The Sculptor: Scott McCloud Hardcover – 3 Feb. 2015

As pretty much anyone who knows me knows, I'm a big fan of comics/graphic novels with a taste ranging from, yes, super-heroes to the more intellectually respectable end of the market. It goes without saying too that I'm a big fan of the graphic story as an art form because of its unique characteristics. If you want to know what I'm talking about and don't, I refer you to Scott McCloud's ground-breaking UNDERSTANDING COMICS in which he explores the form using the format of a graphic novel to brilliant insightful effect. He's also published RE-INVENTING COMICS and, more significantly for this review, MAKING COMICS in which he analyses the craft; all three of which I've re-read recently prior to reading The Sculptor.And on the cover is this quote from Neil Gaiman: “The best graphic novel I've read in years.” Given that I've been a fan of McCloud's since the late 80's with his exuberant manga-influenced Zot!, it was an opinion with which I fully expected to agree. But I don't.Now Gaiman may actually be right and I'm probably wrong and it is good, there's no question of that, but there's a reason for my own less than fulsome response to it.In a nutshell: The protagonist does a deal with Death, who appears as his late uncle, to be able to sculpt with his bare hands so that he can create the great art of which he believes himself capable. Then he'll die after 200 days. There is a problem in that, while talented, he's a whining self-pitying git. But life and a young woman he falls in love with get in the way. Gaiman also, almost accurately, says, “It's about art and love and why we keep on trying. It will break your heart.” But not, however, mine.It's over-long is one reason though I'm sure that McCloud could justify every page, every panel, every word of dialogue because he is in complete control of his craft. The story is about an artist trying to create his masterpiece. Warning: I'm going to get very meta here. I'd argue that this graphic novel is really about McCloud himself consciously trying to create a great work of art (though I'm sure he wouldn't use such terms) through the format of a graphic novel which is about a sculptor trying to create a statue which is itself a great work of art which then reflects back its own creator McCloud who is... And the ending actually seems to me to emphasise this.Where McCloud has failed for me is that my being so conscious of how the author views the craft of creating a graphic novel that I could see how it was being created and that created a distance between me and the story itself. It stopped me being pulled in. In a sense the book is a master class example of everything that McCloud was saying in MAKING COMICS. And, just to reiterate, it doesn't help that the protagonist is a whiny self-pitying git.Right. Now go and buy the damn thing and see for yourself.

This Graphic Novel was recommended by Jessethereader on Youtube as part of his Graphic Novel/Comic haul a few months back. I am not going to give too much away as I really think you need to go into this book without knowing too much about the storyline so this review is going to be quite short.As the first Graphic Novel I have ever read, The Sculptor has won the title of my favourite read so far in 2016. I am not somebody who gets through books that quickly and when starting this I thought I would be reading it for at least a week due to its size, boy was I wrong! This book and its amazing artwork had me glued from the very beginning and if it wasn't for my mommy duties I would have completed this in one sitting, but I managed a personal best of of 2 days. I am someone who gets very annoyed if their sleeping pattern is messed with but I volunteered myself a sleepless night to finish this so that is definitely saying something...This Novel also helped me get over the mini reading slump that occurred when I finished the book I was previously reading.I will definitely be checking out a few more of Scott McCloud's books as this was very impressive. Once I finished the book all I could say was "wow". I desperately wanted to converse with someone over what I had just read but I also didn't want to be the annoying spoiler friend lol.I am giving this book 5 stars based on the captivating story line, the morals in the story itself and of course the amazing artwork. Any chance for a sequel?Kudos to Scott McCloud!

I don't want to spoil any details for you. All I will say is that this is a book EVERYONE should read once in their life time. It shows what comics can be, and should be, all about.Sculptor is by far the best comic /graphic novel I've ever read. Probably the only one to have caused such strong emotions to rise not only in me, but everyone else I've shared it with so far.It is created by one of the best in the industry in my opinion and you will not regret picking it up. Remember that in comics it's not only the words that communicate with the reader but also the images, and they often say way more than you can ever imagine. Read as you would your favorite novel, pay attention, and you will me amazed, I guarantee it.

A long time coming, this was worth the wait. Neil Gaiman's comments are dead on the money - it is one of the best graphic novels you are *ever* likely to read and it *will* leave you an emotional wreck if you let yourself be carried along by this simply stunning and beautifully executed story. Scot McCloud puts all his experience and understanding of sequential storytelling into a masterpiece of graphic art. Take my advice and put aside a whole day or evening for this as you will not want to put it down and you absolutely have to read the final section in one hit. Have tissues ready, because it will break your heart at the same time as lifting it with the sheer.....I don't know what it is, but I have *never* read a book like it.Breathtaking.

Read all in one sitting. Finished with tears in my face. Great story, great art. I hope my book club friends also choose to spend this 15 quid.

An unusual love story that keeps you on the edge of your seat & packs a punch - Reminds you to appreciate the love, if you have any, in your life...

One of the best graphic novels I've ever read.