Will Eisner, 1917-2005.
By Ian
The father of modern comics passed away yesterday at the age of 87. 
Certainly his most famous work is from The Spirit, a blue-suited crime-fighter that served to not only for revolutionizing comics, but was a model for countless detective characters for years. However, you'd do yourself a disservice if you didn't read his more personal works, such as A Contract With God or To the Heart of the Storm.
I nearly pursued a career as a comic book artist, in large part because of the work of this man and the people that followed him. Of course, when I realized that my ability to draw had peaked around age 14, I wisely looked elsewhere for a vocation. But if you want a glimpse at the promise and power of comics (a poor term, though not nearly as contorted as "graphic novel"), his work is the best place to start.