April
11 Eisner doc at Tribeca

PETER PARKER’S NOT ALONE IN TRIBECA

As the hotly anticipated third installment of the Spider-Man movie franchise swings into lower Manhattan at the end of the month – making its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival – Peter Parker can rest assured: he’s not alone.

In the same festival that, thanks to Spider-Man, now features panels centering on superheroes and the filmmakers who’ve brought them to life, moviegoers will also find the Discovery documentary Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist – a film celebrating the life and art of arguably the most influential creator in American comics.  An artist, businessman, innovator, and visual storyteller, Will Eisner was a superhero of sorts, which is why it’s so fitting that his story will come to life on the same screens that will play host to Spider-Man 3.

“This is not only exciting for comic fans everywhere, it’s a testament to what the Tribeca Film Festival has come to stand for,” said Will Eisner director Andrew D. Cooke.  “There’s a reason why this is one of the hottest festivals around.   They're not afraid to embrace the duality of filmmaking -- the popcorn event picture on one hand and the low budget labor of love, which our documentary is, on the other."

But there are also some noteworthy similarities between the two films (and no, we’re not talking about budget and special effects).  Both films enjoy the support of Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee.  In Will Eisner, Lee is among an eclectic mix of people who share their stories about Eisner, an impressive cast that also includes Michael Chabon, Kurt Vonnegut, Jules Feiffer, Frank Miller, and many more.

In both films New York City plays a central role.  Born in Brooklyn to Jewish immigrant parents, Will Eisner was the quintessential New Yorker and his life was very much informed by the neighborhoods he grew up in.  In Will Eisner, the city of New York is a compelling and provocative backdrop to his story.

“Will loved this city, it was his muse, and I think he would have been deeply touched to see this movie premiering in lower Manhattan where he was born,” said Cooke.  (Eisner passed away in January 2005 during the making of the documentary.)

And both films are a tribute to the enduring art of American comics.  Will Eisner served as an inspiration to so many of the biggest names in the industry.  His life story was the inspiration for Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, and his most recognized character, The Spirit, is being made into a feature film by writer/ director Frank Miller, creator of Sin City and 300.