The Escapist

As a young boy growing up in Lac-Mégantic, Gabriel Filippi lived in fear of drowning. A close encounter in a childhood swimming pool left him terrified of the depths, but he had no idea that it was the heights of this world that would eventually call him—and threaten his life over and over again. In the course of 20 years spent scaling the highest peaks in the world, Filippi has repeatedly cheated death. From a Taliban attack on a mountainside in northern Pakistan that felled ten of his climbing companions to the deadliest disaster in Everest’s history, Filippi has survived again and again. But sometimes survival comes with a price. In The Escapist, Filippi proves an old axiom true: no climber returns from a summit the same person as when he began his ascent. Sometimes the alteration is physical, but more often it’s buried within. The Escapist is an unflinching account of extreme feats and devastating loss that takes readers to the highest peaks on six continents and into the deepest valleys of the human soul. In a book marked by adventure and tragedy, Filippi dissects what it takes to get to the top of the world, and what that quest takes out of you. Haunted by survivor’s guilt and post-traumatic stress disorder, Filippi explains how life on the brink of death can change someone. He chronicles how his experiences on mountains ranging from K2 to Everest to Nanga Parbat, a mountain in Pakistan also known as The Maneater, transformed him from a hubristic young man who pushed himself to the brink into the cautious adventurer who preserved seven lives when he halted an ascent up Everest just an hour from the summit. In this gripping, heartfelt and inspiring memoir, one of Canada’s foremost mountaineers shares a life spent in and out of the death zone. The Escapist is a story about human perseverance and triumph in the pursuit of one man’s dreams, and helps to explain why some people will never give up on trying to climb to the top of the world.

Inspired by Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, this is Vaughan’s love letter to his chosen medium, a story about what it takes to start out with nothing in Cleveland, Ohio, and end up with a comic so hot a major corporation wants to steal it from you! Brilliantly interweaving the lives of the creators with the world of their creation, artists Steve Rolston and Philip Bond bring the comic-booking trio Maxwell Roth, Case Weaver, and Denny Jones to life, while the inimitable Jason Shawn Alexander and Eduardo Barreto illustrate the thrilling trials and exciting extrications of the new -- and old -- Escapist!

In his anticipated debut novel, David Puretz intricately weaves together mental health, family conflict and abuse, drug addiction, and sexuality during a turbulent pre-Trump America in a dynamic and layered narrative of violence and hope.

In the fictional world of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, the Escapist--the epitome of Golden Age superhero--was conceived. This anthology is a collection of the hero's history and his exploits, created by an all-star cast of comic book luminaries. The Escapist and his associates are heroes to all who languish in oppression's chains. They roam the globe, performing amazing feats to foil diabolical evildoers. From preventing a prison break and attack on Empire City, to facing a demonic horde in Japan, to crushing a galactic takeover in the year 2966, and to surfacing a sunken submarine from 300 fathoms, the Escapist brings hope and liberation. As the history of his creators, Joe Kavalier and Sam Clay, was chronicled in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, now a multitude of the Escapist's adventures are collected here, along with the patchwork publishing history of the character. This volume also contains the adventures of the Escapist's associate, Luna Moth. The stories and art within are by amazing talent like Brian K. Vaughan (Saga, Y--The Last Man), Kyle Baker (The Fifth Beatle), Eduardo Barreto (Batman), Howard Chaykin (American Flagg, Star Wars), Gene Colan (Daredevil, Howard the Duck), Matt Kindt (Pistolwhip), Kevin McCarthy (Circuit-Breaker), Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin), Jim Starlin (Captain Marvel) and, of course, Michael Chabon. Containing a total of twenty-six tales, along with two never-before-collected stories, this volume also contains six never-before-published stories, as well as a robust gallery of pinups celebrating the world of the Escapist from artists including Brian Bolland (Judge Dredd), Jöelle Jones (Lady Killer), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Eric Wight (My Dead Girlfriend), Jae Lee (Before Watchmen), and more!

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!

Master of Elusion, foe of tyranny, and champion of liberation — The Escapist! Operating from a secret headquarters under the boards of the majestic Empire Theater, the Escapist and his crack team of charismatic associates roam the globe, performing amazing feats of magic to aid all those who languish in oppression’s chains. The history of his creators, Joe Kavalier and Sam Clay, was recently chronicled in Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. The best of the Escapist’s adventures are now collected into one volume for all to enjoy! This thrilling volume of Michael Chabon Presents…The Amazing Adventures of The Escapist collects the first two issues of the comic book and features an original story penned by Michael Chabon, the comics debut of novelist Glen David Gold, a new story written and drawn by Howard Chaykin, the painted artwork of Bill Sienkiewicz, and a wraparound cover by Chris Ware!

This volume of Michael Chabon Presents the Amazing Adventures of the Escapist collects issues five and six of the popular, Eisner and Harvey Award winning quarterly series, and features the late Will Eisner's final return to the Spirit, in a crossover tale with the Escapist! Also in this volume is the comics writing debut of award-winning author and Guggenheim fellow Chris Offutt, illustrated by Thomas Yeates. Dan Best and Eddie Campbell contribute a fully painted story from the 1939 World's Fair in Empire City, and 2004 Russ Manning Award winner Eric Wight brings a polemic story from writer Jason Hall to life. Among the other notable contributors are Howard Chaykin, Paul Grist, Shawn Martinbrough, David Hahn, Roy Thomas, Matt Wagner, and indie stalwarts Jeffrey Brown and Jason! • 2005 Eisner Award-winner: Best Anthology • 2005 Harvey Award-winner: Best Anthology and Best New Series!