First Second Books, the comics and graphic novel imprint of Roaring Brook/Macmillan, announced plans to publish two new books by acclaimed comics artist and theoretician Scott McCloud. First Second will publish, The Sculptor, a new work of graphic fiction by McCloud in 2013 in addition to a new work of graphic nonfiction. McCloud is the author of the critically acclaimed 1993 work, Understanding Comics, and most recently Making Comics and Zot!. The deal was negotiated by Judith Hansen of the Hansen Literary Agency.
The Sculptor will be McCloud’s first work of published fiction in many years. First Second editorial director Mark Seigel said, “Scott McCloud’s accomplishments are considerable: as spokesman and champion of the medium of comics, as its great explainer and theorist, as its dedicated practitioner.” McCloud has received every major U.S. comics industry award, including the Eisner, Harvey and Kirby Awards, in addition to receiving a Quill Award in 2007 and numerous European comics prizes.
“I’ve been in contact with Mark Siegel since the First Second line launched,” McCloud said, “and have watched with admiration as their catalog has grown in depth, breadth and quality, including some of my favorite new artists working on upcoming projects. This is a forward-looking team that understands comics, and can match my enthusiasm for its endless possibilities.”
