Escapo

by Paul Pope

From the mind of three-time Eisner Award-Winner Paul Pope comes Escapo! Like a feverish mash-up of Fellini films, Heavy Metal magazine, and classic Jack Kirby comics, Escapo tells the tale of a circus escape artist extraordinaire, who can escape from any situation - even from Death himself! However, there is one force even more powerful than the Reaper which Escapo must face. A meditation on life, love, and mortality, Escapo is not to be missed! Originally published in 1999 and long out of print, the new Z2 edition of Escapo is fully colored and redesigned in the French BD format, featuring 50+ pages of bonus content. Included here is the rare two-page alternate ending, only seen in the French edition, as well as a new ten-page story and added pin-ups and sketchbook content by Paul.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Art, Comix, Comic Book

Hardcover

First published May 1, 1999

About the author

PAUL POPE is an American cartoonist living and working in New York City. Pope has made a name for himself internationally as an artist and designer. He has been working primarily in comics since the early '90s, but has also done a number of projects with Italian fashion label Diesel Industries and, in the US, with DKNY. His media clients include LucasArts, Paramount Pictures, Cartoon Network, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Conde-Naste, Kodansha (Japan), Sapporo (Japan), Marc Ecko, Dargaud Editions (France), EMI Canada, Warner Brothers, and The British Film Institute. His iconic Batman: Year 100, a science fiction take on the classic Batman origin tale, has won numerous awards, seen print in many languages, and appears frequently on many Top 10 Batman story lists. In 2010, Pope was recognized as a Master Artist by the American Council Of The Arts, and is currently sitting on the ACA advisory board. His 2010, short science fiction comic strip Strange Adventures (DC Comics)--an homage to the Flash Gordon serials of the '30s-- won the coveted National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award for Best Comic Book of the year. He has won 5 Eisners to date.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross Kafka with Houdini - wonderfully strange book - wonderfully strange art. We are all trying to escape death everyday; for the vast majority of us it is not really that hard. But for others it is much harder; and you can't escape forever. This GN has many deep elements that address this reality - if you have never read anything by Paul Pope give him a try!

[João Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

DECISÃO
.
O conceito de Escapo é bem interessante: trabalhando em um circo como mestre de fugas, Escapo vive constantemente vivenciando a experiência de quase-morte. A partir disso, muitas provocações surgem.
.
Diante de uma rejeição, uma frustração, um impotência, o herói entra para mais uma de suas atrações. E ai que entra dinâmica de Escapo: "Diante dele, nada é impossível. Exceto a fuga da sua eventual eventualidade. Aquela inevitável vereda. Seu marco final. Sua eterna estrela do Norte. Sua própria morte.". O que ele pode escolher? A sua potencialidade ou seu fim?
.
E o que isso significa para aqueles que o assistem? Qual o objetivo? Um homem que desafia a morte acaba representando uma reafirmação da própria vida. Na verdade, é uma ilusão, uma forma de se sentir onipotente diante da morte.
.
O destino de Escapo é inevitável, assim como o nosso:
"A vida de um homem não volta depois de escapar por entre seus dentes. E poder algum na terra pode trazê-la de volta. Essa é a Lei da Vida. Então, seus ossos não mais serão unidos por úmidos tendões. Não mais sua alma se agitará em sua boca. Mas, à luz resplandecente da morte, ele está fatigado e gasto."
.
O último quadro dessa HQ é belíssimo. Ao fundo, vemos Escapo descansando diante da multidão que o aplaude, que vibra e grita o seu nome (uma verdadeira revolução contra a morte). Mas em primeiro plano vemos uma moeda, aquela que a própria morte deu para Escapo. Nessa moeda, temos escrito Et In Arcadia Ego, um mote para lembrarmos de nossa mortalidade latente.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Pope is amazing. His drawing style is excellent, and his story telling skills are to match.

Escapo is one of his shorter ones- a love story about a disfigured escape artist who falls in love with a tightrope walker.

Beautiful work, great story, excellent all around.

[Sonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb artwork wonderfully made even more delicious with excellent coloring!
This is also some of Pope's most cohesive and emotionally resonant work ever!

