#37.  Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine.  Graphic Novel/Collected Works.  4.5 Stars.

Adrian Tomine is, depending on the day, my second or third favorite artist, and regardless of the day probably my second favorite storyteller in the comics format (Jeffrey Brown remains number one…he may never be surpassed…we’ll see).  Tomine (i finally learned, pronounced “To-mean”, after years of Adam and I arguing about the pronunciation) is an insanely talented artist.  He also has a very natural way with writing conversation, and he paces a story more beautifully than almost anyone out there in the field. 

I read Shortcomings, published by Drawn & Quarterly yesterday after buying it at Jim Hanley’s this weekend.  I have read much of it before, and it’s a bit of a cheat to count it as a book considering it doesn’t take long to read,  but I felt compelled to include it because it is so deserving considering it’s quality of being included.  I am also desperate as I should be at about book number 41 or 42…and I’m obviously not there, so forgive me a bit.  Shortcomings follows the story of Ben and Miko (and also Ben’s friend the delightful Alice) as Ben and Miko’s relationship follows a harrowing course.  My favorite thing about Shortcomings, other than Tomine’s absolutely stunning artwork and panel layouts (his inking is insane!) is the realistic feeling of this story.  It’s not all happy and it doesn’t tie up nicely, it’s messy, as relationships are.  And there is hurt and drama, but without any real over the top drama, which is more how life usually is I think.  This book is the kind of quality across the board (writing, art, pacing, production values, etc.) that I wish all comics/graphic novels could be, and rarely are these days.  If you like comics, or are interested in trying some out, I highly recommend Tomine’s Shortcomings. 

You may also want to check out Tomine’s Summer Blonde, 32 Stories, and Sleepwalk are all brilliant, and any one of them is a worthwhile purchase and read.

4.5 Stars

Look at this panel…I mean are you kidding me?  GORGEOUS.

Such amazing work and detail, yet it remains fluid and natural, not tight. 

I tried to post an image of the cover…but it’s not working.