The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay through p. 196 - Matt

I would disagree and take the position that Sammy is a good guy, and a true friend to Joe.  I would agree with you that sympathy for what Joe is going through with his family seems to be lacking, but I think showing the appropriate level of would be impossible.  By no means do I pretend to understand the feeling associated with the holocaust, but I think to some degree we have all experienced this: when somebody we know is going through a personal tragedy and we want to be more compassionate, and we try to be more understanding, but whatever the person going through is so terrible and severe that no matter what attempts we make to sympathize, they seem insignificant.  In light of what is happening to Joe, I do not think there is anything that Sammy can do that will seem appropriate.

When Joe wants to do what he can to sway public opinion against Germany in the pages of the comic books, Sammy is his devout ally.  When Anapol and Ashkenazy are hesitant to have the Escapist openly declare war on Germany long before the United States gets involved, Sammy never hesitates of waivers and is happy to risk his own job and fortune to make stand with Joe, threatening to quit if their personal attacks on the Third Reich are not allowed to continue.

I would also point out that Sammy and Joe seem to be profiting equally from their comics.  Anapol and Ashkenazy were in a position to take advantage of them, and they did so, but Sammy was in a position take advantage of Joe, and he never did.  As the one making the negotiations, the one with some knowledge of American business, and the one with his finger on the pulse of the comic books, Sammy could have gotten himself the lion’s share of whatever Anapol and Ashkenazy were passing down to them, but he always ensures that his cousin is profiting as much as himself.

It could be said that Joe was the more talented of the two, and his artistic ability is what makes the comics and by profiting equally Sammy was in fact taking advantage of him, but I would argue that Sammy’s genius in crafting the stories and building the characters, and general comic book editing ability is equally important.

Until Next Time- Matt