Gorgeous

Gorgeous

Gorgeous!

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

No posfácio deste quadrinho, Paul Pope fala que sempre tentou ir na direção de um "quadrinho mundial". E o que seria isso? Para ele é um quadrinho que contenha influências estadunidense, japonesa e italiana (eu preferia ficar com europeia, mas foi ele quem disse, ok?). Realmente conseguimos ver que Pope realizou seu intento de atingir uma mescla dessas três escolas/estilos/maneiras de se fazer quadrinhos com Escapo. De princípio parece uma homenagem ao Senhor Milagre de Jack Kirby, mas é muito mais, tem aquele quê de algo que eu penso como "quadrinho arte", algo que não tem que se justificar, ele apenas está ali, como os quadrinhos de Moebius e Hugo Pratt. Não é meu tipo de quadrinho favorito, preciso confessar, não me agrada muito esses dois autores (podem me julgar, sorry.). Pope também traz a verve japonesa na forma narrativa que apresenta em Escapo. Dito isso, o quadrinho não me agradou como outros quadrinhos de Pope já conseguiram. Ele tem os seus méritos, claro que tem. Mas eu gosto mais de ver os quadrinhos como narrativa e não como arte. E isso é uma questão de formação, de gosto, ou seja lá do que você queira chamar.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Alejandro Orradre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia corta, con un enfoque claramente artístico y que es un ejercicio de imaginación visual antes que una historia interesante.

[Diz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about a circus escape artist who confronts a series of deadly machines. As he works through these death traps, he deals with the emotions that preoccupy his mind--love and fear of death. The art is beautifully drawn and the color work is amazing. I also enjoyed the sketchbook section at the back of the book.

[Fr. Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story here is entirely secondary to the art, which makes the story beautifully explode. I got this from the library, but I'm thinking I would like a copy for my own library, and I'm just happy I have my graphic novels and comics shelved right next to my small but growing collection of art books. Never mind all that...this book is recommended, however you wish to consume it!

[P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Pope has a wonderful style of illustration that makes me feel menaced. I haven't pinpointed why, yet. The story of Escapo is sketchy, but not unresolved. You can just tell that there is more to be told.

[Vinton Bayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically wonderful artwork fills these pages. There are two great stories here, told more visually than through words. The depth presented in the visual story telling is already beckoning me back for many re-readings.

[Alessandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escapo is a lean, moody graphic novella that showcases Paul Pope at his most stripped-down and atmospheric. More mood piece than conventional narrative, it feels like a sketchbook come alive—raw lines, stark contrasts, and a sense of restless energy pulsing through every page.
The story itself is intentionally elusive: an escapist, master of the trade, who an even cheat Death itself once, but who can’t escape the greatest force of all, memories bleeding into the present, reality bending under pressure. Pope isn’t interested in spelling things out, and that ambiguity is both the book’s greatest strength and its main limitation. When it works, it pulls you into a dreamlike headspace where emotion and motion matter more than plot. When it doesn’t, you may find yourself wishing for just a bit more narrative grounding.
Visually, though, Escapo is consistently compelling. Pope’s line work is expressive and kinetic, perfectly suited to themes of escape, paranoia, and inner turmoil. Even in its quieter moments, the book hums with tension.
This isn’t a graphic novel you read for a tidy story or clear answers—it’s something you experience. Short, intense, and a little frustrating in a deliberate way, Escapo earns its four stars for its ambition, style, and confidence, even if it doesn’t fully cohere as a traditional narrative.
Recommended for fans of experimental comics and Paul Pope completists.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars--This was a genuine Grail Comic for me. One of those you strive years to find (i.e. Brendan McCarthy's Swimmini Purpose or Grant Morrison's Flex Mentallo).

What happens when you finally acheive the Grail and find it to be a little less than full, and perhaps even a copy? Do you claim the important part was the quest and the search?

