Adrian Tomine
Encyclopedia
Adrian Tomine a popular contemporary cartoonist, is best known for his ongoing comic book
series Optic Nerve
and his periodical illustrations in The New Yorker
.
, California
. His parents divorced when he was two years old. His father is Dr. Chris Tomine, Ph.D. and Professor Emeritus Environmental Engineering at California State University Sacramento's Department of Civil Engineering. His mother is Dr. Satsuki Ina, Ph.D. and Professor Emeritus at California State University Sacramento's School of Education. Tomine is fourth-generation Japanese American
, and both of his parents spent part of their childhoods in Japanese internment camps
in the U.S. during World War II
. He also has a brother, Dylan, who is eight years his senior.
After his parents divorced, Tomine moved frequently, accompanying his mother to Fresno
, Oregon
, Germany
, and Belgium
, while spending summers with his father in Sacramento. He attended high school at Rio Americano in Sacramento, where he started writing, drawing and self-publishing his comic Optic Nerve. Tomine has continued producing Optic Nerve as a regular comic book series for Drawn and Quarterly
; the most recent issue was published in September 2011.
Tomine graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English Literature. He currently resides in Brooklyn
, New York with his wife Sarah Brennan, a longtime New Yorker. On October 31, 2009, Tomine and Brennan welcomed their first child, Nora Emiko Tomine.
As a young child, Tomine enjoyed Spider-Man
and Indiana Jones
comics. In an interview, Tomine said that "something about the medium just transfixed me at an early age" and that his influences include Jaime Hernandez
and Daniel Clowes
. He is also a fan of contemporary Chris Ware
. In addition to writing graphic novels such as Summer Blonde, Shortcomings
, and Optic Nerve, Tomine regularly works in commercial illustration. He has done several covers and illustrations for The New Yorker
; his first was "Missed Connection".
while still in high school. While his early work was greeted with much acclaim, he faced severe backlash around the time when he made the jump to professional publication, and the letters pages of his modern comics typically feature several highly critical letters where he is accused of creating "trendy" or "emo
" characters. He is often compared to his friend Dan Clowes for his signature clean-line style
; in fact, he is sometimes accused of ripping off Clowes' style. In an interview published in The Comics Journal
#205, Tomine addressed many of these criticisms and discussed his influences in detail, admitting that he was strongly influenced by Clowes but perhaps even more so by Jaime Hernandez
. The cover of his Journal issue featured a self-parody of sorts, featuring a sequence where a hipster
girl says to the reader, "I'm so cute! I listen to indie rock
! But... I'm sad. Can you relate?"
In an interview published on the Drawn and Quarterly
website, Tomine discussed printing critical letters in his book: "I imagine most cartoonists receive some negative mail. I just thought it was fair (and entertaining) to allow a range of reactions to be heard. And as for my response, it really varies: some criticism I dismiss completely, and some I take to heart."
Most of Tomine's early works rarely mentioned racial issues and most of his characters appeared to be Caucasian
. Tomine, who is Asian American
, drew himself in many of his early strips, but did not make his ethnicity clear (he often drew his glasses as being opaque, so his eyes
couldn't be seen). In later works, he has explored racial issues more directly, such as in his latest graphic novel Shortcomings
.
In the '90s, Tomine made an appearance on The Jane Pratt Show
, which he documented in Optic Nerve.
. Originally, the self-published comics were in "mini-comic" form, and there were seven issues (most of them later republished in 32 Stories). After Drawn and Quarterly became the publisher, the comics were published at standard size, and the issue numbering was restarted, making the first Drawn and Quarterly published issue to be numbered #1. These comics range from a few pages per story to the 32-page standard in later issues. Issues 1-4 included several stories each and are collected in Sleepwalk and Other Stories, and issues 5-8 included one story each and are collected in Summer Blonde. Issues 9-11 were compiled into a graphic novel called 'Shortcomings,' released in September 2007.
in April 1995 included five short stories entitled "Sleepwalk", "Echo Ave.", "Long Distance", "Drop" and "Lunch Break".
