Best Selling Books by Adrian Tomine

Shortcomings, Adrian Tomine''s first long-form graphic novel, is the story of Ben Tanaka, a confused, obsessive, Japanese-American male in his late-twenties, and his cross-country search for contentment (or at least the perfect girl). Along the way, Tomine tackles modern culture, sexual mores, and racial politics with brutal honesty and lacerating, irreverent humor, while deftly bringing to life a cast of painfully real anti-hero characters. A frequent contributor to The New Yorker, Tomine has acquired a cult-like fan following and has earned a status as one of the most widely-acclaimed cartoonists of our time. Shortcomings was serialized in Tomine''s iconic comic book series Optic Nerve and was excerpted in McSweeney''s Quarterly Concern #13.

Killing and Dying is a stunning showcase of the possibilities of the graphic novel medium and a wry exploration of loss, creative ambition, identity, and family dynamics. With this work, Adrian Tomine (Shortcomings, Scenes from an Impending Marriage) reaffirms his place not only as one of the most significant creators of contemporary comics but as one of the great voices of modern American literature. His gift for capturing emotion and intellect resonates here: the weight of love and its absence, the pride and disappointment of family, the anxiety and hopefulness of being alive in the twenty-first century. "Amber Sweet" shows the disastrous impact of mistaken identity in a hyper-connected world; "A Brief History of the Art Form Known as Hortisculpture" details the invention and destruction of a vital new art form in short comic strips; "Translated, from the Japanese" is a lush, full-color display of storytelling through still images; the title story, "Killing and Dying", centers on parenthood, mortality, and stand-up comedy. In six interconnected, darkly funny stories, Tomine forms a quietly moving portrait of contemporary life. Tomine is a master of the small gesture, equally deft at signaling emotion via a subtle change of expression or writ large across landscapes illustrated in full color. Killing and Dying is a fraught, realist masterpiece.

Adrian Tomine''s cult comix series Optic Nerve is finally collected into one sharp-looking hardcover graphic novel. Described as the Raymond Carver of comix, Tomine constructs tales of emotional disconnection with an ear for painfully real dialogue. Combined with his deft black and white depictions of urbane lifestyles, Tomine''s fans have often accused him of eavesdropping in on their most intimate moments and, with forensic skill, laying their lives bare. The conflicts between emotional gratification, narcissistic neediness and moral discernment mark the title story - "Summer Blonde" - in which a socially crippled man nurses an obsessive crush on a young woman. He watches close up, paralyzed by his guilt, as her beauty catches the eye of his neighbor: a hip, selfish young man with a short attention span. One of Optic Nerve''s most popular stories, `Hawaiian Getaway,` features Hilary, telephone service rep who is having the worst week of her life. She lost her job, her apartment, and her grandmother. Close to the edge, she is losing her grip. Reaching out to random strangers on the phone, Hilary is looking for someone to help her. In "Alter Ego" a successful young author has writer`s block. He can`t, or won`t, decide between another ghostwriting gig and finishing his second ‘real'' novel. He stalls on committing to his novel and his girlfriend when a chance postcard leads him to flirt with fantasies of changing the past. Finally, "Bomb Scare" documents the early unease of his generation by setting this coming-of-age story during the tense months of the Gulf War, the event that ushered in the 1990s.

A comedic memoir about fandom, fame, and other embarrassments from the life of a New York Times bestseller What happens when a childhood hobby grows into a lifelong career? The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist, Adrian Tomine''s funniest and most revealing foray into autobiography, offers an array of unexpected answers. When a sudden medical incident lands Tomine in the emergency room, he begins to question if it was really all worthwhile: despite the accolades and opportunities of a seemingly charmed career, it''s the gaffes, humiliations, slights, and insults he''s experienced (or caused) within the industry that loom largest in his memory. Tomine illustrates the amusing absurdities of how we choose to spend our time, all the while mining his conflicted relationship with comics and comics culture. But in between chaotic book tours, disastrous interviews, and cringe-inducing interactions with other artists, life happens: he fumbles his way into marriage, parenthood, and an indisputably fulfilling existence. A richer emotional story emerges as his memories are delineated in excruciatingly hilarious detail. In a bold stylistic departure from his award-winning Killing and Dying, he distills his art to the loose, lively essentials of cartooning, each pen stroke economically imbued with human depth. Designed as a sketchbook complete with placeholder ribbon and an elastic band, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist shows an acclaimed artist at the peak of his career.

''Scrapbook'' presents a comprehensive collection of the work of Adrian Tomine, ranging from the strips originally published in Tower Records'' ''Pulse'' magazine to his illustration and design work.

