Golden-Age superhero, the Escapist--master of elusion, champion of liberation--was conceived in the fictional world of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. This comic book anthology contains a variety of the Escapist's exploits, and details on the history of the character. Master of elusion and foe of tyranny, from his secret headquarters beneath the majestic Empire Theater, the Escapist and his associates have been defeating the crooked and coming to the aid of those in need for generations. From obstructing the endeavors of post-war Nazis, to protecting the innocent from an attack on the World's Fair, to infiltrating behind enemy lines to free prisoners of war in Vietnam, and even to stymieing a hypnotizing saxophone player, the Escapist does not suffer oppression of any kind. A multitude of the Escapist's pulse-pounding adventures are collected here along with details of the publishing history of Joe Kavalier and Sam Clay's creation. This volume also contains a story torn straight from the pages of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay: written by Michael Chabon, the tale of the mysterious Mr. Machine Gun. Also featured, from another Kavalier & Clay classic publication, Weird Date, are two stories of romance, crime, and mystery. This collection features comic book creators of legend, including Will Eisner (The Spirit), Eduardo Barreto (Batman), Jeffrey Brown (Star Wars: Darth Vader and Son), Howard Chaykin (American Flagg, Star Wars), Paul Gulacy (Master of Kung Fu), Jeff Parker (Bucko), Marv Wolfman (The Tomb of Dracula), Thomas Yeates (Prince Valiant), and so many more! Containing a total of twenty-two tales, along with three never-before-collected stories, this volume also contains five never-before-published stories, as well as a robust gallery of pinups celebrating the world of the Escapist from artists including Gabriel Bá (The Umbrella Academy, Casanova) Brian Bolland (Judge Dredd), Bill Morrison (The Simpsons), Fábio Moon (Serenity, Casanova), Tim Sale (Batman, Superman), and many more!

マイケル・シェイボンが描く「脱出術師」は、単なるヒーローの系譜を超え、あらゆる束縛からの解放という人間の根源的な願いを具現化した存在です。本作に流れるのは、黄金時代のコミックが持っていた無垢な高揚感と、抑圧に抗う知的な抵抗の精神。虚構と現実が交錯する重層的な構造は、読者をノスタルジーの深淵へと誘い、物語が持つ救済の力を鮮烈に突きつけます。 特筆すべきは、文字媒体が構築する架空の出版史というメタ的な深みと、映像化作品がもたらす躍動感のシナジーです。映像版が華麗なアクションで視覚を圧倒する一方、原作は物語の裏側に潜む悲哀や時代の熱量を緻密に補完します。両者を往復することで、エスケピストという偶像がいかにして不滅の希望へ昇華されたのかを、私たちは深く理解することになるでしょう。