Will Eisner's Iconic Comics IP Up for Sale

Eisner's family hopes to find a buyer to keep his work, especially The Spirit, in the public eye.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The family of legendary cartoonist Will Eisner is selling the rights to his acclaimed graphic novels, children's books, instruction manuals, and iconic characters like The Spirit. Eisner's last unpublished Spirit story is also included in the sale as the family, now in their 70s, hopes to find a buyer who will adapt his work to film and animation.

Why it matters

Eisner's groundbreaking work helped popularize the 'graphic novel' format and his character The Spirit is considered one of the most influential masked crime fighters in comics history. However, past adaptations of Eisner's work to film and TV have struggled, raising concerns about how his legacy may be handled by a new owner in the current media landscape.

The details

The sale includes Eisner's full intellectual property catalog, including his acclaimed graphic novels like 'A Contract with God and Other Tenement Stories,' children's books, and instruction manuals on creating comics. The centerpiece of the sale is the rights to The Spirit, Eisner's iconic masked crime fighter who debuted in 1940 and was known for his moral realism, mature themes, and innovative page design. Also up for grabs is Eisner's unpublished 72-page Spirit story from 1996 called 'The Spirit Returns'.

  • Will Eisner died in 2005.
  • Eisner's wife, Ann Weingarten Eisner, died in 2020.
  • Since then, Carl Gropper, Ann's nephew, and his wife Nancy Gropper have run the Eisner estate.

The players

Will Eisner

A legendary cartoonist considered a pioneer of the graphic novel format, best known for creating the influential masked crime fighter character The Spirit.

The Spirit

Eisner's iconic masked crime fighter character who debuted in 1940 and was known for his moral realism, mature themes, and innovative page design.

Carl Gropper

The nephew of Will Eisner's wife Ann, who now runs the Eisner estate along with his wife Nancy.

Nancy Gropper

The wife of Carl Gropper, who now runs the Eisner estate along with her husband.

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What’s next

The Eisner estate is hoping to find a buyer who will adapt his work, especially The Spirit, to film and animation.

The takeaway

The sale of Will Eisner's iconic comics IP raises concerns about how his groundbreaking work and characters will be handled by a new owner, especially given the struggles of past adaptations to screen. Eisner's family hopes to find a buyer who will keep his legacy alive, but the fate of his creations remains uncertain.