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Underground > Comic Books >

Optic Nerve + Adrian Tomine

08:31 / 11.06.02

Yeah, we've been talking about Tomine's Optic Nerve for awhile now but the guy certainly deserves his own thread. I've been looking for an excuse to start this thread and this is as good a reason as any: CBR article on the upcoming "Summer Blonde" (issues 5-8) & winning inclusion in Eggers' "Best American" anthology.

And lest you think that Tomine's a slacker for only putting out one comic a year, he keeps busy with lots of illustration work. If you're interested in buying his stuff (or just want to see the diverse work he does), he sells it at ComicArtCollective.com (along w/ peers like Peter Bagge, Jaime Hernandez, Dan Clowes, etc.). Perhaps the most amazing thing is just how small the illustrations are, some of them aren't even the size of a sheet of regular (8 1/2"X11") sheet of paper. And yet, they're so detailed and meticulously drawn. That coupled with the fact that he's not even 30 and he's put out such great stuff makes me green with envy sometimes.

Boy in a Suitcase

07:46 / 12.06.02

Adrian Tomine seems to have gotten a big surge of interest after being identified as some kind of emo hero... now that's died down and he's trying to do more mature stories which I think is really paying off. His newest one was just perfect.
I went to a Daniel Johnston show in SF a couple of months back and I saw him there–he was with his girlfriend I guess but he looked kinda slumped forward and like he hadn't gotten out in a while. Wanted to say hi but I didn't know if he knew how to talk or not.

12:31 / 12.06.02

Like his comics, like his drawings.

But the guy's a total ass.

Matthew Fluxington

15:39 / 12.06.02

Would you care to back that up a bit, Cameron?

18:57 / 12.06.02

Met him twice - both times was very complimentary to him about his work. Both times was given condescending and snide attitude in return.

"Hey, I really enjoy your comic. I think it's great."
"Yeah." (with a sort-of sneer for good measure)

What am I asking for?

"Hey, I really ejnoy your comic. I think it's great."
"Hey, thanks. Glad you like it."

That's all. Doesn't require any herculean effort.

21:29 / 12.06.02

Wow, now who would have thought that a reclusive, deeply-intorverted comics artist wouldn't have any social skills? Well, ain't that a whoo-doggie. Just because he can't deal with people face-to-face doesn't make him "a total ass" Besides, think of how many vague, garden variety "I like your stuff" comments he's heard over the years. Not exactly Algonquin Table-calibre repartee, cuz.

As for not caring for his fans, he replys to his own fan mail & makes a point to print their letters (no matter how much they criticize him) in his comics. If I was him, I probably wouldn't go through all of that effort.

Matthew Fluxington

21:56 / 12.06.02

While I know what you mean and where yr coming from, Cameron, I think Margin Walker has a point. When did you ever get the impression from reading his work that Tomine might be a friendly, talkative guy? His work is very icy and distant, I would expect his public persona to be similar. It doesn't quite excuse him for being a bit rude, but it does explain it a bit.

Murray Hamhandler

23:57 / 12.06.02

I've often wondered how I personally would react to direct, face-to-face response to my work (in the event that I ever actually, you know, put anything of mine into the public domain). I tend to not be very good w/new people right off the bat, and I really don't take compliments very well, and I definitely don't take criticism well at all. I've been told by several friends, actually, that the initial impression I sometimes give is one of standoffishness, although I'm actually very fond of people in general and would like to be able to act normally and meet and say hello to new people w/o being a total social retard.

...Which (he said by way of long-winded and self-serving intro) is why I related to the interview w/Tomine's girlfriend (among other comics spouses) in a recent Comics Journal, wherein she gave the impression that he was much the same. Given that, it's probably safe to take his reaction w/a grain of salt, Cam.

P.S. to Cameron: I'm curious as to how you have tended to react to face-to-face response to your work (knowing that you reacted quite graciously to my glowing online praise a while back). You seem like you might be a little more socially functional than Tomine and myself...

00:18 / 13.06.02

>>>Just because he can't deal with people face-to-face doesn't make him "a total ass"<<<

Point taken, and I'm perhaps being a little harsh. I just know that the first time I was a bit annoyed by his standoffishness, but was willing to overlook it - we all have our bad days. The second time though was actually worse than the first and just left a sour taste in my mouth.

