Legendary comic book master Will Eisner's groundbreaking 'A Contract With God' is being adapted into a live-action feature film, it was announced Friday evening at Comic-Con. The book, one of the first graphic novels, was released in hard cover and paperpack by Baronet Books in 1978, and focused on the immigrant struggle in New York City, across four separate but related stories, set primarily in a tenement in the 1930s.

The tales are semi-autobiographical, drawing on stories and memories from Eisner's childhood. The four segments are: 'A Contract With God,' 'The Street Singer,' 'The Super' and 'Cookalien.' Four independent directors are attached to direct each of the chapters: Alex Rivera ('Sleep Dealer'); Tze Chun ('Children of Invention'); Barry Jenkins ('Medicine for Melancholy'); and Sean Baker ('Prince of Broadway'). Legendary comic book master Will Eisner's groundbreaking 'A Contract With God' is being adapted into a live-action feature film, it was announced Friday evening at Comic-Con. The book, one of the first graphic novels, was released in hard cover and paperpack by Baronet Books in 1978, and focused on the immigrant struggle in New York City, across four separate but related stories, set primarily in a tenement in the 1930s.

The tales are semi-autobiographical, drawing on stories and memories from Eisner's childhood. The four segments are: 'A Contract With God,' 'The Street Singer,' 'The Super' and 'Cookalien.' Four independent directors are attached to direct each of the chapters: Alex Rivera ('Sleep Dealer'); Tze Chun ('Children of Invention'); Barry Jenkins ('Medicine for Melancholy'); and Sean Baker ('Prince of Broadway').

The film will be produced and adapted by Darren Dean, whose first feature,'Prince of Broadway,' about an illegal immigrant in contemporary New York City, is being released this fall. Bob Schreck, a 30-year veteran of the comic book industry and Michael Ruggiero, former head of original programming at STARZ, will serve as co-executive producers. Black Squirrel Films co-founder Tommy Oliver will serve as co-producer and Mark Rabinowitz, co-founder of indieWIRE.com, will serve as associate producer.

Photography is set to begin in 2011.

The announcement was made at the 22nd annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards at the convention by the film's producers.