The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist (Michael Chabon Presents…)

    (Dark Horse, 2004-2005)
™ and © Dark Horse Comics, Inc.

We’ve seen faux-historical comics before, from Big Bang and 1963 to Radioactive Man. Those are usually tongue-in-cheek enough to let readers in on the gag. Michael Chabon Presents The Amazing Adventures of The Escapist is played so straight that it runs the risk that those not in the know might think it’s actual history. (As if someone not already invested in the character is going to plunk down nine bucks for a comic book. What’s with that?)

The stories run the gamut from dead serious Golden Age to goofy Silver Age back to 1970s relevance. There’s also a bit of anthropomorphic fun, a Luna Moth story, and the aforementioned misleading text page.

With an all-star line-up including Chabon, Starlin, Baker, and Chaykin, you know it’s got to be good. Look for “cameo” pieces by Bill Sienkiewicz, Herb Trimpe, et al.

Despite a few minor gaffes (the origin tale does not open as the text piece describes, for example), the package is superior. One does not have to be a fan of Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay to enjoy it. Sadly, few who are unfamiliar with that novel will be likely to pick up such a pricey comic book.

— Jack Abramowitz
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Feb 2004
    Cover: $8.95
    W: Michael Chabon, Jim Starlin, Kevin McCarthy, Howard Chaykin  ·  A: Eric Wight, Jim Starlin, Kyle Baker, Howard Chaykin, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Lieber
    Luna Moth
    3 copies from $7.00
  • 2
    #2
    Apr 2004
    Cover: $8.95
    W: Kevin McCarthy, Glen David Gold, Mike Baron  ·  A: Bill Sienkiewicz, Gene Colan, Tony Leonard Tamai, Val Mayerik, Dan Brereton, C. Scott Morse, Chris Warner, Jeff Palmer
    Luna Moth
    4 copies from $4.98
  • 3
    #3
    Jul 2004
    Cover: $8.95
    W: Brian K. Vaughan, Paul Hornschemeier, Marv Wolfman, Roy Thomas, Kevin McCarthy  ·  A: Roger Petersen, Paul Hornschemeier, Joe Staton, Dean Haspiel
    Luna Moth
    5 copies from $5.70
  • 4
    #4
    Oct 2004
    Cover: $8.95
    W: Stuart Moore, Paul Hornschemeier, Kevin McCarthy, Matt Kindt  ·  A: Steve Conley, Paul Hornschemeier, C. Scott Morse, Matt Kindt
    3 copies from $4.98
  • 5
    #5
    Feb 2005
    Cover: $8.95
    W: Kevin McCarthy, Paul Grist, Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin, Jeffrey Brown, Jason Hall  ·  A: Shawn Martinbrough, Paul Grist, David Hahn, Jeffrey Brown, Eric Wight, Nick Derington
    5 copies from $4.98
  • 6
    #6
    Apr 2005
    Cover: $8.95
    W: Will Eisner, Howard Chaykin, Dawn Best, Paul Hornschemeier, Steven Grant, Jason, Andrew J. Offutt  ·  A: Will Eisner, Alex Saviuk, Howard Chaykin, Eddie Campbell, Paul Hornschemeier, Norm Breyfogle, Jason, Tom Yeates
    2 copies from $13.00
  • 7
    #7
    Jul 2005
    Cover: $8.95
    W: Michael Chabon  ·  A: Eduardo Barreto
    5 copies from $13.00
  • Bk 1
    Book #1
    May 2004
    Cover: $17.95
    W: Michael Chabon, Jim Starlin, Kevin McCarthy, Howard Chaykin, Glen David Gold, Mike Baron  ·  A: Eric Wight, Jim Starlin, Kyle Baker, Howard Chaykin, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Lieber, Bill Sienkiewicz, Gene Colan, Tony Leonard Tamai, Val Mayerik, Dan Brereton
    Collects #1-2
    2 copies from $6.80
  • Bk 2
    Book #2
    Nov 2004
    Cover: $17.95
    W: Brian K. Vaughan, Paul Hornschemeier, Marv Wolfman, Roy Thomas, Kevin McCarthy, Stuart Moore, Matt Kindt  ·  A: Roger Petersen, Paul Hornschemeier, Joe Staton, Dean Haspiel, Steve Conley, C. Scott Morse, Matt Kindt
    Collects The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist (Michael Chabon Presents…) #3-4
    3 copies from $8.98
  • Bk 3
    Book #3
    Apr 2006
    Cover: $14.95
    W: Will Eisner, Kevin McCarthy, Howard Chaykin, Paul Hornschemeier, Daniel Best, Paul Grist, Catherine Yronwode, Roy Thomas, Chris Offutt, Jason Hall, Bubbles LaTour, Steven Grant, Jeffrey Brown  ·  A: Will Eisner, Shawn Martinbrough, Howard Chaykin, Paul Hornschemeier, Paul Grist, Tom Yeates, Jason Hall, Norm Breyfogle, Jeffrey Brown, Matt Wagner, Bill Morrison
    Collects #5-6
    3 copies from $8.20