The Comic Book Bandit: Stories from a Life of Lies

Book excerpt: The Comic Book Bandit is a bright, healthy, mischievous child named Jay. Mentored by his brilliant older brother, Ross, the bandit pulls off his first comic book heist at the age of four. As events unfold, he gradually finds himself to be alone out in a world where the only significant authority over his behavior turns out to be him and his fledgling and relatively ignorant conscience. Being an unattended child may be scary, but it is also immensely exciting. There is a rush that comes with boundless liberty. Not entirely free, but with stolen moments of freedom to explore life on his own, out and about in the pulsating city of Chicago, where the choices were breathtaking, our hero is captured by the undeniable realization, “I can do whatever I want so long as I don’t get caught.” The stories take place after the Second World War. Yes, the bandit faces the obstacles of grown-ups but cleverly discovers the slippery power of the believable lie. He creates a secret life of his own and shares an acceptable version with those he must account to: his mother, his father, his brother, his teachers, and his friends. Getting away with stuff starts to become second nature, at least until and when he creates a lie so big, with burden so weighty, its effects are at times overwhelming. The culmination of his struggles with the Great Bar Mitzvah Caper will have the reader riveted to each and every page. How could he? How does he? Will he or won’t he? Those are the questions. Come along for the ride. I promise you a child whose ingenious lies make him unlike any child you may have encountered. And beyond all that, he is a great little kid. 1