What is the significance of comic books as a narrative device in the novel?

        Comic books serve as an excellent representation of the larger story within The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Joe had the opportunity to take out his frustration with the Nazis in his comic books just like how he was taking out his frustration on the Germans within New York City. The Escapist mirrors  Joe's actions: Joe seems to pick fights with every German in New York meanwhile the escapist would fight Nazis in the comics. Joe would simply go into restaurants to pick fights with Germans and start problems in various public spaces. The actions in the Escapist represent what Joe wishes he could do and that is why he ended up joining the Navy. Comics allowed Joe to shape reality to what he wanted it to be in the Escapist and it was his outlet for expression. Despite Sheldon Anapol and Sammy's attempts to stop Joe from fighting Germans in New York and Nazis in his comics, he continues to do so because it is how he copes with his anger, he blames them for what happened to his brother.

        Similarly, Sammy's comics mirror his internal desires and even though he may not purposefully include sidekicks, the comics serve as a narrative device in the novel to reveal both his desire for a father figure a male companion. For example, the molecule mirrors his father, and it mirrors the larger story being told. Every comic that Sammy creates incorporates a side kick. This is because he wishes that he could have had a more prominent father figure in his life that didn't leave him and his mother. He is projecting his insecurities into the comics and portraying them as how he wished his childhood could've been with a supportive father. Similarly, since he clearly had a strong connection with Tracy Bacon and had other relations with men, it was another representation of his longings. He was living with Rosa while he clearly wanted something else. 

        Both of the boy's emotions are prevalent within their comics and they project many of their problems and ideas into them. As they progress throughout the novel, their comics do as well. The comics serve as a method of storytelling and they are a mini version of the events taking place in The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Comics are an art form and method of expression; Joe and Sammy definitely made use of them to express their ideas and emotions.