>>>Besides, think of how many vague, garden variety "I like your stuff" comments he's heard over the years. Not exactly Algonquin Table-calibre repartee, cuz<<<

I don't think that matters - I still think it's only common courtesy to reply to such comments graciously. Similar thing happened to me a few years back when I went backstage after a Chemical Brothers gig - I went up to Tom and told him, very quickly and politely, that I enjoyed the show, thanks. He then looked the other way without saying a word. Fucking prick.

I can only imagine how sick film stars must be of answering the same insipid questions hundreds of times in a day when they're on a press junket promoting whatever new film they've done - but yet they bite their tongue and give their happy smiley answers. It helps ensure that people like them. When people like you they're more inclined to give you their money.

>>>P.S. to Cameron: I'm curious as to how you have tended to react to face-to-face response to your work (knowing that you reacted quite graciously to my glowing online praise a while back). You seem like you might be a little more socially functional than Tomine and myself...<<<

I'm usually genuinely surprised/pleased when someone pays me a compliment, and though it can be awkward I try to be as polite and appreciative as I can be - I think that if someone feels compelled to take the time to compliment me, it's the very *least* I can do to say thank you. Someone from the Warren Ellis Forum stopped me at a con last year and talked to me for ten minutes, and while I was actually sort of busy I chatted with him - if I'm going to spend the time promoting myself and my work I have to expect that people might want to respond to it. Comes with the territory. I think I'm a pretty genial chap anyway - I have no real interest in putting on a sneering rock star persona...

07:34 / 10.07.02

Well, now that we hopefully have that bad blood behind us, it looks like Adrian Tomine's moving up in the world. Time Magazine's review of his new collection "Summer Blonde" here.

Anyone going to get this? I'd love to, but I'm failing to see the real impetus to pick this collection up. For starters, it's $25 for 4 issues that initially cost $12 collectively. Moreover, I already have said 4 issues. I've got "Sleepwalk", which has some extra sketches, is signed & numbered, but I wonder if this collection is going to be mass-produced without those little perks. Who am I kidding? I'll pick it up regardless, probably.

Murray Hamhandler

15:21 / 10.07.02

I'll wait for the paperback. I've already got half of the issues in the book and I wasn't terribly enthralled by them. I liked 32 Stories, though, and what I've read of Sleepwalk. On a side note, an otherwise non-comics reading friend of mine did flips of joy when I introduced him to Tomine's work, and he's one of those people that doesn't like anything.

07:26 / 30.07.02

Deric: "Sleepwalk" wasn't ever printed in paperback, so I doubt if this collection will ever make it to softcover, either. Anyone know why they're re-releasing #8? Or what "(O/A)" means? "Original Artist" maybe?

Shipping This Week (July 31):

JUN022229 OPTIC NERVE #8 (O/A) $3.50
MAY021983 SUMMER BLONDE DELUXE ED S&N HC (MR) $38.95

Murray Hamhandler

17:34 / 30.07.02

"O/A" stands for "offered again". Individual issues of an independent series are, as I understand it, often resolicited when the issue in question is reprinted, or when a batch of copies is discovered in a warehouse somewhere or when Diamond gets copies back in stock. The resoliciting process for these issues seems completely random, but I'm sure there's some method to the madness.

And Sleepwalk has indeed been released in softcover. The copy I read was a paperback and there's a copy at my shop down the street. I don't know if it's still in print, but it was released at some point. I could hook you up if you were interested in a paperback copy.

00:00 / 28.09.02

Whups. Deric's right, it is available in softcover. At this point, I'd say "my bad!", but then I'd hate myself for saying such a trite phrase. Anyways, on to the reason I'm posting--from the News section @ DrawnandQuarterly.com:

Adrian Tomine busy with a New Book, a Book Tour, and Erasing Evidence of Fisting

So has anyone gotten "Summer Blonde" yet? Is it worth the 25 bones?

Matthew Fluxington

03:17 / 28.09.02

Having read all of the contents of Summer Blonde when they first came out, yes, I think it's well worth buying. Though maybe you should wait til its in paperback if yr short on cash.