Ultimately, Escapo is an early effort by Paul Pope--his style his here, but it's not fully developed. The writing is frayed and not solid. It's literally two stories about an escape artist--one about love, and the other about death. There's not real character development, no twist--ultimately some decent art buy an artist who would become one of the "rock stars" of the medium.

[Garrett Zecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escapo is a collection and museum-catalogue of Paul Pope’s overall design and work, transitioning to the short comic collection about the daredevil romantic escape artist of the same name. Beaten down by the world, Escapo makes a deal with death to live just a little longer, diving through the meatgrinder that is his professional calling. He is beaten up on the outside, with a past to keep closeted up in his heart. Additionally, when a woman enters his life, he has to make a difficult decision about where his life is to end up next, and whether it is all worth it.

I really enjoyed this piece. Pope’s stark inky artwork bring momentum to every frame of the book. At times some of the piece’s composition renders what dangers our protagonist is facing as hardly discernable. Additionally, the history, marginalia, and career-spanning exploration of the trademarking and productification of Pope’s work that opens this collection is brilliantly inspiring. Overall, a fun read that I got at a library book sale. Quite happy that I picked it up.

[Ruz El · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revisiting this one having only previously read it in it's original B&W version, I loved it just as much. Most striking is how well the colour compliments it. My brain typically thinks "NO!" when it here's that original B&W work is being coloured, but it really works here.

There's actually two stories in this, and I don't think I had read the second one before so that was a nice surprise. Paul Popes self published work was a real enigma (where, oh where, are the THB reprints/collections?) in my neck of the woods in the 90's so I wouldn't be surprised if I did miss it.

Anyway, ESCAPO is a wonderful tragic romance type circus story, the art and presentation in this volume is gorgeous.

[Brittany Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grabbed this from Mark 1 this morning, intruiged by the cover and quotes proclaiming a theme of the "futility of love". I love doomed love (in fiction) - give me Christian and Satine, Daisy and Gatsby, Cathy and Heathcliff, even Romeo and Juliet.
This book didn't give me anything other than an unrequited crush and a protagonist I couldn't connect with.
Great art, though

[Dana Jerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really dug this even tho’ the story seems a bit short. I adore his artwork and appreciate the comic-makers insider he includes at the end about his general process during and after the making of this book.

[The_J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carnies and Love - questionable combo - uncertain payoff. Could it just be trying too hard in 1999 to stand out? Even with the enthusiasm shown it is more on the lines of the bells and whistles of a slot machine that refuses to give a decent jackpot.

[Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great culmination of all of the 3 versions of Escapo. Additional sketches and preliminary work for character and covers included.

[Dakota · Rating 4 out of 5]

Above average story that feels quick but amazing art

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not much of a graphic novel reader. As a kid I was into a lot of Marvel comics, especially Thor and the X-men. In college I read a few graphic novels -- The Crow, Gregory, and V for Vendetta. Still later I briefly got into alternative comics -- R. Crumb and the sorts of things Fantagraphics was anthologizing. But I don't think I've read a graphic novel in at least 10 years, and closer to 20.
So I read this on a bit of a lark, as I've been seeing an explosion of graphic novels at work in the library and some of them have looked pretty interesting. Paul Pope's "Escapo" is the story of a circus escape artist, or at least a few episodes from his life, involving an unrequited love, his family legacy, and his fear of death. There are a few hallucinatory sequences, which explore the extreme isolation an escape artist might feel, and some compelling images, but overall I did not think there was much to the story, and at least a third of the book is "bonus material" -- the art, panels, and story sketches that were rejected or never made it into the final draft. I know comics fans love this stuff but I didn't think it added much, if anything to the story. There was not a lot of action, and that in itself is not a criticism, only I was expecting a little more of the protagonist's inner struggles to be explored. Instead, each of his escape acts is a sort of allegorical representation of his mental states. This is a clever idea, but laid end to end, as they are here, the technique seems gimmicky and repetitive.
My other minor grip would be the lettering, which was often ugly and sometimes aggravating to read. I may simply be used to cleaner lettering old school comics, though, and I'm not sure a regular graphic novel fan would be bothered.
Anyway, the book as a whole is worth checking out, especially if you are not that interested in caped superheroes. Whatever its limitations, "Escapo" is also a serious literary graphic novel, and cannot be dismissed as merely a comic book collection.