. "Layover" shows a young man who misses his flight and instead of returning home to people who assume he has caught his flight wanders aimlessly for the whole day. This issue was published by Drawn and Quarterly
in November 1995.
Summer Blonde begins with "Alter Ago", originally published in Optic Nerve #5, which chronicles a promising young author struggling to write a sophomore novel. In the wake of his writer's block, he becomes obsessed with re-connecting with his high school crush, despite currently being in a relationship. His feelings are further complicated when he begins spending time with his crush's teenage sister.
"Hawaiian Getaway", originally published in Optic Nerve #6, is the story of Hilary Chan's evolving circumstances when she finds herself unemployed and with no meaningful social relationships. In order to compensate for these voids, she becomes more eccentric and isolated. The format of the story is unlike the others included in Summer Blonde, as it divided into 13 chapters that separate defining moments in Hilary's life. This format also succeeds in illustrating the protagonist's disconnection from society.
"Summer Blonde", the title story, was first seen in Optic Nerve #7, and is centered on a beautiful young woman named Vanessa who finds herself the object of three men's desires: her boyfriend, a misogynistic lover named Carlo, and Carlo's obsessive and unstable neighbor, Neil.
"Bomb Scare", originally published in Optic Nerve #8, tells the story of two outcast teenagers and the scrutiny that they must endure at the hand of their high school's social hierarchy. "Bomb Scare" was chosen by Dave Eggers
to be included in the book "The Best American Non-Required Reading 2002" (Houghton Mifflin).
and album art for Eels
' Electro-Shock Blues
, "Last Stop: This Town
", "Cancer for the Cure
", and End Times
, as well as The Softies
' album "It's Love" and The Crabs
's "What Were Flames Now Smolder".
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series Optic Nerve
Optic Nerve (comic)
Optic Nerve is a comic book series by cartoonist Adrian Tomine. Originally self-published by Tomine in 1991 as a series of mini-comics , the series has been published by Drawn and Quarterly since 1995.Tomine's style and subject matter are restrained and realistic. Many are set in Northern California...
and his periodical illustrations in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
.
Biography
Adrian Tomine was born May 31, 1974 in SacramentoSacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His parents divorced when he was two years old. His father is Dr. Chris Tomine, Ph.D. and Professor Emeritus Environmental Engineering at California State University Sacramento's Department of Civil Engineering. His mother is Dr. Satsuki Ina, Ph.D. and Professor Emeritus at California State University Sacramento's School of Education. Tomine is fourth-generation Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
, and both of his parents spent part of their childhoods in Japanese internment camps
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
in the U.S. during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He also has a brother, Dylan, who is eight years his senior.
After his parents divorced, Tomine moved frequently, accompanying his mother to Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, while spending summers with his father in Sacramento. He attended high school at Rio Americano in Sacramento, where he started writing, drawing and self-publishing his comic Optic Nerve. Tomine has continued producing Optic Nerve as a regular comic book series for Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly is a Canadian comic book publishing company, headed by Chris Oliveros, and based in Montreal, Quebec. Its focus is on graphic novels and underground or alternative comics. Drawn and Quarterly was also the title of the company's flagship quarterly anthology during the 1990s...
; the most recent issue was published in September 2011.
Tomine graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in English Literature. He currently resides in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York with his wife Sarah Brennan, a longtime New Yorker. On October 31, 2009, Tomine and Brennan welcomed their first child, Nora Emiko Tomine.
As a young child, Tomine enjoyed Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
comics. In an interview, Tomine said that "something about the medium just transfixed me at an early age" and that his influences include Jaime Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez is the co-creator of the black & white independent comic book Love and Rockets .-Early life:...
and Daniel Clowes
Daniel Clowes
Daniel Gillespie Clowes is an American author, screenwriter and cartoonist of alternative comic books....
