32 Stories: The Complete Optic Nerve Mini-Comics

I am currently on a quest to read every single thing that we have in the shop by Adrian Tomine. Had a bit of a Rhye/Beach House moment, where I identified Adrian as a woman and then was shocked to find out that the writer behind the stories (or the singer behind the songs) was actually male! Additionally though, I also really like the writing style, the gentle storytelling, the quiet illustrations so much that I want to read through everything we have because A. its really good B. the internet says that there is an overlap between the single issue comics Optic Nerve, and his short stories. Somostly if someone has already read Summer Blonde, or maybe some single issues of Optic Nerve, but they want more, which book do I suggest them because is everything actually connected or what.


Looking it up online...

(Taken from Wiki) Optic Nerve is the ongoing series of comics by Tomine that were originally self-published and are currently published by Drawn and Quarterly. Originally, the self-published comics were in "mini-comic" format, consisting of 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 & 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 were collected in Sleepwalk and Other Stories, and issues 5-8 included one story each and were collected in Summer Blonde. Issues 9-11 were compiled into a graphic novel titled Shortcomings, released in September 2007

I have read a few single issues of Optic Nerve that we have in the shop, which would be the reissued numbered comics, but when reading through this collection, 32 stories: The Complete Optic Nerve Mini-Comics, didn't come across any duplicates that I'd already read before. SO THE QUEST CONTINUES.

These stories were all really awesome, and the drawing style is a lot more loose than the later stuff that I've read. Some of the stories are super short, but even though some are only a page long, just a few single panels, it still is a really fun way of getting to know certain characters. Its hard to believe that Adrian drew some of these while in high school, and never showed anyone. High school. Crazy to think about. Really beautiful work. 

Heads or Tails -- Graphic Novel

 


Heads or Tails is a collection of short stories by Lilli Carré. A super great collection of thoughtful and contemplative narration about every day life. There are little quirky dream-like notions in some of the stories that make them seem like bedtime stories, she's got a great way of making plain stories about mundane life a little more fantastic by gently exaggerating the relationship between the characters inner dialogue and their perception of reality.

There was one story in particular that I've added a few pages from, called "Rainbow Moment", a beautifully written short about 6 different stories woven together. A man is sitting at the bar with his friend, telling a story of how his wife was having a rough day, the colors shift and you're in that story, then during that story the wife explains while she is having an off day, so her story begins and the colors shift a third time. Throughout "Rainbow Moment", this happens a total of 5 times, so there are 6 different characters you're introducted to, with 6 different colors attached to them, each having a bit of a Rainbow Moment themselves.

This particular story, as well as Lilli Carré's others and illustration style in general, make me feel really nostalgic, and I found myself appreciating this story so much. I guess I didn't realize it but I was having a "Rainbow Moment" too.

She was sitting there with an odd expression on her face, like she wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
- My parents used to call that a "rainbow moment". Like you're feeling both rain and sunshine at the same time and are caught somewhere between the two.

Hark! A Vagrant

Really brief and quick panels done by Kate Beaton. Hark! A Vagrant is a really nice union of humor and history. Been avoiding this book for some time for no real reason, but read it and thought it was pretty funny yeah. I didn't get most of the jokes, because they are historical jokes, and I never paid attention in school but even still, they were funny. I laughed, aloud, at work. The kind where you through your head back and just laugh like two quick bursts. I did this a number of times. It really was funny. My favorites were either the ones about the mystery solving teens or the ones about biblical figures, like Moses getting too chill by wearing socks and sandals.

Hawkeye - Volume 1

 

'My Life as a Weapon' intruduces us to, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye, a self made Avenger, doesn't really have 'superpowers' per-say but is incredible at using the bow and arrow, (kind of like Oliver Queen in Arrow, but Clint Barton is cooler in my opinion). The young Kate Bishop is his partner in crime. Even though she is a lot younger than him, she isn't really his sidekick or his protege, because she is already crazy good at bow and arrow and fighting and defending herself, but she also is usually the one helping Clint get out of any trouble that he has shimmied his way into. The two work together to steal from the rich and help those in need. A modern day Robin Hood and Little John duo. They are really cool together, and Matt Fractions writing makes this story really humorous and fun to read. Not as serious or dark as you would expect, but still really gripping and intense.

God Hates Astronauts - Issue #01

 This comic is insane and perfect.

Nothing in this storyline makes any sense and somehow everything makes total sense.

I should say that this is not for certain types of people for sure, but those that grew up finding stupid cartoons like Spongebob Squarepants or Captain Underpants hilarious, like myself, this garbage is for you and it is not garbage, its gold.

My favorite character is the 3D ghost who gives back stories when necessary and pops in every now and then just to say hi.

The whole thing is a trip.
and I'm very down.