*I won a copy of this graphic novel through the Goodreads "first reads" giveaway, and while this review was voluntary, in the interest of full disclosure I must mention that my copy was free.*

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his signature style, comics artist Paul Pope writes and illustrates this story about a circus escape artist who represents the losing battle we all enter with death. Escapo is a scarred but still young-looking man in a skeleton suit, a costume typically obscured with straitjackets, locks and chains. He hurls himself between spinning blades and into watery pits, picking locks, listening for tumblers to fall into place and even making a bargain with Death. At one point, he falls in love with a beautiful trapeze artist who seems sad that he doesn't die to prove it. At another, he loses his nerve and has to build back the confidence that's essential for his strange profession.

The circus around him gets a bit of the spotlight, revealing a carnival cast that's supportive, worried and cruel. There's not much character development, though; instead, the graphic novel focuses on Escapo's feats and the machines that threaten to chew him up, with a running narrative musing about what it all means.

It's not perfect. The fact that the lone female character is a heartless femme fatale seems like a shortcoming of the imagination. Beyond that, some readers will likely roll their eyes at the narration, although I thought it stopped short of being sentimental. In any case, the words on the page are really just an accompaniment for Pope's art, which is gorgeous as always. The circus and its characters are rendered in eye-popping, swirling inks, saturated with plenty of purple, red and black. Nearly every page is a pleasure to look at, so even if the story feels a little slight the end result is still a pleasure to behold.

[D.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd been following Pope for a couple years by this point, through Dr. Richardson & Sin Titulo, and by THB (where Escapo originally debuted) I was starting to lose interest. His narratives were focusing more on the fantastic and I just wasn't wanting to follow him there. His art, however, continued to intrigue me, so when Escapo came out I went ahead and picked it up. I suspect this was the end of my interest in Pope overall.
This book is slightly more than just the collected adventures of a circus escape artist supreme. Nearly the first half of the page count is eaten up by indulgent interviews, images and diatribes about Pope and his self-imposed mission for comics. He comes across as a slightly pompous, self-important, vain Artist in the most caricaturish sense. It's small wonder he flared briefly in comics and then effectively vanished except to a core group of fans who continue to support his rock-star-comic-creator fantasies.
Escapo, once it finally starts, is an entertaining enough read. Typical to Pope, there's a character who looks remarkably like the creator, some misplaced emotion, and the bugfaces supplanted from THB. Pope manages to misdirect our attention from the flimsy plot(s?) by using his typically engaging, frenetic art and oversized panel plans to make it seem like more is going on than really is.
Not really worth the price of admission, when it comes right down to it.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reproduction/collection of the 1999 Paul Pope graphic novel Escapo includes the original story along with bonus material: sketchbook scans, an interview with the artist, and pin ups from other artists. As a reprint and mini-collection, this was nice and will probably appeal to Paul Pope enthusiasts.

The story is a small vignette into the life of Escapo, a famed escape artist who performs bigger and better feats each night as part of a traveling circus. The story feels very stilted and choppy with many things left unresolved, but it “works” if you approach the story as a thematically connected series of glimpses into the character’s life instead of a full narrative. What the series did well was to create an interesting reflection on themes of accepting or denying fate, and facing death.

I enjoyed the story well enough, but what I really liked was the art. The layout creates a suspenseful story that adds to the death-harrowing feats, and my favorite panels were those where Escapo is grappling with death and existence in the midst of his stunts. I also really loved the inclusion of “pin-ups” from different artists that re-imagined characters and panels in different styles.

** I was provided a free copy of this graphic novel through GoodReads’ FirstReads program.

[Mathew Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free through Goodreads' First Reads program.

Escapo is a hard-back, full-color graphic novel collecting three Escapo stories and a collection of concept sketches, along with a short write-up of the tools used by the artist in creating the artwork and some recollections about the time in which the stories were originally written.