. He is also a fan of contemporary Chris Ware
Chris Ware
Franklin Christenson Ware , is an American comic book artist and cartoonist, widely known for his Acme Novelty Library series and the graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he resides in the Chicago area, Illinois...
. In addition to writing graphic novels such as Summer Blonde, Shortcomings
Shortcomings (Graphic Novel)
Shortcomings is a graphic novel by cartoonist Adrian Tomine. Shortcomings was originally serialized in issues #9 through #11 of Tomine's comic book collection Optic Nerve before being released as a whole in 2007...
, and Optic Nerve, Tomine regularly works in commercial illustration. He has done several covers and illustrations for The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
; his first was "Missed Connection".
Background
Tomine began publishing his work when he was still a teenager; he was mainly self-published, but was also published in mainstream publications like PulsePulse
In medicine, one's pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heartbeat by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed against a bone, such as at the neck , at the wrist , behind the knee , on the inside of the elbow , and near the...
while still in high school. While his early work was greeted with much acclaim, he faced severe backlash around the time when he made the jump to professional publication, and the letters pages of his modern comics typically feature several highly critical letters where he is accused of creating "trendy" or "emo
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
" characters. He is often compared to his friend Dan Clowes for his signature clean-line style
Ligne claire
Ligne claire is a style of drawing pioneered by Hergé, the Belgian creator of The Adventures of Tintin. It uses clear strong lines of uniform importance. Artists working in it do not use hatching, while contrast is downplayed as well...
; in fact, he is sometimes accused of ripping off Clowes' style. In an interview published in The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
#205, Tomine addressed many of these criticisms and discussed his influences in detail, admitting that he was strongly influenced by Clowes but perhaps even more so by Jaime Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez is the co-creator of the black & white independent comic book Love and Rockets .-Early life:...
. The cover of his Journal issue featured a self-parody of sorts, featuring a sequence where a hipster
Hipster (contemporary subculture)
Hipsters are a subculture of young, recently settled urban middle class adults and older teenagers with musical interests mainly in alternative rock that appeared in the 1990s...
girl says to the reader, "I'm so cute! I listen to indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
! But... I'm sad. Can you relate?"
In an interview published on the Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly is a Canadian comic book publishing company, headed by Chris Oliveros, and based in Montreal, Quebec. Its focus is on graphic novels and underground or alternative comics. Drawn and Quarterly was also the title of the company's flagship quarterly anthology during the 1990s...
website, Tomine discussed printing critical letters in his book: "I imagine most cartoonists receive some negative mail. I just thought it was fair (and entertaining) to allow a range of reactions to be heard. And as for my response, it really varies: some criticism I dismiss completely, and some I take to heart."
Most of Tomine's early works rarely mentioned racial issues and most of his characters appeared to be Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
. Tomine, who is Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, drew himself in many of his early strips, but did not make his ethnicity clear (he often drew his glasses as being opaque, so his eyes
Epicanthal fold
An epicanthic fold, epicanthal fold, or epicanthus is a skin fold of the upper eyelid, covering the inner corner of the eye....
couldn't be seen). In later works, he has explored racial issues more directly, such as in his latest graphic novel Shortcomings
Shortcomings (Graphic Novel)
Shortcomings is a graphic novel by cartoonist Adrian Tomine. Shortcomings was originally serialized in issues #9 through #11 of Tomine's comic book collection Optic Nerve before being released as a whole in 2007...
.
In the '90s, Tomine made an appearance on The Jane Pratt Show
Jane Pratt
Jane Pratt is the founding editor of Sassy and Jane. She currently hosts the talk show Jane Radio on Sirius XM Radio.-Early life:...
, which he documented in Optic Nerve.
Optic Nerve
Optic Nerve is the ongoing series of comics by Adrian Tomine that were originally self-published and are currently published by Drawn and QuarterlyDrawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly is a Canadian comic book publishing company, headed by Chris Oliveros, and based in Montreal, Quebec. Its focus is on graphic novels and underground or alternative comics. Drawn and Quarterly was also the title of the company's flagship quarterly anthology during the 1990s...
