The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon, brought the idea of destiny to my mind time and again. Though, Chabon never says outright that it was fate that Josef (Joe) Kavalier and Sam Clay's lives merged at just the right time, it's understood. Maybe, it's because the circumstances that brought the two together were wrought with life-altering heart-ache that "destiny" doesn't seem quite appropriate.

Their journey begins as Hitler is taking over in the late 30's and Joe miraculously makes his way out of Prague and to the warm bed of his cousin, Sam. At 19, Joe has left behind his entire family and his only chance at a livelihood is his art, which he has been honing at the Art Institute in Prague. Sam, who has been working for Empire Comics, wastes no time teaching Joe the way of comics. Soon, the two concoct the storyline and artwork for the first comic featuring the Escapist. A superhero fashioned after Houdini that is able to outwit the Nazis time and again.

The Escapist mirrors Joe's own life, featuring the Golem, which Joe actually had a hand in saving from Prague. Also, Joe practiced magic under the tutelage of a famous magician, Bernard Kornblum. As the story progresses Joe and the Escapist blend into one. In the beginning, Joe refuses to perform magic, stating that his best magic trick was making it out of Prague. As time goes by, he starts performing at Bar Mitzvahs and manages to keep a man from detonating a bomb and eventually sets his mind to bungee jumping from a building; like a superhero or a Dad trying VERY hard to impress his son might do.

During this transformation, Joe falls deeply in love with a fellow artist, Rosa, who he leaves with child, unbeknownst to him, to join the Navy in order to "kill the Nazis" after the ship carrying his younger brother and hundreds of other refugees is bombed. Sam, whose lovely companion Tracy Bacon is killed in the war, marries Rosa to save face and raises Tommy as his own until Joe reappears twelve years later.

This is a masterful work that connects historical events, art, comics, love, loss, religion, and fantasy in such a way that you can only pick your jaw off the ground and grin.