A pristine Mint copy in shrinkwrap and out of print. Printed on uncoated stock for an authentic comic book feel and color.

From the publisher:

The master returns to the work that made him a legend! This Archive collects Spirit sections originally published between January 6, 1946 and June 30, 1946, following Will Eisner's honorable discharge from the U.S. Army. His work here exhibits the bold confidence and breakthrough storytelling that influenced many comic-book creators who followed him! Plus, an introduction by Denis Kitchen.

Two years after launching a weekly newspaper-supplement comic book featuring a masked crimefighter called the Spirit, Eisner went to serve in World War II, leaving his creation in the hands of assistants who couldn't match its originator's panache. This entry in a series of deluxe volumes reprinting the strip's entire 12-year run covers Eisner's 1946 return to The Spirit. Right off the bat, he produced dazzling stories again, not only surpassing his earlier efforts but outdoing anyone else's work at the time. The Spirit's distinctive combination of action, drama, and humor is matched by Eisner's uniquely effective fusion of serious illustration and broader cartooning. At the point in his career this volume covers, his hallmarks--innovative, cinematic layouts distinguished especially by magnificent full-page opening panels--come fully to fruition. Each seven-page story satisfies more than most full-length graphic novels. The late-'40s Spirit stories are comics benchmarks that continue to influence artists to this day. Libraries lacking earlier installments should pick up the series now because Eisner maintained this lofty standard for years afterward.

--Gordon Flagg, American Library Association