. Originally, the self-published comics were in "mini-comic" form, and there were seven issues (most of them later republished in 32 Stories). After Drawn and Quarterly became the publisher, the comics were published at standard size, and the issue numbering was restarted, making the first Drawn and Quarterly published issue to be numbered #1. These comics range from a few pages per story to the 32-page standard in later issues. Issues 1-4 included several stories each and are collected in Sleepwalk and Other Stories, and issues 5-8 included one story each and are collected in Summer Blonde. Issues 9-11 were compiled into a graphic novel called 'Shortcomings,' released in September 2007.
Optic Nerve #1
The first issue published by Drawn and QuarterlyDrawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly is a Canadian comic book publishing company, headed by Chris Oliveros, and based in Montreal, Quebec. Its focus is on graphic novels and underground or alternative comics. Drawn and Quarterly was also the title of the company's flagship quarterly anthology during the 1990s...
in April 1995 included five short stories entitled "Sleepwalk", "Echo Ave.", "Long Distance", "Drop" and "Lunch Break".
Optic Nerve #2
The second issue contains four stories. "The Connecting Thread" is a story of a young woman convinced that she is being watched from afar by a mysterious admirer who repeatedly places advertisements about her in the "I Saw You" section of her local newspaper. "Summer Job" tells the experiences of an adolescent named Eric who is employed at a photocopying store for a summer. "Pink Frosting" depicts a violent confrontation that takes place after a car accident almost occurs, culminating in a curb-stompCurb-stomp
Curb-stomping is a violent assault in which the attacker forces the victim to lie down prone on the street and "bite the curb" , following which the attacker stomps on the back of the victim's head resulting in crushed teeth, a broken jaw and/or skull, and possibly death...
. "Layover" shows a young man who misses his flight and instead of returning home to people who assume he has caught his flight wanders aimlessly for the whole day. This issue was published by Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly
Drawn and Quarterly is a Canadian comic book publishing company, headed by Chris Oliveros, and based in Montreal, Quebec. Its focus is on graphic novels and underground or alternative comics. Drawn and Quarterly was also the title of the company's flagship quarterly anthology during the 1990s...
in November 1995.
Optic Nerve #5-8
Summer Blonde is one of Adrian Tomine's most commercially popular collections of comics from his Optic Nerve series. These four stories were originally published individually.Summer Blonde begins with "Alter Ago", originally published in Optic Nerve #5, which chronicles a promising young author struggling to write a sophomore novel. In the wake of his writer's block, he becomes obsessed with re-connecting with his high school crush, despite currently being in a relationship. His feelings are further complicated when he begins spending time with his crush's teenage sister.
"Hawaiian Getaway", originally published in Optic Nerve #6, is the story of Hilary Chan's evolving circumstances when she finds herself unemployed and with no meaningful social relationships. In order to compensate for these voids, she becomes more eccentric and isolated. The format of the story is unlike the others included in Summer Blonde, as it divided into 13 chapters that separate defining moments in Hilary's life. This format also succeeds in illustrating the protagonist's disconnection from society.
"Summer Blonde", the title story, was first seen in Optic Nerve #7, and is centered on a beautiful young woman named Vanessa who finds herself the object of three men's desires: her boyfriend, a misogynistic lover named Carlo, and Carlo's obsessive and unstable neighbor, Neil.
"Bomb Scare", originally published in Optic Nerve #8, tells the story of two outcast teenagers and the scrutiny that they must endure at the hand of their high school's social hierarchy. "Bomb Scare" was chosen by Dave Eggers
Dave Eggers
Dave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is known for the best-selling memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and for his more recent work as a screenwriter. He is also the co-founder of the literacy project 826 Valencia.-Life:Eggers was born in Boston, Massachusetts,...
to be included in the book "The Best American Non-Required Reading 2002" (Houghton Mifflin).
