Joe is a highly skilled artist and trained escape artist from Prague who arrives in America as a Jewish refugee. Driven by a desperate need to save his remaining family from the Nazis, he funnels his frustration and artistic ability into creating comic books. He possesses an innate drive to break free from literal and metaphorical chains, using his work on "The Escapist" as a proxy for his war against fascism.

Sam is a creative, ambitious young man from Brooklyn who dreams of escaping his mundane life by achieving success in the burgeoning comic book industry. He lives with the physical remnants of childhood polio and struggles to understand his own sexual orientation in an unforgiving era. He acts as the storytelling brains behind Empire Comics, pairing his narrative ideas with Joe's artistic talent.

Rosa is an intelligent and somewhat dreamy artist who becomes deeply involved in the lives of the comic book creators. The daughter of an eccentric art connoisseur, she works part-time for an organization trying to rescue Jewish children from Europe. She serves as a muse to Joe while fiercely pursuing her own independence and artistic passions.

A bright, slightly solitary boy raised in the suburbs who harbors a deep fascination with magic, escapism, and comic books. He creates his own superhero persona, the Bug, and actively seeks out adventure. His independent streak eventually bridges the past and present for the adults in his life.

Joe's younger brother who remains trapped in Nazi-occupied Prague. He is musically talented but loses some of his hearing after a dangerous river stunt with Joe. He represents Joe's strongest link to his homeland and his primary motivation for earning money in America.

The heavy-set, pragmatic owner of Empire Novelty Inc. who agrees to finance Sam and Joe's foray into the comic book business. He is a shrewd, cautious businessman primarily concerned with profit, constantly worrying about the political content of the comics affecting his bottom line.

Sheldon Anapol's brother-in-law and the owner of Racy Publications. He partners with Anapol to publish Empire Comics. He is ruthless in his business dealings and leaves the hands-on management to others, constantly looking for the next big financial score.

The cynical, highly educated editor for Racy Publications and a failed novelist. Despite his vocal disdain for the commercial "trash" of comic books, he serves as a surprisingly steady mentor figure for Sam and Joe, offering them practical advice about the publishing industry.

Joe and Thomas's highly educated parents who remain in Prague after arranging for Joe's escape. Emil is a renowned endocrinologist and Anna is a neurologist and psychiatrist. Their precarious situation under Nazi occupation drives Joe's desperate efforts to secure their safe passage to America.

Sam's fiercely independent mother, a strong Jewish woman who raised her son largely on her own after her husband abandoned them. Originally named Yecheved, she is practical, protective, and initially deeply skeptical of Sam's ambitions in the comic book industry.

Sam's absent father, a diminutive but incredibly strong circus performer. He occasionally breezes in and out of Sam's life, leaving a lasting impression of physical strength and unreliability that profoundly shapes Sam's psychological development and obsession with strongmen.

An elderly, retired Jewish illusionist and escape artist who teaches young Joe the secrets of his trade. He masterminds the plan to smuggle both the legendary Golem of Prague and Joe out of Czechoslovakia. He continues to appear in Joe's mind as a spiritual guide throughout his life.

An American of German descent who sympathizes with the Nazi movement and struggles with profound mental health issues. He becomes obsessed with the Escapist comics and develops a dangerous fixation on Joe, eventually blurring the lines between comic book fantasy and violent reality.

A handsome, debonair actor hired to voice the Escapist on the radio. He exudes a relaxed confidence that captivates Sam, ultimately becoming the catalyst for Sam's awakening to his own sexual orientation. Despite his suave exterior, he harbors a quiet loneliness.

Rosa's father, a wealthy, jolly art connoisseur who surrounds himself with Surrealist artists. He is well-connected, endlessly eccentric, and possesses a surprisingly grounded desire to help those he cares about navigate the challenges of New York society.

Carl Ebling's sister, who blames comic books and their Jewish creators for her brother's descent into violent criminality. Her quiet, seething resentment leads her to commit an act of betrayal that drastically alters the course of Sam's life.

A friend of Sam's whose brother is already in the comic book business. He helps provide Sam and Joe with a workspace at a bohemian bachelor pad called the Rathole, becoming one of the founding artists for their first collaborative comic book effort.

Rosa's boss, a man dedicated to chartering ships to rescue Jewish children from Europe. He accepts Joe's financial backing to secure passage for Thomas Kavalier and asks Joe to perform magic at his son's bar mitzvah in exchange.

A sharp, observant police detective who investigates a highly publicized suicide threat. He quickly pieces together clues regarding the hoax but finds himself swept up in the bizarre reality of the situation.

A World War I veteran and pilot stationed at the desolate Kelvinator Station in Antarctica. He is deeply eccentric and becomes consumed by his efforts to maintain their airplane, eventually joining Joe on a reckless mission across the ice.