prolific comic illustrators, but also the rise of the graphic novel,” explained museum curator Jacqueline Goldstein.

Will Eisner, born in the Bronx in 1917 to Jewish immigrants, was the creator of the comic book “The Spirit” and is said to be the father of the graphic novel.

“While the museum remains closed, we are very pleased to be able to present this exhibition as part of our continual virtual programming at the museum,” said museum director Susan Gladstone Pasternak. “Guests can take a tour of this groundbreaking artist’s work on our new website.”

Eisner’s work spanned a career of seven decades: from working for Wow! magazine in the 1930s to illustrating for the United States Army and then launching his own design firm in the 1940s; to inventing the graphic novel in the late 1970s; and teaching and illustrating until his death in 2005.

“We chose to highlight Eisner’s work because his story is one many of us can relate to, that of immigrating to a new country without any financial resources,” Goldstein added. “Eisner was able to achieve his dream of becoming a comic book writer and illustrator and many, if not all of Eisner's stories, incorporated some aspect of his childhood: his neighborhood, his Judaism, emigres, poverty and city life.”