Released today (Feb 3), the book has already been lauded by early readers and reviewers. Here’s a selection:
“What a brilliant and gripping book. As absorbing as a Victorian novel.” The Observer (Graphic Novel of the Month)
“A masterclass in graphic storytelling. If Understanding Comics was the research, The Sculptor is the finished thesis – far more than the sum of its parts, and a wonderful testament to the power of comics.” The Independent on Sunday
“The Sculptor is the best graphic novel I’ve read in years. It’s about art and love and why we keep on trying. It will break your heart.” Neil Gaiman
The first full-length fictional graphic novel from the creator of Understanding Comics, The Sculptor is a breathtaking urban fable about the price of art, the value of life, and a desperate love. It follows the story of a young sculptor who, after making a deal with Death, is given the ability to sculpt anything he can imagine with his bare hands. But with just 200 days to live, deciding what to create is harder than he thought. And discovering the love of his life at the eleventh hour doesn’t make it any easier.
So, it’s brilliant. But you knew it would be, right? After all, this is Scott McCloud – the guy who wrote the book on comics. His vault into superbly crafted fiction will surprise no one, but the emotional depth and resonance of that fiction will leave you speechless. You should buy it immediately, from Amazon (here), Waterstones (here), Foyles (here), or from any fine bricks-and-mortar book shop across the land.
The Coalition Book, SelfMadeHero’s collection of Martin Rowson’s finest cartoons from the era of Cameron and Clegg, last night scooped the prize for the Best Humour and Satire Book of the Year at the Political Book Awards.
The award was judged by Andrew Pierce, Shelagh Fogarty, Peter Brookes, Katy Guest and Hugo Rifkind, with competition including John Crace’s I Never Promised You A Rose Garden and Tim Benson’s collection of 2014’s best political cartoons.
Fittingly, it was the French Ambassador who appeared onstage to present the award, and in a gesture of solidarity with his colleagues across the channel, Martin Rowson delivered an acceptance speech filled with biting satirical humour – entirely in French. Needless to say, if there were an award for the best on-stage moment, he’d be a shoe-in.
The Coalition Book is available now from all good book shops!
That’s right, folks: The Sculptor, Scott McCloud‘s first graphic novel in nearly a decade, has arrived! Released on 3rd February, this 496-page graphic novel marks a triumphant return to fiction for the creator of Understanding Comics, Making Comics, Zot! and many other fine creations.
David Smith is giving his life for his art – literally. Thanks to a deal with Death, the young sculptor gets his childhood wish: to sculpt anything he can imagine with his bare hands. But now that he only has 200 days to live, deciding what to create is harder than he thought, and discovering the love of his life at the eleventh hour isn’t making it any easier.
This is a story of desire taken to the edge of reason and beyond; of the frantic, clumsy dance steps of young love; and a gorgeous, street-level portrait of New York City. It’s about the small, warm, human moments of everyday life…and the great surging forces that lie just under the surface. Scott McCloud wrote the book on how comics work; now he vaults into breathtaking, funny, and unforgettable fiction.
Neil Gaiman has said of the book, “The Sculptor is the best graphic novel I’ve read in years. It’s about art and love and why we keep on trying. It will break your heart.”
Stay tuned for news of some very exciting promotional activities! In the meantime, you can pre-order the book from all the usual places: Amazon (here), Foyles (here) and Waterstones (here).
“If you’re into crazily satirical graphic novels, stick Ricky Rouse Has a Gun on your Christmas list” — Tom Watson MP
An enhanced digital edition of Jörg Tittel and John Aggs’ brilliantly bizarre graphic novel, Ricky Rouse Has A Gun, will be available on Sequential for iPad from Monday 22nd December.
Ricky Rouse_new blog 1.jpg288.88 KB The Sequential edition will feature loads of exclusive bonus features: page-by-page audio commentary, initial sketches and roughs, character research and inked pages, and an amazing video sketch. Aside from enjoying one of the best graphic novels of 2014, readers will be given a unique insight into Tittel and Aggs’ creative process.
Described by more than one reviewer as “Die Hard meets Disney”, Ricky Rouse Has A Gun is at once a relentless action comedy, a satire of US-China relations, and a curious look at China – a country that, once we look past its often outrageous copyright infringements, is a culture ripe with innovation and a unique, courageous spirit. For a flavour of the incredible reviews the book’s been receiving, watch the trailer:
“Either a thrilling love letter to the remix culture disguised as an action movie from the 80s, or the other way around, Ricky Rouse Has A Gun is balanced and violent on multiple levels, and is easy to read too much into. Dum dee dum, delightful!” — Markus “Notch” Persson, Creator of Minecraft
The Sequential edition of Ricky Rouse Has A Gun will be available from Monday 22nd December, priced £9.99. You can download the indispensable Sequential graphic novel app here. The first 33 pages of the book will be freely available to download from the store.
Prefer ink and paper? The paperback is available now in all good book stores. Do as Tom Watson suggests and put it on your Christmas list. (He’s an MP: you can trust him.)
Live or work in Central London? Get graphic novels through your letterbox within hours with SelfMadeHero’s pioneering drone-free delivery service.
For two weeks from Monday 1st December, SelfMadeHero will be offering a free same-day delivery service to addresses in Central London (Zone 1). Orders placed before 2pm (Monday-Friday) will be fulfilled that same day.
Not only that: there’ll be a 25% discount on all titles, making it the cheapest option for those living or working in Central London. Graphic novels will be delivered to offices and houses from Notting Hill to Shoreditch, Kings Cross to Elephant and Castle, making it the fastest and most ambitious direct-to-reader delivery service yet offered by a publisher.
When Amazon announced its limited-scale same-day delivery service to Londoners in October this year, the corporation’s UK Managing Director said it would be the “fastest delivery service yet”. Well, SelfMadeHero’s will be just as fast – and it will be free. No membership contracts. No drones. No algorithms. Our environmentally friendly, human-driven, tax-ethical delivery service has the potential to revolutionise the way the world thinks about delivery.
Graphic novels to your door in 3 easy steps:
1) Browse the SelfMadeHero catalogue (available here)
3) Pay by Card or by PayPal (we’ll send you a link)
Rather click and collect? Visit our dedicated pick-up location: 139 Pancras Road, NW1 1UN. Opening hours: 9.30am-6pm.
Exclusive Bundle Offers and Signed Editions:
SelfMadeHero will be offering exclusive deals on multiple books, signed editions, limited edition prints and other items throughout this period. Offers will be announced on our Facebook page from Black Monday, 1st December.
Terms and conditions:
Delivery address must be in Central London (Zone 1)
Orders must be placed and paid for by 2pm
Offer applies Monday to Friday, 1st-12th December 2014