Everything you wanted to know about storytelling or Adrian Tomine but were too afraid to ask “That would’ve been too easy and spontaneous for me, and I had to find a way to make everything more complicated.” And yet for over thirty years, bestselling author, screenwriter, and New Yorker cover artist Adrian Tomine’s work has set the standard for contemporary storytelling. With Tomine, his readership has grown from the dedicated following of his comic-book series Optic Nerve to include a wider but still engaged, opinionated, and ever-inquiring public. And now, for the first time in print, Tomine responds to his readers directly, tackling their questions and comments with generosity, humor, and vulnerability. Q&A is one part personal history, one part masterclass in crafting quality entertainment. With questions pulled from his time at the Substack Writers’ Residency, and with additional, new material, Q&A is an indispensable addition to the collections of eagle-eyed fans and aspiring artists, writers, and cartoonists alike. Tomine answers questions about his preferred tools, his creative process, the ups and downs of adaptation, and perhaps most importantly—how to pronounce his last name. Illustrated with drafts, outtakes, and photos from the artist’s personal collection, this rare peek into the mind of a contemporary cartooning giant lays out the method to his meticulous brand of madness. The artist looks back on his career in response to queries from his—maybe adoring but mostly curious—public with his signature dry wit and unflinching, self-deprecating honesty.

"Worth reading just for Tomine''s eloquent restraint and literary leanings"--The Boston Phoenix.

''New York Drawings'' is a loving homage to the city that Tomine, a West Coast transplant, has called home for the past seven years. This lavish volume collects every cover, comic and illustration that he has produced for ''The New Yorker'' to date, along with an assortment of other rare and uncollected illustrations and sketches.

Thirty-two comic strip stories offer glimpses into hesitant and sometimes funny interpersonal situations.

A comic book based on the author''s own wedding plans celebrates the absurd aspects of getting married, from taking dance lessons to managing family demands.

"A portfolio of fifteen full-color prints which are reproductions of ink-and-watercolor drawings from Adrian Tomine''s sketchbook. They are printed on 130 lb. Cougar paper which has been ''accordion folded'' ... "--P. [4] of cover.

"Over four decades ago, Yoshihiro Tatsumi expanded the horizons of comics story telling by using the visual language of manga to tell gritty, literacy short stories about the private lives of everyday people. he had been called "the grandfather of Japanese alternative comics" and has influenced generations of cartoonists, but, until now, the majority of his work has remained unavailable outside of Japan. By turns poetic, comical, and deeply unsettling, Abandon the Old in Tokyo is a collection of unforgettable short stories from the modern master."--BOOK JACKET.

Por el premiado autor del best seller Intrusos. Las crónicas más divertidas sobre la fama, los fans y otras incomodidades del aclamado Adrian Tomine. ¿Qué sucede cuando un pasatiempo infantil se convierte en tu verdadera profesión? En esta divertida y reveladora incursión en la vida de Adrian Tomine encontraremos todas las respuestas. Tras un repentino e insignificante chequeo médico, Tomine empieza a reflexionar sobre su propia vida y a preguntarse si todo lo que ha vivido ha valido realmente la pena, porque a pesar de los elogios, los premios y las oportunidades de una carrera aparentemente brillante, son las meteduras de pata, las humillaciones y los insultos que ha recibido (o proferido) dentro de la industria del cómic lo que le ha quedado marcado. Paradójicamente, a medida que esos recuerdos negativos cobran vida con grandes dosis de humor e ironía, una narración bien distinta se desarrolla en paralelo. Entre giras caóticas, entrevistas desastrosas y difíciles interacciones con otros artistas, la vida personal se abre paso: el matrimonio, la paternidad y una existencia plenamente satisfactoria actúan como contraposición redentora. Mientras los conflictos debilitan su relación con la cultura del cómic, Tomine ilustra el sinsentido de la vida y cómo cada uno decide sobrellevarla a su manera. Este absurdo vital que suma episodios hilarantes con otros de intenso calado emocional nos revela a un Tomine íntimo y confesional en su mejor momento creativo. En esta ocasión el impecable estilo de Tomine se eleva a sus líneas más puras y, gracias a este dibujo esencial, el boceto en blanco y negro transmite la profundidad humana de la forma más cruda y directa. La soledad del dibujante está concebido como un cuaderno de sketches, y es a todas luces la cima de la carrera del aclamado artista. La crítica ha dicho... «Tomine presenta el retrato más honesto y sincero que jamás haya podido leer sobre una industria con la que ya no puedo soportar más asociarme.» Alan Moore, autor de Jerusalem, From Hell, Watchmen, V de Vendetta. «Un libro maravilloso sobre la extraña impresión de sentirse cohibido y al mismo tiempo anhelar conectarse con otras personas incluso cuando sabes que no va a resultar.» Roz Chast, autora de ¿Podemos hablar de algo más agradable? «Un adorable e implacable paseo por el desfile de indignidad de nuestra profesión.» Michael DeForge, autor de Leaving Richard''s Valley

