The Sculptor

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 show more like this graphic novel, I adored it.

I'm only pissed that it took me as long as it did to actually read it. show less

One of the best graphic novels I've ever read. McCloud shows mastery of two forms in this volume - graphic storytelling and tragedy.

Aesthetically, The Sculptor is really masterful, and I enjoyed it the more for having read McCloud's comics treatise, Understanding Comics. I loved how he used the city landscape to depict David's emotional landscape. There have been so many stories about artists set in New York City, but rarely do they evoke the city as completely as McCloud does - bringing it alive through the eyes of a tortured outsider. His character design is also incredibly excellent - he has a particular gift for spot-on facial expressions.

As an unflinching tragic fable about life and art and our pained, ill-advised, inspired show more attempts to make meaning out of them, this book was very moving. Tragedy doesn't always work for a modern reader - we get cranky about the characters' tragic flaws and wish they would only problem-solve their way out of the abyss. McCloud's characters, however, were too carefully drawn and his story too profound for me to read David Smith's story with anything but a sense of doomed inevitability.

This is a big, big story about art and existentialism. It is probably Scott McCloud's masterpiece - but it's the first work of his fiction I've read, so I look forward to reading his backlog and what he creates next. show less

Sculptor David Smith was once a prodigy and a darling of the New York art scene. Now people have lost interest in his work, his abrasive nature has alienated the people that used to champion him, and he is incapable of producing anything.


At his lowest ebb, he encounters an old man at a diner, who turns out to be the devil. He is asked what would he give to have his art back and he responds "my life". He makes a deal; the devil gives him the ability to sculpt anything he wants with his bare hands, but he only has 200 days left to live.


David frenetically seeks to take advantage of this gift and make a name for himself before his time is up. This proves to be less than straightforward; while he can create things that nobody else can, the show more art world is still dismissive of the results. Complicating matters is that he meets the love of his life, the fragile aspiring actress Meg, and is torn over starting a relationship that he knows can only bring her grief.


This is a sad and beautiful graphic novel. It's quite a clever variation of the Faustian bargain plot, with just a little bit of the Pygmalion myth thrown in. Highly recommended. show less

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 show more 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. show less

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 show more 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. show less

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 show more 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. show less

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 show more 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. show less