A review of a book released in 2000
isn’t exactly timely, but I think the book is important to cover here
nonetheless. I recently finished reading Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (affiliate link), and it was fantastic.
As a fan of comics, I was aware of the book when it was released, but somehow I
didn’t get around to reading it until this year. Personally, I’m glad I waited.
The
book follows the exploits of two cousins, Sam Klayman (aka Clay) and Josef
Kavalier, as they enter the comic book industry in New York City in 1939. As
tensions rise in Europe leading up to World War II, they create a new
character, The Escapist, that quickly rises in fame. The book follows the
ups-and-downs of their careers and the twists-and-turns of their lives, and it’s
a gripping, entertaining read.
One
of the aspects I enjoyed the most about the book was its near seamless blending
of real world fact with fiction. Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Stan Lee, and many
other comic book greats inhabit the world of Kavalier & Clay, and the book
draws many anecdotes from the era. The story arc of Kavalier & Clay and the
ownership of their character draw many parallels to Siegel & Shuster and
Superman. Additionally, one of the main turning points of the book involves the
Superman lawsuits DC brought against Victor Fox (Wonder Man) and Fawcett (Captain
Marvel). There is even a scene where Kavalier & Clay and a group of
creators lock themselves in an apartment all weekend to create a 60-page comic
book, echoing a similar tale involving Jerry Robinson, the co-creator of the
Joker and Robin.
As
I said previously, I’m glad I waited 18 years before reading this book. Some of
the nuances and references would have been lost on me had I read it when I was
younger. Even so, it is an excellent book for anyone looking for a compelling
story set during the golden age of comics.
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