The four stories therein are the best work of Tomine's career thus far, especially the Hilary Chan and Bomb Scare stories.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

19:55 / 14.10.03

I just had to quickly reply to this thread as I just read "Summer Blonde", and thought it was fantastic. I think the stories got progressively better. The last one perfectly captured the days of school for me, even if I did keep thinking everyone he drew looked a bit too young. (Though Cammie did look just like someone very close to me, which helped me warm to her. Although also made it horrible to see her in her... more embarassing moments.)

That's not really doing it justice, I dunno what to say really. It was just incfedibly heart warming/breaking and... all sorts. Tears of joy. etc.

It's everything I hate about reading comics.

ie, it gives me a million ideas, and makes me want to write/draw/do a million things better than I can, which I just don't have the time to do.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

23:42 / 01.12.03

Ok, quick query. Next issue of Optic Nerve? When? I've been reading interviews with Tomine recently, and he mentions in the most recent ones working on a new 100 page story... he said he was about a third through as well. So that's three issues, right?

The last issue was the "bomb scare" story in Summer Blonde, right?

03:46 / 05.12.03

I read Summer Blonde a couple of months ago and was very much stunned by Tomine's stories.
I read 32 Stories a few days ago and it's worthless shit by any angstyteen writer wannabe. Christ it's awful. I think it was Duncan (?) who said that Tomine gets better with each issue...well Duncan, I hope you're wrong because I'm really hoping Sleepwalk and other stories is better than this.
If I'd read 32 stories first I'd never take a look at his other work.
I know I was warned but I'm hoping Sleepwalk has at least one good story.
My favourite so far is the title story in "Summer Blonde."

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

13:25 / 05.12.03

Well, 32 stories comprises his first - self published work - from 1991-95. So the first of the stories collected there is from when he was about 16.

Sleepwalk collects his first published Optic Nerve comics, and I expect you'll see his continued imporvement as an artist/writer.

I think that's right, anyway. I don't own either of those books, yet, but I'm looking to change that...

(After a Clowes binge, at least)

13:49 / 05.12.03

Cameron...I had a similar run-in with Adrian. It's really hard to not be put off by someone's work after being treated poorly by them. The whole notion of writers and artists having that "free-pass" to not have social skills and be genial, especially at conventions, because they're artists I think is total bullshit.

That said...I promise to introduce myself next time I see you. I think we've crossed paths before but never really spoke to each other...

Plus, I dig your work...:-)

Scott
srobins@scholastic.ca

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

23:41 / 20.01.04

Lo and behold!

From this news item: "Adrian Tomine, the acclaimed cartoonist of SUMMER BLONDE, presents OPTIC NERVE #9, his first original comic book of the popular series in more than two years."

Further info from D+Q: "After a lengthy period of writing and planning, Tomine returns with his longest, most ambitious work to date. With a projected length of over 100 pages, this fictional story examines the troubled sex-life of a confused, obsessive, Japanese-American male in his late twenties, and his cross-country search for the perfect girl. This issue is the first of three chapters.
February 2004 release."

--------------------------------------------------------

I am looking foward to this. I'm hoping, too, that he's got the whole thing finished and ready to go by now.

Let's speculate!

03:48 / 21.01.04

I read Sleepwalk about a year ago. I found it very poseurish and bland. As in, Chuck Austen is to Grant Morrison as Adrian Tomine is to Dan Clowes. But I'm getting the impression from this thread that Tomine's work has come a long way since then, and I have to admit I'm curious (if for no other reason than checking out the graphic novels shelf at Borders lately makes me very, very sad, and prompts me to wonder where all the good comics went). So I have to ask...is someone who really didn't like Tomine's early work at all likely to enjoy his more recent stories, or is Tomine just one of those guys whose charm will always be lost on me?

15:03 / 23.01.04

I'll get my copy of Sleepwalk tomorrow or on Sunday. As I've said before 32 Stories isn't worth a look but Summer Blonde is essential. I hope that Sleepwalk doesn't fall into the early work category and read like a teenager's comic. So I'll post here then.

