SDCC: Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman Go to College



Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman Go to College (48:02, 109mb)
Michael Dooley started by going through a brief history of both Eisner and Kurtzman and the many similarities in the two men’s upbringing, outlook, influences in their work. He also pointed out how both of them have awards named after them and made it into the Masters of American Comics. From the Audience Jackie Estrada spoke about how her late husband Batton Lash and John Holmstrom got the SVA to start teaching comics and requested Eisner and Kurtzman as teachers. Panelists Tom Sito, Grant Geissman, Patrick McDonnell and N.C. Christopher Couch spoke about the history of the SVA and what it was prior to teaching comics, how both operated as teachers with each teaching the fundamentals and principles of art but not imposing their styles and instead encouraging their own, how they brought in comics from other parts of the work (specifically Europe) to show their students, Harvey in particular liked bringing in guest speakers including one time Robert Crumb. They also spoke about the student publications both of them did, which gave the students a chance to see their work in print which was important to them.

About Author