Eisner and Thompson

Eisner and Thompson both have very different styles when it comes to comic book writing as well as artistic style.  Despite this there is a certain group of similarities present, even though it isn't obvious right away.  The stories Bill Eisner and Thompson write come off a bit like a documentary, deep insights on things they have done or are currently doing.  It's a unique approach as well as a bold thing to make a comic book about.  Both comics that I have read from the artists (Bill Eisner's Dropsie Avenue and Thompson's Blankets respectively) depict very realistic stories involving love, emotion and themes of memory.  Both artists favor heavy writing rather then comedic.  The stories are easy to relate to since you have probably experienced the problems the characters are going through at least once in your life, making everything you read very insightful as well as strangely nostalgic.  The drawings that both artists create are similar, but if you look deeper you can see subtle differences that make both styles unique.  Both lean towards more realistic anatomy for their human characters while keeping the faces similarly shaped.  Eisner approaches eyes a bit more realistically then Thompson (who favors the black dot eyes).  Both look like traditional comics, Eisner's looking a bit more like that of older superhero comic styles.  Both styles are also very appealing to look at as they also capture and support the stories Bill and Thompson are trying to tell.  It was really interesting trying to compare and contrast both these fantastic comic book artists.