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    The Sculptor
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    The Sculptor
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    The Sculptor
    Ebook497 pages20 minutes

    The Sculptor

    By Scott McCloud

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    David Smith is giving his life for his art—literally. Thanks to a deal with Death, the young sculptor gets his childhood wish: to sculpt anything he can imagine with his bare hands. But now that he only has 200 days to live, deciding what to create is harder than he thought, and discovering the love of his life at the 11th hour isn't making it any easier!

    This is a story of desire taken to the edge of reason and beyond; of the frantic, clumsy dance steps of young love; and a gorgeous, street-level portrait of the world's greatest city. It's about the small, warm, human moments of everyday life…and the great surging forces that lie just under the surface. Scott McCloud wrote the book on how comics work; now he vaults into great fiction with a breathtaking, funny, and unforgettable new work.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateFeb 3, 2015
    ISBN9781466887282
    Unavailable
    The Sculptor
    Author

    Scott McCloud

    Scott McCloud is the award-winning author of Understanding Comics, Making Comics, Zot!, The Sculptor, and many other fiction and non-fiction comics spanning 30 years. An internationally-recognized authority on comics and visual communication, technology, and the power of storytelling, McCloud has lectured at Google, Pixar, Sony, and the Smithsonian Institution.

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    Reviews for The Sculptor

    4/5

    272 ratings24 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Wildly imaginative art invigorates this tale of a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for 200 days of creating pure art.The unique plot develops soundly, but too predictably. Readers may hope that Uncle Harry would offer a finely tuned chance for redemption.Readers may further wonder why the young woman and her unborn child also had to die.
    • 4/5
      A lot of heart went into this book. The artwork is good, the layout is meticulous, dialogue seems mostly real. The characters are pretty good. The story is OK. It's a very New York story, and that city features prominently. I liked it, but I didn't love it. Sculptor David Smith wants to 'make it' in New York City; so much so that he is willing to literally stake his life on his art. But for all that he is still in the dark about what 'making it' really means. He stumbles around for much of the book in a creative fog. Meanwhile he falls in love with the apparently freewheeling Meg, knowing all the while that it can't last. The final frames of the comic are superb.
    • 5/5
      For more reviews, gifs, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.Actual rating: 4.5 starsOuch. My body was not ready. When I pick up graphic novels, I expect something kinda fluffy. I mean, I first got into them with manga and my favorites are shoujo romances. The Sculptor has a couple kissing on the cover and it’s tagged a romance on GR. However, it’s also really sad, so be prepared for that. The fact that I’ve just been destroyed aside, it’s really fucking good.The Sculptor is about this guy David who’s a painter. Haha, just kidding. He’s a sculptor. Ever since he was a kid, sculpting has been his dream. Now 26, David’s dreams are all but crushed. His family, who he loved, have all died by this point and he’s down to just one friend. His art career had a brief surge of popularity followed by crushing ignominy when his patron dropped him hard. David doesn’t have any money left and the lease is almost up on his apartment. He feels hopeless.This is why, when his dead Uncle Harry shows up in a diner to offer him a deal, David accepts. David trades all of the rest of his life for one year of sculpting, in which he’ll be able to truly live his dream. Though he didn’t realize it, the true dream was to be able to sculpt metal and stone with his bare hands. David basically becomes a superhero and it’s so cool, though he actually doesn’t use his powers that way at all.Everything for David is about his art. Though I’m not an artist, I love stories about people with the compulsion. David sees promise in everything and remembers things in artful statues in his mind. One thing I thought was so cool was that all of the sculptures, even the ones that looked like nothing were a clear, particular event for David. He’s a bit like Hercules, in that he trades his future for fame. When he can’t get popular even with his new ability, he becomes a rogue sculpturer, leaving creations around the city.He also, of course, falls in love while doomed to die in a year. His love interest, Meg, is awesome. She starts out sort of MPDG-ish, I think, but she’s actually manic depressive. I just love the way their romance evolves, from him declaring himself in love with her the third time they meet and how adorable their first time was. I became very very attached to these people. They’re funny and real and I was rooting for them.The one thing I’m not as sure about is actually the premise. I love it, but I also feel like there was something more I wanted to know about Harry’s character. Why does death get involved like this? What’s the point? It stands alone without that, but I was left with questions and curiosity.The Sculptor surprised me utterly, made me fall in love, and broke my heart. Just so good.
    • 4/5
      Meatier than I was expecting, with some challenging things to say about artists and why they make art. I may have to revisit the ending as I rushed it anticipating something wholly different. Impressive.
    • 4/5
      This was a pretty heavy graphic novel, and by that I don't just mean that this is the longest one I've read so far. Although, that is absolutely true. This thing is a tome. What's inside it though, is a story with a lot of emotion. The Sculptor doesn't take itself lightly and, if this is on your reading list, you'll want to be prepared.

