Eisner/Miller
Adult/High School–In 2002, cartoonist Frank Miller visited with Will Eisner for a free-ranging discussion across several days. Brownstein provided shape to their encounters, giving the two artists a medium in which they could use words to explore the history of American graphic-novel expression, the business concerns of comics publishing, the relationship between art forms such as comics and film, and the meanings of success to each individual. Both men proved themselves thoughtful and agile speakers, engaging one another's ideas and building together a kind of oral history of the art form. Brownstein worked invisibly but successfully so that each man stepped out from time to time from the overarching wholeness of the discussions to be seen as unique. The volume is gracefully and carefully illustrated with work not only by Miller and Eisner, but also by those whom they called into the conversation: Johnny Craig, Neal Adams, and even Lynn Johnston. Photos show the distinctive ages of the two subjects and confirm the comfortable nature of this recorded interaction. This is a fine example of critical literary biography with no whiff of academic revisioning attached. As such, students will find it valuable both for curriculum support and casual reading.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.