The Amazing Adventure of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

[Buffalo Tom]

If you count yourself a serious fan of comic books (I'm looking at you, Jason and Gemma), you must read this book. It's about two kids who create a character called the Escapist, and how their lives are changed by their creative partnership. It's set in the Golden Age of comics, running from 1939 to around 1954, when the whole comic burning madness occurred. Definitely a must read, if you are serious not only about the art form, but also about its genesis.

Edit: I'm also looking at you, Max, but for different reasons, not entirely wholesome.