      David Smith, a man with a name that could get lost in a crowd of similarly named people, simply wants to show his art to the world. There's a lot of good stuff in here about creating art, who it is created for, and whether it matters how much of an impact it makes on the world. This is the portrait of an artist who feels he has failed. Who knows that he has the capability, and wants his shot so badly that he's willing to give up everything. Even his life.

      Cue our female lead, and the reason that David's whole planned out deal falls into disarray. Meg is the exact opposite of David. Compulsive, carefree, and living life with her whole heart on her sleeve. What ends up happening between them isn't always pretty. It's real life, and that's why it's so important to see that on a page. We love romance, we love happy endings, but sometimes we forget the things that happen in between all of that,

      These panels are perfection, too. The art that David creates comes to life on the page. His city, the one filled with thousands of nameless people, stretches across full page spreads and looms over everything. I admit I'm pretty biased, because I love Scott McCloud, but that doesn't change the fact that this graphic novel is excellent.
    • 1/5
      This book won't open for me, even after uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Despite the romantic elements and well-worn message,I really enjoyed this. It's simply a very well executed story with good illustrations. And it does have a few surprises.
    • 5/5
      I avoided this graphic novel for a long time, and I'm not exactly sure why. It might have been the (to me) off-putting title (I totally would have chosen 200 Days), or perhaps even the cover image.

      But I eventually saw it on sale and decided to pick it up. Then it took me months to get around to reading it.

      I started it last night, and was pissed off that my eyes wouldn't stay open long enough for me to complete it in a single sitting. It was absolutely stunning.

      The art is deceptive, slightly cartoonish, but my God, when run in conjunction with the storyline, it becomes, at times, breathtaking.

      And then there's the story. A simple one, fairly easily figured out, no real surprises whatsoever...and yet, it packed punch after punch.

      I didn't like this graphic novel, I adored it.

