The Amazing Adventures of The Escapist (2004), Volume 2

February 1, 2005
The Escapist, a superhero who uses Houdini-like skills to help those trapped in the chains of oppression, was the comic-book creation of the protagonists of Michael Chabon's novel " The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay " (2000), the success of which spurred Dark Horse to launch a series purporting to publish stories taken from the character's decades--spanning career. Actually, the stories are created by some of today's top writers and artists. Many in this second collection, such as " Y: The Last Man" author Brian Vaughan's, focused on the Escapist's loyal assistant, strongman Big Al, are just above-average mainstream superhero tales. The most successful efforts are loving pastiches of specific vintage comics; for instance, one in the style of EC Comics' notorious 1950s horror comics that features post-World War II Nazis, and another featuring the Escapist's voluptuous comrade, Luna Moth, purportedly pseudonymously drawn by 1960s Marvel Comics artist Jack Kirby. The quality of these stories guarantee appeal to superhero fans, and the fame of Chabon's Pulitzer Prize-winner assures some other readers, too. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)