Today I finally received the first issue of the new Dutch literary magazine Eisner, the first of its kind to be completely devoted to visual narratives and graphic novels. It’s a thin trade paperback of about 70 pages, with new and older, Dutch, Flemish and international work, all in Dutch.
The first issue contains Dan Clowes’ classic Art School Confidential short story, as well as all of Tom Gauld’s Hunter and Painter strips, and new work by Dutch cartoonists such as Typex, Peter Pontiac, Marcel Ruijters, and Milan Hulsing. All in all, a very handsome package, lavishly printed in full color on lovely, soft cream paper, and with a beautiful portrait of Will Eisner by Erik Kriek on the cover.
I would like to see this experiment succeed, but I fear that the price (15 Eur) will be quite a hindrance for many prospects. If I had to choose this week whether to spend my money on this, or on the new Chris Ware, I’m afraid Ware would win.
(artwork © Uitgeverij Podium and Erik Kriek)
