The Escapists
January 28, 2008 | Trades
The Escapists
Brian K. Vaughan, Steve Rolston, Phillip Bond, Jason Shawn Alexander, Eduardo Barreto
Dark Horse Books
$19.95 US (Hardcover)
**** 1/2 (out of five)
Millions of people are reading comic books nowadays.
With wave after wave of talented creators focused on diversifying the subject matter and the appearance of comics, the medium has transcended its sadly long-held perception as one created solely for the entertainment of small children and has gained a strong foothold alongside film, television and non-graphic literature as a respected form of creative expression by and for adults.
While it’s pretty common to see people reading comics on the subway or to hear someone you know say, “Sure, I like comics” it’s amazing to see just how passionate those who work on them are.
Brian K. Vaughan, creator of such popular comic series as Y: The Last Man and Ex Machina, as well as being a staff writer on the TV’s Lost, puts his love out for all to see in The Escapists.
On the surface, this book is about three young friends who attempt to revive a semi-obscure Golden Age character called the Escapist (taken from the pages of author Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Adventures Of Kavalier And Clay) in a new comic book series, while using a viral campaign that includes having one of them dress up in a costume and helping do good in his community.
A deeper look at this story reveals Vaughan’s infatuation with this industry, both its good and its bad side, examining what it’s like when you’re a naïve young creator with a hot property, how you often have to suffer for your craft and just how much you need to love it to survive and thrive in it.
The Escapists is one of the most enchanting love stories in years — even if it is about the love of comics.
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