Skip to main content

The Sculptor


Summary: Everyone wants success, but what that success is depends on the individual. However, to find that success many people are willing to make sacrifices in order to attain it.  David, a sculptor, is just such a person. What he sacrifices though makes him unique. David sacrifices his life . . . literally. Frustrated with his lack of any artistic accomplishments David strikes a bargain with Death: his life for success. His passion for that success blindly leads him to what he thinks will make him happy. What he could not have predicted is that he would soon fall in love. Meg is a fellow struggling artist whose emotional state is a fragile one, but David falls for her anyways. One condition of his agreement with Death states that no one can know about their contract. Another condition is that David only has 200 days before he dies. Because of this David finds himself torn between being with Meg, creating for his art, and fitting everything in before his time runs out. Will David tell Meg about his agreement? Is there a way for him to break his agreement with Death? Whatever he decides, it must be done quickly because Death is waiting.

Reference: Scott McCloud (2015). The Sculptor. First Second. New York, NY.

Why I Picked It Up: After having read and thoroughly enjoyed Understanding Comics for my grad class, I wanted to read some of his original graphic novel material. Zot! was difficult to get a hold of and this story was soon to be released, so I waited for it to come out.

Why I Finished It: The story line is so intense, the characters have good depth, and the various paces are so perfectly balanced that it kept the story's tempo flowing. I had difficulty putting it down. At times I felt David's anxiety so intently that I felt my own heart beating quickening.  There was no way I wasn't going to finish it.

Recommendations: I would recommend this novel for everyone, but I would definitely suggest this one for people who have never read a graphic novel before. The story is easy to follow, the panel layouts aren't "avant-garde", and the illustrations don't get in the way of understanding the novel. So grab yourself a good cup of coffee, a warm comforter, and a soft spot on the ol' couch because you'll definitely read this one all the way through.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Module 2: Corduroy

Summary:   Corduroy is a department store teddy bear who searches for a button that he can use on his overalls.  He searches for the button because he thinks that the button will make him complete and attractive to buy.  Earlier a young girl wanted to buy him, but her mother said that they hadn't any more money and besides the bear was missing a button.  Unfortunately, Corduroy is prevented from obtaining a button and finds himself placed back on the toy shelf by the store's overnight security guard.  The next day, Corduroy is excited to see that the girl came back and used her own money to buy Corduroy and was also able to give Corduroy a new button. Reference: Freeman, D. (1976) Corduroy . New York, NY. Puffin Books. Impression: Corduroy is a children's book that touches the heart.  The way Corduroy is drawn by Don Freeman's, with simple yet endearing qualities, helps the reader to remember their own personal teddy bears or favorite stuffed ani...
Post a Comment
Read more

Amazing Fantastic Incredible: a Marvelous Memoir

Summary: Told through comic book format, we learn of the journey of Stanley Lieber, first as an assistant for Timely Comics then later as his current role as the Face of Marvel Comics, a.k.a. "Stan 'the Man' Lee." He is so universally recognized as Marvel comics that his cameos in Marvel's superhero movies are a way for others to pay respects to the man for all of the work he put into the company (especially after the debacle involving DC Comics and Superman creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster).  Throughout much of the history of comic books, Stan Lee has been a constant in the success of Marvel Comics.  We learn of his many roles that he played in the company, as well as the trials and tribulations/ups and downs of the comic book industry. We also get to see how Stan's personality and character helped to create/co-create so many of Marvel's heroes and promoted them. Why I Picked It Up: Having been a reader of Marvel Comics since the early 1970...
Post a Comment
Read more

Battling Boy: The Rise of Aurora West

Summary: Aurora West is a typical 15-year-old girl trying her best to become the monster-killing hero that her father wants her to be.  Haggard West is the hero of Acropolis, who battles monsters that plaque the city. He trains his daughter to fight the monsters, so that she can take care of herself and if anything should happen to him, she'll be able to continue his fight.  However, unlike her father, who sees monsters as bugs that need to be exterminated, Aurora wants to understand who the monsters are and why they exist.  Aurora has an inquisitive mind, so much so that despite her father's warnings, she researches and investigates in order to help find the answers to her questions.  Through her research, Aurora finds that the monsters may have a connection to her past, which may help her and Haggard win their war.  Though they have different philosophies, the two continue to fight side by side eradicating the monsters and facing off against one mean-...
Post a Comment
Read more