OPTIC NERVE #12 (Drawn and Quarterly)
by Adrian Tomine

Synopsis: Finally, a book that combines my love of plant sculptures and porn stars. And shattering regret.

01. Is it pronounced Toe-Mine or Toe-Min-Aye? Toe-Mee-Nay? Some days I wish I knew everything about everything, then people would probably like me.

02. I should have finished getting that English major. About halfway through the program I ended up quitting in disgust - partly because that damn thing was costing me a lot of money, and partly because the bullshit was really starting to get me down. (And, if I’m really being honest, mostly because I was consistently on the razor’s edge of flunking.) Had I actually completed the program, I would probably be more equiped to talk about books like this. Also: grammar. I’d be more good at being more better at making grammar happen the best. Regardless, I didn’t complete my English major, and so I’m not really good at parsing things with any kind of academic style or mindset. But you know what I am good at? Enjoying the fuck out of stuff, and telling people why. And they don’t teach that shit at college, now do they.

03. Reading an issue of Optic Nerve can sometimes seem like self-harm. This is in no way a derogatory comment on it’s quality. Each issue of Optic Nerve is brimming with life. Sometimes lives. Sometimes ones that you identify with or can identify. The characters Tomine creates are filled with a sense of general unease, some well aware, some completely oblivious. All of them are bound by the common thread of just being human. Everyone longs to be happy, and more often than not, that longing overtakes whatever redeeming qualities they have. This causes them to make some pretty shitty life choices, all in the name of just finally being happy, of finally accomplishing that life goal that they’ve always had. The results are often times hard to read, because… well, the emotions are absolutely genuine. They are things that you have felt or that you will feel. This is why it feels like self harm: it causes you to recognize things in yourself that you’d rather ignore. Things that either you need to fix, or that you have fixed, but still regret. It’s like a mirror of self loathing. But dammit if it isn’t an absolutely stunning reflection.

04. This issue features three stories. The first, done in the style of a newspaper strip, complete with full colour Sunday Funnees, gives the brief history of an artform called Hortisculpture, and serves not only as a striking parody of “goofy dad” strips, but as a reminder of perspective. Mainly, that it’s an important thing to have. In the issue’s second half, is a story about a girl who bears a striking resemblance to a porn star, and how that affects how people see her, and how she thinks people see her. Then finally, there’s a two page grid of comics featuring Tomine himself pushing against the lit-comic movement away from single issues, and towards completed graphic novels from prose book publishers. Each feature is drenched with a weird gloom. I say weird, because… at least in my case, that gloom is tinged with awe. Because how the fuck does this guy know so much about these things??! Isn’t he just inventing them? Crafting them from nothing? Why do I care about these people as if they are real when they exist for such a brief span of time? Why is my heart breaking? I guess I’m trying to convey the fact that I think Tomine is a man with a lot of talent, and I am very, very jealous of him. God dammit.

05. The art remains a joy. This is the first issue of Optic Nerve to feature colour beyond it’s cover pages - and not only can Tomine use black and white to great affect, he has a solid grasp of colour, choosing palates that compliment mood, scene and characterization quite well. Also, I found myself staring at the-girl-who-would-be-Amber-Sweet, head resting in hand, sighing at her passing beauty. And she’s not real. At this moment, so far removed from my last read through, that seems a bit disturbing to me. It’s a sign of some kind of mental break, right? Falling in love with people or things that don’t exist? That are vaguely or completely inanimate? Though in the end, it’s probably just a demonstration of how good Tomine is at what he does. Through his words and line work and colours, he causes you to develop empathy for someone that is a complete fabrication. Is empathy the right word? Whatever, it is now. The man is too good at what he does, which is why the release of this series happens so infrequently. There is little to no money involved in making comics like this. Not in comparison to other gigs an artist of his talents can pull in. But thank goodness he’s still got that passion to tell stories about these people. Despite their actions (or because of them?), I like these people. I want to meet more of them whenever I get the chance. And if that chance only comes by once a year? Well, then okay. At least it’s better than nothing, right?

06. Oh: and the dude still runs a letter column - one of the best in the business - using letters he gets from a P.O. Box. I love that. And bless him for doing that. I eagerly await the next issue.

Recommended if you like: Demo, Local, Everwood, and great comics.