Scan barcode
A review by mrninjaviking
The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, Volume 1 by Howard Chaykin, Eric Wight, Michael Chabon, Steve Lieber, Glen David Gold, Bill Sienkiewicz, Gene Colan, Kevin McCarthy
4.0
A companion book to the award winning novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay". It is a collection of comic book stories talked about within the novel.
Essentially this was Chabon, along with some other writers and artists, creating some of the stories that made up the world of the Escapist and Luna Moth, two of the comic book heroes that Kavalier and Clay created in the novel. There are some write-ups within this collection, which includes what was supposed to be the first Escapist story, describing some of the history behind the characters and where they went after Kavalier and Clay walked away from them. It is done in a documentary style, adding to the story within the novel, and probably more geared to the comic book fans out there. But like the novel, this is all fiction. And I am not talking about the comics themselves.
I enjoyed the Sandman series created by Neil Gaiman and have found myself interested in some others. However, after reading this novel, it got me interested in reading actual comic, the famous ones from the Golden Age when the beginning of Kavalier and Clay's story begins. I also, in a way, yearned to actually see what kind of vision Chabon had for these "famous" stories and characters within the novel. This did very nicely to put images to those wishes.
It jumps around from different time frames so you can see the Escapist and Luna Moth change as "the years go by." And the collection finishes with a "previously unreleased" story that would have tied up a huge story line within the Escapist universe. I found some of the stories very entertaining. All the art, very different from story to story, all very good.
In some ways it filled in a few blanks and helped add to the universe that those geeks that get into this would just love. For me though, it just made a nice way to finish off the thrill of the novel. I picked up this copy for $2 on eBay (before shipping costs). I didn't want to pay full price for something I wasn't sure about. It turned out to be a smart move. Reading it right after was the key for me. And though I enjoyed it, I doubt I would go and get the next two volumes.
Essentially this was Chabon, along with some other writers and artists, creating some of the stories that made up the world of the Escapist and Luna Moth, two of the comic book heroes that Kavalier and Clay created in the novel. There are some write-ups within this collection, which includes what was supposed to be the first Escapist story, describing some of the history behind the characters and where they went after Kavalier and Clay walked away from them. It is done in a documentary style, adding to the story within the novel, and probably more geared to the comic book fans out there. But like the novel, this is all fiction. And I am not talking about the comics themselves.
I enjoyed the Sandman series created by Neil Gaiman and have found myself interested in some others. However, after reading this novel, it got me interested in reading actual comic, the famous ones from the Golden Age when the beginning of Kavalier and Clay's story begins. I also, in a way, yearned to actually see what kind of vision Chabon had for these "famous" stories and characters within the novel. This did very nicely to put images to those wishes.
It jumps around from different time frames so you can see the Escapist and Luna Moth change as "the years go by." And the collection finishes with a "previously unreleased" story that would have tied up a huge story line within the Escapist universe. I found some of the stories very entertaining. All the art, very different from story to story, all very good.
In some ways it filled in a few blanks and helped add to the universe that those geeks that get into this would just love. For me though, it just made a nice way to finish off the thrill of the novel. I picked up this copy for $2 on eBay (before shipping costs). I didn't want to pay full price for something I wasn't sure about. It turned out to be a smart move. Reading it right after was the key for me. And though I enjoyed it, I doubt I would go and get the next two volumes.