El peso del amor y de su ausencia. El orgullo y la decepción en la familia. La ansiedad y la desesperanza de sentirse vivo en el siglo veintiuno. Tomine reafirma su lugar como uno de los creadores más significativos del cómic contemporáneo. En «Amber Sweet» muestra el desastroso impacto de una doble identidad en un mundo hiperconectado. En «A Brief History of the Art Form Known as Hortisculpture» nos detalla la invención y destrucción de una nueva forma de arte en las tiras gráficas. «Translated, from the Japanese» es un cuadro a todo color donde las cosas se explican mediante imágenes congeladas. La historia que da título a la novela gráfica, «Intrusos», se centra en la paternidad, la moralidad y el humor de un comediante de stand-up shows. En seis historias interconectadas, oscuramente divertidas, Tomine desarma al lector con el gesto preciso y la emoción gráfica exacta que retrata la vida contemporánea no tal como nos gustaría que fuese, sino tal como es. Intrusos es un magnífico muestrario de todas las posibilidades de la novela gráfica mediante una exploración de la pérdida, la ambición creativa, la identidad y el caprichoso universo de la familia. Es una obra maestra del realismo. La crítica ha dicho... «Obra maestra. Un creador que trasciende más allá del mundo de la viñeta. Tomine está en estado de gracia.» Joan Luna, Babelia, El País «Exquisito.» Jordi Canyissà, La Vanguardia «La capacidad narrativa de Tomine sobrepasa los límites del género. Belleza y sutileza visual aplastante.» 13 Millones de Naves «Enmarcar después de leer. Un cómic superlativo.» Oscar Broc, Time Out

"Pontos fracos é a melhor representação já feita da angústia do homem asiático-americano. Tomine é o Tchékhov dos quadrinhos." Viet Thanh Nguyen Ben Tanaka é um verdadeiro especialista em complicar a própria vida. Crítico e irônico, ele é obcecado por suas frustrações e tem uma queda pronunciada por mulheres brancas. Sua namorada, Miko Hayashi, cria suspeita dessa preferência, o que desencadeia debates acalorados e uma crise na relação. Quando Miko decide dar um tempo e se muda de cidade, Ben embarca em uma jornada tragicômica e autodestrutiva, revelando mais sobre suas falhas do que ele gostaria de admitir. Ambientada entre a Califórnia e Nova York, a narrativa de Tomine desafia as noções simplistas de identidade e raça, explorando com profundidade as complexidades e contradições do autoentendimento e das expectativas culturais. Com críticas sociais afiadas, um realismo incisivo e um toque de humor ácido, Tomine nos desafia a olhar para as falhas e os preconceitos que todos preferimos esconder. "Observações meticulosas... O diálogo é afiado e direto. [Tomine é] ousado em sua contenção." The New York Times Review "Um dos quadrinistas mais talentosos de sua geração. [Pontos fracos] é igualmente comovente, hilário e triste." The Village Voice "Explorando raça, vida adulta e ambição com um humor e uma sensibilidade perfeitamente equilibrados, Pontos fracos é uma narrativa gráfica tão realisticamente penetrante quanto qualquer ficção em prosa. Nota: 10" Entertainment Weekly "Pontos fracos é a melhor representação já feita da angústia do homem asiático-americano. Tomine é o Tchékhov dos quadrinhos, um mestre na arte de contar histórias através de imagens." Viet Thanh Nguyen, vencedor dos prêmios Pulitzer e Edgar, autor de O simpatizante "Um dos mais talentosos novelistas gráficos de nosso tempo." Wired "Graphic novels raramente são tão inquietantes e sutis." The Boston Globe

Iconic postcards from a beloved illustrator Adrian Tomine (Shortcomings, Scenes from an Impending Marriage) has forged countless iconic images of New York City in his career as an illustrator. A master of conveying an entire story with a single panel, his covers for The New Yorker are beloved by New Yorkers and non–New Yorkers alike, as much for their frank yet charming portrayal of life in the big city as for their flawless design and gorgeous linework. New York Postcards celebrates thirty of Tomine''s most well-known illustrations, and is a loving homage to the city that Tomine, a West Coast transplant, has called home for the past eight years.

