Will Eisner was born on March 6, 1917, in New York City. He was an American comic book artist, writer, and publisher, often considered one of the most influential figures in the development of the graphic novel and the modern comic book industry. Throughout his career, Eisner received numerous prestigious awards, including the Shazam Award for Best Writer/Artist (1971), the Harvey Award (1988), and a special citation at the 1992 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, which were later renamed in his honor. He was a major advocate for the comic industry, teaching at the School of Visual Arts in New York and authoring Comics and Sequential Art (1985) as well as Graphic Storytelling & Visual Narrative (1996), both influential texts in the study of comics as an art form. Eisner passed away on January 3, 2005. His legacy endures through the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, which continue to recognize excellence.