14:23 / 25.01.04

eddie 13,
I was in the same boat you were in. I'm a big fan of Clowes and was introduced to Sleepwalk. The book seemed derivative and I didn't think it was very good. However, on a slow week in the comics shop, I saw the Summer Blonde book and decided to pick it up. It is much better than Sleepwalk. I'm now a fan and am looking forward to Optic Nerve #9.

14:38 / 25.01.04

My local comic shop, The Beguiling, has the new Optic Nerve now, apparently long before anyone else does. Don't know how they managed it but I picked up my copy yesterday. Tee hee!

It's good stuff.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

15:49 / 26.01.04

Hey Cam, not to be spoiled, but can you share some of the specifics? I'm not going to be able to get my hands on this for a while regardless of when it's out.

Does it continue his streak of improvement? As in, I do hope it's another leap foward for him, Bomb Scare was one of the best observed comics I've ever read, with some incredibly well drawn characters. From what I've heard it's his most ambitious project to date.

How many pages is it, and is it part one?

I'm sure I had more questions, but now I'm just worried it'll be another two years for the next part.

16:02 / 26.01.04

I read Sleepwalk and while some stories are downright pointless, some were very good. Tomine does seem to be improving with every story and refining his storytelling tools.
Nothing holds a candle to the title story in Summer Blonde yet.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

16:27 / 26.01.04

I actually thought that was the worst story of the lot. All the characters felt a little obvious, I don't know, it just felt a little lacking for me. I liked it, but of all the stories in the Summer Blonde book, I think that was probably the worst.

The last two in the collection are probably the finest work of his I've ever read.

14:26 / 10.02.04

Couldn't find Optic Nerve 9 anywhere and hoped I'd find some in Cambridge. They were sold out. But the store clerk took pity on me and sold me his copy as more would arrive in a week.

To be honest, I really don't see what the point of serialising the story because Tomine will take a year to complete it if he's fast.

Seeing how long it'll take for Strangehaven Book 3, more Eightball and Optic Nerve and Berlin, I'm getting a bit pissed at these lazy artists. They're the best but christ they're so bloody lazy!

And sorry to bring this up here but...

Can someone tell me what the hell is going on with Stray Bullets? I finally caught up with issue 32 and can't find anything about 33 which was supposed to be out a year ago.

Suedey! SHOT FOR MEAT!

15:07 / 10.02.04

Ok, let's get something straight here.

Lazy they are not. They do a lot of work, and I'm not sure you appreciate how much work goes in to these comic, from those comments.

These guys are doing every little thing involved with making these comics. They don't have letterers and guys to do the pencils for them. They have to write and design the whole damn book. You know? It's not like they've got stuff ready to go, you have to write this stuff, you have to work at it - that's why it is good.

Guys like Adrian - for one does a lot of illustration work. To pay the bills. And other projects to, book design and some collaborations (I think, and some more stuff). And then when it get round to the artwork it's not as easy as getting a bit of paper and just drawing it out. Sketches, tracing, drawing.. blah blah.

I don't know much about Adrians work process, but I know it's pretty involved form reading interviews with him. He traces it all out first, flips it over, re draws it, inks it, lays stuff over the top, adds shading tones, lettering... this all takes a lot of time. he said if he's working well he can do a page in four days. And I'm guessing that's like, non stop work.

The guys a fucking workaholic! I'm sorry, but it annoys me greatly when people moan about comic artists being slow. If it's monthly superhero comics, then yeah, I can understand. But this isn't. Seriously, making comics is one of the most time consuming pastimes I can think of.

And that's not even starting on other people like Clowes. Who is still knocking out comics even though he's involved in a bunch of other stuff.

I believe as well as his new comic (which was just ready to be coloured last I heard...) he's done a new strip for a book thing edited by Chris Ware, illustration work, and working on a new movie : Art School Confidential.

I saw a biography for all the work (comics and otherwise) he'd ever done online somehwere, it was completely fucking daunting.

13:56 / 11.02.04

Yeah, maybe I overreacted.

But it's only out of my deep love for the comics. But at the rate it' going, it'll take six years for a collection of six issues of Strangehaven to come out. And it's a serial. Am I only one who finds that riduculous? Another seven for Book Two of Berlin.

Maybe I should put these books away and not look at them for a year and pretend they don't exist.