Ben Tanaka è un trentenne cinico, meschino, presuntuoso e bugiardo. Ipercritico su ogni piccolo aspetto della vita quotidiana, sa essere facilone e superficiale solo davanti a un tema: la questione razziale. Ben è un asiatico-americano, ma si sente perfettamente inserito nella cultura del suo Paese. Del resto, vive a Berkeley, una delle città più progressiste della California, cuore storico del movimento hippie e roccaforte del Partito democratico fin dal 1960. Per lui il razzismo non esiste. O, perlomeno, non è un suo problema. Se non fosse che Ben ha una fissazione che proprio non riesce a nascondere: le ragazze occidentali, meglio se bionde e con gli occhi azzurri, anche se non ha mai avuto il coraggio di avvicinarne una. Quando Miko, la sua fidanzata di origini giapponesi, gli fa notare che i suoi gusti sessuali sono stati colonizzati dai media, lui nega con forza. E così, quello che sembrava l''ennesimo bisticcio da niente, si chiude con un''accusa dalle implicazioni profonde: sopraffatto dal desiderio di omologazione, Ben sta cercando di cancellare le proprie radici. In questa perla del fumetto d''autore contemporaneo, pubblicata in rivista tra il 2004 e il 2007, Adrian Tomine si destreggia con maestria tra i toni sferzanti della dark comedy e quelli più riflessivi e rivelatori della narrativa minimalista, offrendoci un''analisi onesta e irresistibile della mascolinità contemporanea. *********************** Questo eBook è ottimizzato per la fruizione su tablet; se ne sconsiglia pertanto la lettura sui dispositivi eReader.

Between his second and third tours of duty, a soldier returns home. To his former home, that is, using an old key while the new tenant is at work. Is he re-entering his old life or borrowing someone else''s? Where is the line he will not cross? Each day is the same: he exists in a state of suspension, barely knowing how he passes the time - until someone else intrudes on the intruder. Adrian Tomine, graphic master of alienation and regret, expertly expands the form to express the unsaid and the unbearable in this unforgettable evocation of a post-traumatic life.

Ebenso einfühlsam wie schonungslos porträtiert der 30-jährige Amerikaner Adrian Tomine in "Sommerblond" die emotionale Zerrissenheit seiner Generation. In drei melancholischen Erzählungen gewährt er Einblicke in das zuweilen abwegige Streben seiner Protagonisten nach Zuwendung und Anerkennung. Tomine gelingt in eindringlichen, naturalistischen Bildern ein Comic, "lohnend wie ein guter zeitgenössischer Roman" (Nick Hornby).

C''è uno strano imbarazzo nel sapere di non essere notati: ci sentiamo più liberi, ma non amiamo essere ignorati troppo a lungo. È la condizione che vivono i protagonisti di queste storie: decisi, delusi, teneri, ironici e arresi, figli di un''America minima che si sforza di mantenere il controllo in situazioni che puntualmente sfuggono di mano. Sei racconti di uomini e donne accomunati da una stessa condanna: vivere il riflesso delle scelte di un altro. *********************** Questo eBook è ottimizzato per la fruizione su tablet; se ne sconsiglia pertanto la lettura sui dispositivi eReader.

Temps présent et adversité sont les angles immuables des histoires d''Adrian Tomine, qui laissent le sentiment que rien ne changera jamais. Depuis ses débuts, cet Américain d''origine japonaise décline dans sa série Optic Nerve des parenthèses de vie contemporaine, traversées par des hommes et des femmes harassés par leur quotidien. La manière soudaine et presque arbitraire dont s''ouvrent et s''interrompent ces chroniques laisse le plus souvent abasourdi, et concourt à identifier son style si particulier. Car si Tomine décrit des personnages dont la vie se sclérose peu à peu autour d''un quotidien banal, il ne cesse de réinventer son style, faisant évoluer sa grammaire à l''aide d''expériences formelles, comme pour conjurer par l''art un destin qu''il semble redouter pour lui-même. Ce nouveau recueil confirme ainsi son intérêt récent pour la couleur, accompagnant une forme de nostalgie pour la bande dessinée classique et un goût pour les constructions graphiques. Le lecteur passe ainsi d''un récit introspectif à la première personne, illustré par des cartes postales dépeuplées, à un gaufrier extrêmement dense de cinq bandes dans lequel la répétition devient rythmique. Avec l''âge, le cynisme des débuts a cédé la place à une forme d''empathie empreinte d''ironie. Adrian Tomine rejoint ici son influence majeure, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, ce maître de la bande dessinée japonaise qui lui a permis de conjuguer ses deux cultures, le Japon et L''Amérique, le Gekiga et le Comics underground, pour se forger un langage à son image. Un langage qui, loin des effets faciles, déploit les moyens de la bande dessinée pour se consacrer à la peinture la plus juste possible de la condition humaine moderne.