The Spirit #6/28/1942
In "Sasha's Sax," Will Eisner crafts a haunting, surreal tale of music and manipulation set during wartime. When a melancholy saxophonist’s sorrowful melodies begin driving people to despair, The Spirit devises a daring plan—turning the Gestapo’s own cruelty against them by convincing them that the music can be weaponized. With Eisner’s masterful storytelling and expressive art, this 1942 issue blends dark satire with a touch of absurdity, all rendered in bold, striking visuals. The cover by Will Eisner completes the mood with a stark, memorable image of the saxophonist under a shadowed sky.
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Sasha the Saxophonist is depressed about life and his sad song has the power to drive people to suicide. In an effort to stop Sasha's manic melodies, The Spirit meets with members of the Gestapo and tricks them into thinking Sasha's unique ability could be used to further their cause. The Gestapo men keep paying Sasha to play his sad song over loudspeakers to the entire city, to the point of exhaustion. Sasha is so tired of playing the sad song, he changes to an upbeat jive tune, which in turn drives the Gestapo boys to take their own lives. Sasha goes on to be a successful street musician.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).