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CHABON, CHAYKIN AND THE ESCAPIST
AT DARK HORSE
by Matt Brady (Newsarama)
The question of “where will he go?” has been
definitively answered, as today, Dark Horse announced that
Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Chabon has signed with
the publisher to publish Michael Chabon Presents…The
Amazing Adventures of the Escapist. Who will be with him
is at least partially answered by the illustration - Howard
Chaykin has illustrated a preview poster for the project,
and will illustarte one fo the stories in the first issue.
According to the publisher, Chabon’s Escapist series
will be quarterly, and feture characters created in his Pulitzer
Prize winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and
Clay.
Dark Horse’s Press Release reads:
Set primarily in the late ’30s and early ’40s
at the birth of the comic book industry, The Amazing Adventures
of Kavalier and Clay tells the story of two young men who
create a popular comic-book character known as “The
Escapist.” The Dark Horse anthology will present tales
of the Escapist and his cohorts set in the style of various
comic book eras from the 40’s through today. Chabon
will guide the direction of the series as well as contribute
to writing original stories. Other artists and writers will
be announced in coming months.
“When I first began my research into the careers of
Joe Kavalier & Sam Clay, their classic creations--the
Escapist, Luna Moth and the rest--had lapsed into near-total
obscurity,” commented writer Michael Chabon. “ I'm
delighted and very grateful that Dark Horse has decided to
breathe new life into these grand old characters, and that
we have the opportunity to continue the Escapist's good work
using the Golden Keys of imagination and storytelling.”
“This is a very exciting project for Dark Horse,” enthused
Dark Horse President Mike Richardson. “Presenting the
work of such a talented and esteemed author such as Mr. Chabon
continues our tradition of releasing the finest books by
the industry’s top talent. Bringing his wonderful characters
featured in The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist to life
on the comics’ page is a true honor. Comics fans are
in for a real treat!”
Michael Chabon has penned the script for the movie adaptation
of his novel “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and
Clay” for Scott Rudin Prods. and Paramount Pictures.
The project re-teams Rudin and the author, who worked together
on the film “Wonder Boys.” Chabon was repped
on the deal by Harris Miller.
Chabon’s impressive list of other works includes The
Mysteries of Pittsburgh, A Model World, Wonder Boys, Summerland
and Werewolves in Their Youth. His work has appeared in the
New Yorker, Harper’s, Esquire, and Playboy, among other
places, and in a number of anthologies, among them Prize
Stories 1999: The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short
Stories 2002. His most recent project was guest editing and
contributing to McSweeney's #10, aka McSweeney's Mammoth
Treasury of Thrilling Tales. He lives in Berkeley, California
with his wife Ayelet Waldman, also a novelist, and their
children.
Michael Chabon Presents…The Amazing Adventures of
the Escapist is scheduled for release December 2003. Each
exciting issue will be 80 pages long! Visit Darkhorse.com
for the latest developments and updates on this project.
Don’t miss Michael Chabon signing a special Escapist
promotional poster with art by Howard Chaykin in the Dark
Horse booth at the San Diego Comic-Con next week.
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