The Sculptor and the Angel

I am a *huge* fan of Scott McCloud. His book Understanding Comics is a staple for understanding graphic novels and images, and I teach from excerpts of it every time I teach visual literacy. His cogent analysis of comics, images, and text is informative and also entertaining. So when I heard that he was coming out with a new graphic novel of his own, I got really excited. When it came in at the library, I was initially daunted by the sheer size of it (over 500 pages), but it’s a fast and super gripping read.

David Smith is a failed sculptor who is reaching the end of his rope. His rent is overdue, and he has no inspiration left. So when death in the form of his great uncle comes seeking to make a deal, he accepts. In exchange for 200 days left, he is gifted with a super-power: he can sculpt anything out of his hands. But just after David accepts his deal, he suddenly meets a young woman, someone who will change the course of his entire future. He wonders just what it will take to strike the balance between the time he has left and the passion for his art.

This is a truly gorgeous story with an ending that is breathtaking and gripping all at once. I won’t say anything more than that, but I cried like a fool at the end. I really recommend The Sculptor, as it’s both a great story and a beautifully drawn one. I’m so pleased that Scott McCloud is just as adept a novelist as he is a critic.