Collected works
- 1998 - 32 Stories: The Complete Optic Nerve Mini-Comics (ISBN 1-896597-00-9)
- 1998 - Sleepwalk and Other Stories (ISBN 1-896597-12-2)
- 2002 - Summer Blonde (ISBN 1-896597-57-2)
- 2004 - Scrapbook: Uncollected Work 1990-2004 (ISBN 1-896597-77-7)
- 2005 - New York Sketches 2004 (ISBN 0-9766848-2-9)
- 2007 - ShortcomingsShortcomings (Graphic Novel)Shortcomings is a graphic novel by cartoonist Adrian Tomine. Shortcomings was originally serialized in issues #9 through #11 of Tomine's comic book collection Optic Nerve before being released as a whole in 2007...
(ISBN 978-1-897299-16-6) - 2011 - Scenes From an Impending Marriage (ISBN 978-1770460348)
Other work
Tomine has worked on several albums, including liner notesLiner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
and album art for Eels
Eels (band)
Eels is an American indie rock band formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E...
' Electro-Shock Blues
Electro-Shock Blues
Electro-Shock Blues is the second studio album by the band Eels, released on September 21, 1998 in the United Kingdom and October 20, 1998 in the United States.-Background and inspiration:...
, "Last Stop: This Town
Last Stop: This Town
"Last Stop: This Town" is a 1998 single from the album Electro-Shock Blues by Eels. The song was released commercially in Australia and the United Kingdom and as a promo only in the United States. It was produced and co-written by Michael Simpson of the Dust Brothers and Eels frontman E...
", "Cancer for the Cure
Cancer for the Cure
"Cancer for the Cure" is a single released by American rock band, Eels. This tracks comes off their 1998 album, Electro-Shock Blues. It also features in the soundtrack to the 1999 film, American Beauty...
", and End Times
End Times (album)
-Charts:-Personnel:Eels*Wayne Bergeron – horns*Butch – drums*Chris Bleth – horns*E – vocals, guitars, bass guitar, harmonica, piano, Optigan, Hammond B3 organ, banjo, Harmonium, Vox Continental organ, drums, percussion, and production...
, as well as The Softies
The Softies
The Softies were a musical duo consisting of Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia, whose genre was love songs using only their two voices and electric guitars....
' album "It's Love" and The Crabs
The Crabs
The Crabs were a Portland, Oregon based indie-rock band. Originally formed as a duo with Jonn Lunsford and Lisa Jackson , the pair later added keyboardist Sarah Dougher following their 1997 release What Were Flames Now Smolder.- Members :* Jonn Lunsford - Vocals and guitar* Lisa Jackson - Vocals...
's "What Were Flames Now Smolder".
External links
- Adrian Tomine's official website
- Tomine page at Drawn & Quarterly
- Tomine page at lambiek.net
- Nichi Bei Times interview
- Scene Missing Magazine interviews Adrian Tomine
- Hand-written interview with Adrian Tomine from ifpthendirt.
- Comics Reporter: Tom SpurgeonTom SpurgeonTom Spurgeon is an American writer, historian and editor in the field of comics, notable for his five-year run as editor of The Comics Journal and his blog The Comics Reporter, which he launched in 2004 with site designer Jordan Raphael.-Books:...
: A short interview with Adrian Tomine - Adrian Tomine interview (December 2004) for QRD
- Review of Shortcomings @ The Culturatti]
- Tomine interview (Jan 2008) Fresh Air, NPR
- 2011 radio interview (50 minutes) at The Bat Segundo ShowThe Bat Segundo ShowThe Bat Segundo Show is a podcast based in New York run by writer and literary critic Edward Champion.The program features comprehensive interviews with prominent figures in arts and culture, with a special focus on literature. Past guests have included David Mitchell, David Lynch, Amy Sedaris,...
- Ahora: Interview with Adrian Tomine on The New Yorker http://www.joannarieke.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/this-weeks-new-yorker-cover-summer-getaway/