Viewed by many to be the "father of modern comics" Will Eisner passed away in the evening of Monday, January 3, 2005 due to complications from quadruple bypass surgery. After a long and distinguished career in comics, highlighted by numerous works achieving both critical and commercial success, Will will probably be best remembered for "The Spirit." Created in 1939, the Spirit broke the mold of standard comic formulas of the day and was one of the first works to pioneer many of the storytelling techniques that have become the new standard for comics.
Will was also an early advocate of the ideal of comics as an art form and was always active in promoting the fact that the medium is capable of more.
He will be greatly missed. However, his work, ideas, and passion will stand as long as the art form he helped to define.