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.

Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life -- Graphic Novel

Recently translated into English, this graphic novel tells the story of a young Ulli Lust; a 17 year old who is looking for adventure. Ulli and a new friend decide to travel together to Spain for the winter to experience a new city, see the sea and meet interesting people along the way.

I found myself feeling really sorry for Ulli, and getting really angry for her, because of how much trouble she was finding in her travels, all from men. It is frustrating for a woman who wants to see life, and experience something for themselves alone, but isn't able to do so in peace because of their gender. Ulli is constantly getting confronted by strange men in these different cities, claiming to be courteous and generous, giving her money for her travels, letting her rest in their spare rooms, but then expecting sex because of their "kindness" towards her. "I was nice to you, couldn't you be a little nice to me", says one of the creatures that she is pressured to pleasure in a back alley after she has been gifted a meal.

It is wild to me that someone as young as 17 was able to think with such clarity as to the treatment that was happening towards her. There were a lot of times where you could understand that she really was still just a young girl who was tired from her travels and after an incident was beating herself up for not seeing it beforehand, but through the story, you can see her really struggling with this reality that she has found herself in.

After reading this story I am touched by Ulli's courage and inspired by her sense of adventure and, like many days, disgusted with men and the leniency of sexism in this world !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Still a very good read and also super important.

Promethea -- Volume 1

This story follows a college aged girl, Sophie Bangs who is writing a paper about Promethea, a character who has shown up in various stories throughout history without the multiple authors being aware of the similarities between the characters they created on their own.

Sophie is intrigued by these connections and thinks that there has to be more than just coincidence with the reoccurence of Promethea, and gets in way over her head when she starts to get wrapped up in the story.

The story itself is set in 'futuristic' 1999 New York City, which is cool. Everything is very punk rock and neon. Even though it was actually written from 1999 to 2005, it reads as slightly outdated. It feels like it was written further back than that, thinking about how crazy and futuristic the early 2000s would be.

I think the idea behind this story is interesting, Sophie Bangs and Promethea are two really strong, well written characters, but there is something that makes me feel like I can't get into it as much as I could. I think it is probably the artwork. There is a lot of fantasy going on in this story, but there are a lot of scenes where fantasy and reality are meeting together and getting blurry. There isn't really a blur though, it seems too rigid and structured, visually speaking. I'm looking for more Dali and less Winsor McCay. Need more chaos to get down with this story that is entirely based around imagination and the limits of your own mind.

Further Readings

Batman Eternal - Up to Issue 44 out of 44, caught up and now have to wait a week like everybody else. A week isn't so bad though. Its a good amount of time. Although I would prefer zero days. But whatever. This story is still cooking.

Squirrel Girl - #2 just came out this week and IT - IS - SO - GOOD. I want to get everyone I know a copy of issue 1 of squirrel girl because find me someone on this planet that wouldn't like this story. That person is a giant boring lame-o. Squirrel Girl is 100% likeable, funny, charming, awesome, posi, cool. All around a most excellent read.

Ant-Man -- #2 also came out this week and I'm still charmed by Scott Lang. Just one of those characters you root for even though if you knew him in real life you would probably be super annoyed at him all the time and think 'dude. get yourself TOGETHER MAN'. The art is really awesome, I like the scenes where he is changing size and you can see the progression of his body getting smaller. This issue hints that one of the older women characters might also be a superhero or something like that, I wonder if they'll expand on that further I'm super curious who she is supposed to be. I could also google that and get the answer immediately, so.....

Alex + Ada -- now on issue #8, but waiting on a copy because we are out at the store. !!!! Playing a waiting came. I am really interested in this story line, the concept of humans and AI on almost the same level. As much as I don't want to be a part of that in real life, I think its a really interesting concept to consider. Bummed that the story is coming to an end soon!

Letter 44 -- On issue #11 right now, also waiting for a copy of the next issue. Letter 44 is really rad. I still really like this story. Just want to read more!