What do you think?
Rate this book
The Winner
Karl Stevens uses the graphic novel to dissect the line between the worlds of high and low art. While working as a museum guard he contemplates the plight of his aesthetic choices, and how they have affected his life thus far. Where is his place as an artist? How has his world changed since he met his wife and muse Alex? Has he become boring since he quit drinking? Painted visions of autobiographical reality swing into experiments with fantasy and science fiction.
104 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2018
57 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 16, 2019
My first work by Karl Stevens, and the real attraction to it is the superb, "painterly" artwork. Just breathtaking. It's like a cross between comics and painting, which is, for Stevens, the point of his struggle. Is he a comics guy or a painter? But what does it all add up to? Well, let's begin with the art: It's comics, sure, but it's filled with paintings, of himself and his wife, and then he makes forays into dark sci-fi/dystopian/fantasy pieces that he wants to do.
Yes, this appears to be an autobiographical or semi-autobiographical story of the whining (or is it amusingly self-deprecating black humor?) art school dropout Stevens and his poor wife who poses for portraits for him constantly and whom we expect at any moment will (should!) leave him. But all the portraits, and even the comics he draws, they focus on her. Without saying much of anything to her throughout the book in the way of intimacy to her--he only talks about himself and of his bitter observations about society--much of the book seems to be about her, she's everywhere, in the portraits and even in the weird comics he draws.
Stevens depicts himself as a kind of typical post art school arrogant guy who isn't sure what he wants to do, be a pinter or do comics. And he only wants to do ahhhrt. . . not have to make money in any other way. Waaaah!! He's a problem drinker/alcoholic who has been dry for a year now, but it has not made him happier. Nor has his stopping drinking made her happier! He is both insufferably entitled and down on the patrons of the art museum where he works as security guard. Everyone is beneath him! He is far from being a winner, is the point.
But then he tries out different comics ideas, testing them out on his long-suffering, lovely wife, sci-fi, horror, dystopian nightmares, most of them expressing his bitterness somehow, all of them in some way implicating her, and with mixed success, until he finds one, a fantasy, a bit more uplifting view of the world with her as a central character, one she actually seems to like: The winner! Not him, but the comic as a way of communicating with her.
Stevens has the last word; as he says, through one of his typically dour self-portraits: "You have to joke; the only other option is to lose your mind." I asked, in the first paragraph: But what does it add up to? Well, I think this is black comedy, Stevens making fun of himself for his self-involved art schools behavior. I'm going to read more of him to help me decide, but at this point I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, that he realizes the only worthwhile things in his life so far is her. And okay, his considerable talent as an artist!
So is he a painter? Is he an illustrator? Is he a comics guy? As she says, who cares!? Do what you like, Karl, support yourself as and if you can, and be happy, and find a way to make your life with your wife happy, if you possibly can! She saved your life!
You're so vain, Karl, you probably think this review is about you! (Here's Carly Simon singing a live version of her song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZmC...
Yes, this appears to be an autobiographical or semi-autobiographical story of the whining (or is it amusingly self-deprecating black humor?) art school dropout Stevens and his poor wife who poses for portraits for him constantly and whom we expect at any moment will (should!) leave him. But all the portraits, and even the comics he draws, they focus on her. Without saying much of anything to her throughout the book in the way of intimacy to her--he only talks about himself and of his bitter observations about society--much of the book seems to be about her, she's everywhere, in the portraits and even in the weird comics he draws.
Stevens depicts himself as a kind of typical post art school arrogant guy who isn't sure what he wants to do, be a pinter or do comics. And he only wants to do ahhhrt. . . not have to make money in any other way. Waaaah!! He's a problem drinker/alcoholic who has been dry for a year now, but it has not made him happier. Nor has his stopping drinking made her happier! He is both insufferably entitled and down on the patrons of the art museum where he works as security guard. Everyone is beneath him! He is far from being a winner, is the point.
But then he tries out different comics ideas, testing them out on his long-suffering, lovely wife, sci-fi, horror, dystopian nightmares, most of them expressing his bitterness somehow, all of them in some way implicating her, and with mixed success, until he finds one, a fantasy, a bit more uplifting view of the world with her as a central character, one she actually seems to like: The winner! Not him, but the comic as a way of communicating with her.
Stevens has the last word; as he says, through one of his typically dour self-portraits: "You have to joke; the only other option is to lose your mind." I asked, in the first paragraph: But what does it add up to? Well, I think this is black comedy, Stevens making fun of himself for his self-involved art schools behavior. I'm going to read more of him to help me decide, but at this point I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, that he realizes the only worthwhile things in his life so far is her. And okay, his considerable talent as an artist!
So is he a painter? Is he an illustrator? Is he a comics guy? As she says, who cares!? Do what you like, Karl, support yourself as and if you can, and be happy, and find a way to make your life with your wife happy, if you possibly can! She saved your life!
You're so vain, Karl, you probably think this review is about you! (Here's Carly Simon singing a live version of her song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZmC...
May 31, 2018
Karl Stevens’ art is mesmerizing, whether it is cross-hatched black and white drawings or colored ink. I found myself lost in the pictures of this book, only half following the narrative thread, which bounces around from ordinary life to short sci-fi and fantasy stories. His characters debate whether drawing comics/illustrating is on a level with fine art. Whether it gets the respect it’s due. IMO, Karl’s gorgeous work falls in what is quickly becoming a new category, maybe “artistic illustration”? Emil Ferris (My Favorite Thing Is Monsters) also falls in this category. You can’t deny the skill involved in these artists’ cross-hatching and color work; it’s extremely high level.
(If someone knows, please tell me what the hinted at three-year death anniversary refers to. Did the artist in the narrative die? Of what?)
(If someone knows, please tell me what the hinted at three-year death anniversary refers to. Did the artist in the narrative die? Of what?)
