Will Eisner on Color in Comics

YRONWODE: You don't see color as an essential part of comics...
EISNER: No, I don't think color is essential. Color can kill certain effects. I see the entertainment side of comics divided again into two kinds -- there's the comic that's sensory experience, visually sensual experience, and there's the comic that tells a story utilizing pictures as a language. In those a very delicate balance exists between story, or text and the art. To me, comic or sequential art is a language and the use of color is like putting print in 24 point type as opposed to doing it in 10 point type - I don't think it will enhance the value of the story, although it may add another dimension. And then, very often, enormously powerful, full color art swamps the story. About the only ones whose work seems to be able to survive thing like that are men like Corben and Giraud, or Moebius as he's called. Both men, particularly Giraud, seem to be able to do a feature whose color is compatible with the story. Occasionally Corben will overwhelm the reader with a powerful work of full color art that really knocks you off your chair -- and you almost forget what the story's about. Well, anyway, that's how I see it. I think the story is paramount... I have to work in terms of what I'm trying to do -- and at this time I have no intention of trying to be anything but a story teller. I see comics as a form of literature for the future.