The Sculptor

This was one of my first experiences with a graphic novel, and I must say that McCloud set the bar high for future reads. A friend recommended it to me, so it's only right I pay it forward once more. This is a truly incredible and important read.

My eye was caught on the cover of this book while on liberty at a Barnes and Noble looking for new reading material. After reading this book in only two sittings, I can say with certainty that this is one of the best graphic novels I have ever read.

As a younger man who desires to create yet craves something more out of life the message of this book resonates firmly.

We all have dreams. We all have hopes, aspirations, and plans for our own futures. And they ARE possible to attain. To make those come to life, we have to stand up on our own two feet and fight to keep the dream alive...

But no battle plan survives contact with the enemy. And for all of us who are still breathing that enemy is, has been, and always will be, time.

Time, but not life.

You will not have time to fulfill all (maybe even any) of your dreams. Every moment is one moment closer to the end. Our own personal plans are, by default, selfish in nature. And the clock is always ticking.

But life is unpredictable. And even though it may not turn out quite the way we envision it, life will always be there to present us with new paths that just might be richer than what we originally hoped for. And it might just instill in you the simple joy of being alive.

I highly recommend this well thought out and drawn novel. The artwork is evocative, fluid and presents spectacles ranging from the mundane but human moments to the abstract fantastical images born from the limitless depths of the mind of a creator to the heat of love filled moments.

The story is, by and large, human. The prospect of imminent demise and how best to utilize time is well constructed and paced. And the relationship of two damaged people coming together to become each other's world is realistically portrayed through the characters of David and Meg. The relationship of the secondary charters, David's friends and family, and even his enemies, escape the print and emulate the togetherness, joy, and, and heartbreak of the human experience. And ultimately, it all comes together in one solid piece that delivers an important lesson to those who need to be reminded, myself included.

Life only happens to you once. Its waiting for you. And your clock is ticking. Get up, make it happen, and live.

You never know who else is out there looking for that same joy... and for you.

5/5

Thank you to the people responsible for the publication of this think piece.

Scott is a modern master of form and this book exemplifies his deft understanding of storytelling, rhythm and form. The last few pages will gut you and you may need a hug afterwards, but that seems to be the lesson in my eyes as I deplete a box of tissues and straighten myself out. The characters are clear and nuanced, each one has their own surprises to reveal and by books end you will miss the friends you've made in your time together. The use of rigid rhythm on the page is amazing and only adds to Scott's ability to show you the rules of storytelling, break them and create new rules that shake the foundation of comics as a medium. Mc Cloud is the Joseph Campbell of comics, a true anthropologist of the form and its a pleasure to watch him excavate both history and truths in his work. A must read.