1115 ( )

The Escapist is the hero of a series of comic books invented by the fictional characters in Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Comics publisher Darkhorse brought that masked character to fruition. This volume is an anthology, containing a number of short stories featuring the Houdini-like superhero. The graphic-based ones run the gamut from absurdly silly to deeply serious, with stories ranging from a less-than-impressed Escapist visiting the Grand Canyon to a morally torn Escapist contemplating a terminally ill patient's right to die. As with the novel that inspired the character, the all-prose sections contain a mixture of fictional and real history of the comics medium. ( )

Volume 3 has stronger stories than 2, I thought, with Will Eisner’s final work, along with a war tale, a noir mystery, a twisted romance and a closing story about euthanasia.

As with any anthology, the quality varies, and the presence of the work by some legends is sometimes more notable than the actual work here. But this is a top-notch production, with excellent covers, heavy paper and great art. It’s a good companion to Kavalier and Clay, and a lark for fans of Chabon’s book to see his fictive comic-book character in actual comic books. ( )