      I'm only pissed that it took me as long as it did to actually read it.
    • 4/5
      Summary: David Smith is an artist who can't seem to get any traction in the art world, so he makes a deal with Death - he can now create amazing sculptures out of any material, simply by using his hands and force of will to shape them, but he only has 200 days to use his power before he dies. And even with this amazing gift, he can't seem to make himself known… plus, while he may have found the love of his life, Meg, but he can't tell her about his secret, nor can he bring himself to admit that he's going to leave her after all, no matter what he promises to the contrary.Review: A lot of the stuff in the beginning and middle felt a lot like insider baseball - a lot of talk about galleries and art business and the desire to make a name for yourself, etc., so i felt like that kind of kept the reader (assuming the reader is not also an artist) on the outside. But there are a lot of more universal ideas - about love, and life, and death, and about leaving people and being left, and immortality and wanting not to be forgotten and about expressing yourself and leaving something of yourself behind, that get developed over the course of the story, and did speak to me more than the art-specific elements of the story. The artwork was beautiful, particularly when McCloud was using non-traditional angles or panels, and definitely towards the end, as David's art began to get larger and more elaborate. I also appreciated that the characters felt and looked and talked like real people (when they weren't being all pretentious about The Nature of Art, perhaps). Very good, and ultimately very moving, read. 4 out of 5 stars.Recommendation: While I'm not quite in the same degree of raptures over this book that I think some people are, I definitely do think that it's a pretty impressive achievement for a first graphic novel (McCloud's other comics have all been non-fiction), in terms of the art but also in terms of the depths of story. Recommended for fans of coming of age or autobiographical graphic novels (it's not an autobiography, clearly, but it has a very similar tone and feeling to a lot of them that I've read.)
    • 4/5
      David Smith is a young sculptor who has had a shot to break into the "big time", but had it taken away as a result of his uncompromising honesty. Now David is broke, on the verge of eviction, at a loss, when his Grand Uncle Harry shows up to hear his story and commiserate with him. Only thing is, Uncle Harry died some time ago. This "Uncle Harry" asks David what he would give for his art. "My life", David replies. And that is the deal that he accepts. He now has the ability to mold granite like silly putty, to form out of any materials any vision he can create. For 200 days. And then he will die. Neil Gaiman calls this "The best graphic novel I've read in years". That might be pushing it, although I can't think of a better one I've read recently myself.
    • 5/5
      Wow! Utterly outstanding! A book about life and death using art as the media through which the tale is told. Ultimately the story is about dying and death, something all humans must experience, and once one grasps this concept it will affect the living of one's life. An absolutely beautiful story. Personally, I had problems with its atheistic world view but nonetheless appreciated the tale being told. The art is stunning and full of movement. The choice of sculpture as the representative artform was a wise one and McCloud really makes it work showing the embodiment of life in action through his drawings. Simply breath-taking.
    • 5/5
      Don't even know where to begin. Simply one of the most remarkable graphic novels I've ever read.
    • 5/5
      Powerful. Poignant. Painful.
    • 4/5
      A strong novel, and fantastic! Missing a piece of the "wow" factor, but very well-written.

      If you had 200 days left to live and a magic sculting skill, what would you do with your time?

