Artist Paul Pope continues to amaze readers with his bold, confident, fluid style. In this, his most concise and singular narrative since 1997's One-Trick Rip Off, he presents the life of the world's greatest escape artist, Escapo. Pope plays the mythic quality of the character to full effect, showing two distinct moments in the character's life: his struggle with death and his struggle with unrequited love. As written stories, these fables may seem simple. But the artwork holds such subtle expression that Escapo's small victories and minor losses will stay with you for some time. Not so subtle is his pop-star rhetoric that fills the first several pages of essays and articles. You'll find that this attitude--part Warhol, part Dali--infuses the whole work with a flavor of great confidence. It's no wonder The Village Voice said, "Pope's idiosyncratic style and methodology make him a unique figure, even among his most talented peers." --Jim Pascoe