Despite the character's origins in the 1990s, these are definitely not the types of comic books I was reading as a kid/young teenager. Escapo is not a super hero, but a circus performer, an escape artist. Much like the better super-hero stories, though, he struggles with love, loss, and the looming specter of death. Unlike the super-hero stories, these themes are the main focus of the stories, set to a backdrop of his death-defying escapes.

The artwork is rendered wonderfully in this large-format hardback, and this is certainly a must-have for anyone who is already a fan of these stories. For those, like myself, who have not encountered Escapo previously, it may be a wonderful new discovery.

[Meran · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is messy; but in the art world, that's called "expressive" - and it is! One gets the idea that life itself is messy, which it is… (art is reminiscent of Jeff Lemire.)

The Prelude if of the birth of Escapo - messy, birth is… and it's Escapo's first escape.

Of course, he joins the circus, where he falls in love with the beautiful high wire girl; the clowns are mean (aren't they always??),; and he does death-defying elaborate escapes. He's obviously gotten close to meeting Death at least once: he has a terrible disfiguring scar on his right cheek.

The "traps" he goes through are complicated. I haven't seen anything like them, anywhere. But he meets Death itself in one and makes a deal.

The thing about an escape artist is that they sam NOT to be afraid of Death. It's what's so fascinating… but now, he really is. And can't hide it well, because we are surrounded by it, the fragility of life…

The artist's letter about the process used for this comic, made in 1998 and pre-computers, is a gem.

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back before 100% or even Heavy Liquid, Pope created the character of Escapo, the imponderably talented circus escape artist who has no peer. In this over-sized volume, Pope collects two full-length pieces centering around the titular character, as well as a short piece in the beginning that resembles not only his later protagonists in Heavy Liquid and 100%, but also Pope himself. (Two photos of Pope provided alongside S. Generis’s glowing introduction sparked that connection.)

Although Pope’s two Escapo pieces are flawed in that they fail to fully develop and deliver a substantial story, they do manage to show off his brilliant pen-and-inks – of which I am in awe. This man can ink a line with a brush like no other; and puts to shame the attempts by even many of the bigger-named professionals in the comics industry. (With the exception of the Hernandez Brothers, of Love and Rockets fame.)

[rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Pope is a god, but if you think you're picking up a comic when you read him, you may be left wanting more. He releases art books in various forms, not comics, really. This is one of the best, about a Houdini wannabe making bets with death. It's short but the supplements in the back, including pin-ups (the one from James A Owens is amazing) and a detailed entry on the making of the book (including name dropping every brand of canvas, paper and pen/marker), help to flesh things out. The framing is set up in a way that lets Pope have the most fun possible. Meaning, it includes some of his favorite subjects like flying/falling objects and giant contraptions that blend nonsensical ACME over-design with intricate, Japanese microstructures (makes sense; PP was in Tokyo working on manga when this came out). You'll be inspired to get tattoos or do full murals after reading this.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book, but it left me wanting more story. In reality, this book includes one full-length story, a sort of story fragment, and a lot of production notes. The notes are interesting, but not great.
Escapo is a quirky character. Imagine a second-rate Houdini, working for a circus. He's a talented escape artist, but his face is scarred and his social life nearly non-existent. He's fallen for another circus performer, but she's clearly not as attracted to him.
So the question becomes, if life isn't worth living, is there any value to risking it?
Pope's art is as quirky as the character, and is an acquired taste. He's not one of my favorite artists, but the story grabbed me right away.

[Angela Groves · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing I need to say about this graphic novel is that the artwork is wonderful, bold a brilliant it really draws you in (I do find it a shame the cover artwork doesn't reflect that).

The dialogue, well there isn't an awful lot of it, and it works, it's refreshing to not be bogged down with ramblings. it suits the fragmented look you get into Escapo's life as a circus performer, amd how he deals with love and the prospect of death. you can really just enjoy the art.

the final thing to comment on is the bonus content. it's ace. sketches, pin ups and some words fro m Paul Pope, it's a great addition.

to be honest, I loved this, the only reason it got four stars instead of five is because I wish there was more of the story. still a must for Paul Pope fans.