      Fantastic storytelling.
    • 5/5
      A frustrated, self-pitying artist makes a Faustian bargain with Death. An intense, masterfully crafted graphic epic.
    • 2/5
      David Smith makes a deal with Death to be able to sculpt anything he wants with his bare hands, but in return he will only have 200 days to live. I enjoyed the author's Understanding Comics so was very interested to see what he would do with fiction. The drawing style is similar and the premise fascinating, but it didn't quite live up to its promise, partially because I didn't feel that someone who has pondered his situation for as long as David has would have so little direction once given an opportunity. The bigger issue I had with it, though, was that the love-interest doesn't feel like a real person at all, but rather the idea of a person, your basic "Manic Pixie Dream Girl." This becomes very problematic when her personal problems are presented since they don't evoke any sort of emotional response in me - a character who doesn't feel real is difficult to care about. And, the "fix" to all of her psychological issues is extraordinarily improbable: when she gets pregnant, she's completely cured of her depression?? I thought that was quite dismissive of a very serious condition. And if I don't even care when that character dies, we're in deep trouble! Sorry, can't recommend this one, even if the idea is really intriguing and the author's theoretical knowledge of story-telling is solid.
    • 5/5
      The Sculptor is the story of David Smith, who has given his life, literally, for his art. After agreeing to a deal with Death (David only has 200 days to live), he now has the ability to create anything he wants with his hands; any sculpture that he can think of, he can now create. Of course, now that he has a time limit on his life, he finds it even more difficult than ever to decide what to create. However, when he meets Meg at the last moment, he reconsiders everything and only then truly begins to live. This is a beautifully told story. David's frustrations as an artist are real; Meg's mental problems are handled well; the story paces along well with the knowledge of the finite time David has left (Why 200 days? That's the only question I really have.) McCloud's artwork and coloring is very well constructed and makes for a lovingly and well-crafted story and book. Highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      A will conceived and thought out graphic novel using the tried and true plot of a man in a sense selling his soul to the devil to gain fame. In this instance he is given the unlimited power to sculpt at a manic pace with whatever material is around and in exchange he will suffer a premature death. To complicate things he meets a girl that steals his heart away making his future much more complex. This book is nearly 500 pages but it kept me entertained. I liked the fact that the main character and his girl friend are not all that good looking. Be sure to read the author's "Thank You" at the end of the book.
    • 3/5
      I think Scott McCloud is better at understanding comics than writing them.
    • 5/5
      David Smith is a young sculptor, living in New York City. He received some acclaim, early in his career but suddenly his life begins to unravel and he finds himself destitute. Broke and deeply depressed. He ends up making a desperate Faustian pact with death. He will be given a burst of fame and glory but for a hefty price: He will only have 200 days to live. David takes the deal and shortly after, meets a young woman and falls head over heels.This is a big, ambitious graphic novel. Beautifully illustrated and well-written. David is mostly an, anguished, angry, unpleasant, character but the author still makes the story sing.If you are a GN fan, this is a must read. If you have not tried one, this might be a good place to start.
    • 3/5
      This book has an interesting concept but it felt so unstructured to me, especially as I got closer to the end. It started with a plot line but then just broke apart into chunks of story. I still enjoyed it but I had too many criticisms to give it more than 3 stars.
    • 5/5
      I have had this book on my wishlist for some time and was excited when I saw my local library had finally received it. This ended up being a very well done, if somewhat depressing graphic novel.David was a successful young sculptor until one of his sponsors ruined his life. Now he has hit rock bottom. Then Death shows up to ask him a question “what would he give to be a successful sculptor?” When David responds that he would give his very life to be able to sculpt anything his wish is granted. David is given 200 days with the power to sculpt anything with his hands, at the end of that time he will die. Only he isn’t planning on meeting a quirky angelic girl and fall desperately in love with her.This book was well done but a bit depressing. It’s an interesting look at a lot of different topics. Among those topics are New York City, the artistic community, young love, and mental disorders.I found the story to be incredibly engaging and read the whole book in one sitting. The whole time you are wondering what David is going to do with his newfound talent and then you are wondering if he will find a way out of the whole deal with Death.The story is best described as a tragedy, it’s pretty emotional and depressing at times. This isn’t one of those books you read to feel better about life that’s for sure.The illustration style is more cartoony than I normally like and it is done in just a few colors. It’s okay but not the best illustration ever. The story ends up overpowering the illustration so that you don’t notice the style as much as the book continues.Overall this was a very engaging and well done graphic novel. It’s a very emotional graphic novel and in the end the story definitely overpowers the art here. I enjoyed it and am glad I read it. However I wouldn’t recommend reading it when you are feeling down; it’s pretty depressing and definitely not a happy feel good type of read.
    • 4/5
      David is a struggling artist trying to create a work of lasting significance. He has lost his family and is facing his own mortality. Perhaps that is why it was so easy for him to make a deal with death to trade his life for 200 days of unbridled creativity. In his final days though he meets free-spirited Meg who changes the way he feels about living and dying. The book is beautifully rendered and ultimately heartbreaking. The Sculptor reminds us that despite suffering and loss, “life finds a way to keep growing.” Like David, we all have a limited number of days and we shouldn’t waste our minutes. My favorite panel: “Every minute is an ocean.”
    • 4/5
      This book. I’m still reeling a bit.Life can be messy, unplanned, and awkward. We are born, our souls a birthplace of creativity, wanting to fight and push past a pedestrian existence by becoming or birthing something memorable. Tangible. A legacy of you. Driven by your need to create. Talents have a way emerging in an almost indefatigable force be it the first idea or a Proustian, re-worked conglomerate punctuated in a final creation of blood, sweat, and tears. I feel this way when I write. Like the Hemingway quote aptly illustrates,"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."Our main character, David is driven to create. He’s down on his luck with an unfortunate reputation, no prospects, no creativity flowing, no money, no family, and not much going for him…until he gets a visit and bargain from Death. Death will guarantee the ability to create and be happy if for a price. Of course, there is a price.Sometimes the way to happiness, success, fame, and insistent need to create is a multi-forked road. As humans we are flawed and unpredictable. What would you trade for each? What would not matter to you? We have choices to shape our future. This book simply journeys down a very human path, albeit imperfect, uncomfortable, and heart-wrenching. It’s a story I’ll be thinking of for a while.Last but not least, the artwork tells a huge part of the story. If the artwork and direction was as on point, I doubt this would be as impactful.I don’t have a solid rating for this one, yet. I’ll probably change this after thinking about this for a while.Many thanks to First Second Books for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.