October 13, 2018
Huh, I read this a while ago but for some reason didn't write a review.
This book is excellent. Stevens is an incredibly accomplished artist straddling the comics and fine art worlds (which he explores a bit in some of the comics herein). His comics are like the polar opposite of cartoonists like Charles Schulz or James Kochalka. Rather than pare down to the simplest essentials, he draws every detail, every hair and eyelash.
Most comics give you just enough information to express whatever needs to be expressed, so you find yourself skimming the artwork while reading the dialogue or narration, but Stevens artwork all but demands you slow down and soak it in.
I much preferred his autobiographical pieces to the fantasy sequences, but there were some stunning splash pages within the fantasy stuff that I wouldn't have wanted to miss. My main takeaway from most of his autobio is that he feels insecure about his place in the art/comics world, but he always finds solace in his wife. I wonder if she ever tires of being so lovingly portrayed. Probably not!
This book is excellent. Stevens is an incredibly accomplished artist straddling the comics and fine art worlds (which he explores a bit in some of the comics herein). His comics are like the polar opposite of cartoonists like Charles Schulz or James Kochalka. Rather than pare down to the simplest essentials, he draws every detail, every hair and eyelash.
Most comics give you just enough information to express whatever needs to be expressed, so you find yourself skimming the artwork while reading the dialogue or narration, but Stevens artwork all but demands you slow down and soak it in.
I much preferred his autobiographical pieces to the fantasy sequences, but there were some stunning splash pages within the fantasy stuff that I wouldn't have wanted to miss. My main takeaway from most of his autobio is that he feels insecure about his place in the art/comics world, but he always finds solace in his wife. I wonder if she ever tires of being so lovingly portrayed. Probably not!
May 3, 2018
Karl Steven is a truly outstanding comics artist, and not just in terms of the visuals. Much of his art is painterly — as he admits, fine artists may see him as a cartoonist, and comics creators will see him more as a fine artist — but his pacing, premise establishment, and sense of humor are keenly attuned, as well. I always look forward to new works by Stevens, and this new book is definitely worth the wait. And what better publisher for Stevens than Retrofit? If this is your first exposure to Karl Stevens, you’re in for a treat.
May 31, 2018
I read this in one sitting. An otherworldly creation of gorgeous fine art and wonderful autobiography. Stevens, as a former Xeric recipient (2004) is in a league of his own with his paintings. Chalk up another fine book to Retrofit/ Big Planet and their 2018 Kickstarter.
May 27, 2018
If I were an Ignatz or Eisner Award juror this year Karl Stevens would very much be a contender as an Artist of the Year nominee. He's just that skilled. Enjoyed this melange of autobio & fantasy, particularly the gorgeous drawings.
April 1, 2019
Such amazing, gorgeous art...but no story. No frame. Not even a real sense of a collection building over time. There is undoubted skill and talent here, but this was not the forum for it. Regardless, I will read more from this creator, especially once he has a focused project to deliver.
September 25, 2018
Karl Stevens can draw. He’s what my teachers in art school called a real draftsman. His realism isn’t the realism of comics, even those that try and realistically represent what they call reality. These pictures are a hybrid of comic book, illustration and fine art, ranging widely in techniques with a mastery of them all. THE WINNER is amazing. I could just stare and stare at his lines and brushstrokes. The broken narrative of its story is somewhat autobiographical, a bit philosophic and then it breaks those bounds to cast off literally into outer space and fantasy realms. It’s in those sections the artwork is somehow less appealing, no less accomplished, it’s just that I wish he’d cut loose even more than he already does. But that’s a quibble, really. The variety of sketchy and tightly rendered drawings and paintings create a diary-like collage of scattered thoughts, like peeking into a private notebook, and makes me want to explore more works from this wonderful artist.
February 21, 2019
Way prettier than the normal autobio by a white dude who knows he's an asshole, at least. There was one story in here that I really loved (George, I guess?), but I was less charmed by the nihilistic attempts at genre work. Karl Stevens knows he's a dick but doesn't seem to want to reflect on the fact that he's still kind of a dick post-sobriety, and I'm not sure what to do with that, dude.
July 14, 2023
Karl Stevens' semi-autobiographic comic approaches the medium in a fairly unorthodox way. I'm not usually one for graphic memoirs (there are far too many of these), but whenever a cartoonist can find a more appealing way of telling their story I can find them much more palatable. Stevens recounts a period in his life where he works long hours as security for an art museum. The tone is rather self-deprecating - Stevens muses on things like why he dropped out of art school, whether sobriety has made him boring, and his general lack of ambition. This kind of stuff can make for a dry read, but Stevens backs everything up with a nice dose of dark humor. But what really makes The Winner stand out is the gorgeous painted pieces throughout, and the frequent dips into more speculative fiction/genre storytelling like fantasy or sci-fi. This is a rather quick read which also made the graphic novel feel as though it never overstayed its welcome.
November 14, 2019
A little graphic novel slice of life, with an artist and his wife, plus some flights of fantasy. The art is nice, and the author’s affection for his spouse comes through very clearly. I didn’t get much more out of it, but probably that’s enough.
August 4, 2020
Art vraiment cool mais l'histoire part dans tous les sens. C'est dommage.
October 8, 2020
usch påfrestande kille.
January 17, 2021
Pope Cat. That's how delightfully surreal this one gets.
February 6, 2022
“Who is Jean-Luc Picard?”
January 26, 2024
Beautiful illustrations. A mish-mosh of varying scenes and stories. I enjoyed the variety, but also would’ve liked more of a thru-line.
May 25, 2025
The art is okay but the writing is garbage—similar to a “stream” of consciousness but presented in the form of “droplets.” I’m adding this to my neighbourhood’s free library with a warning.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews