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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Really enjoyed this short graphic novel about race, dating and relationships. The protagonist is a pretty obnoxious guy named Ben, who can't see his own shortcomings and keeps alienating those around him. The writing captures his character perfectly, as well as the reactions of his girlfriends and friends. While you probably won't find yourself liking Ben by the end of the book, hopefully you'll appreciate the story and the observations it makes.
why don't i read more books like this? oh because it's only half an hour of reading and $20 is a lot for half an hour...but this book is great. lots to think about and chuckle about, and the location-spotting is almost as fun in itself.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautifully illustrated, but ultimately not as poignant and profound as it wants to be.
I wonder, are we even supposed to like Tomine's protagonists? I hate Ben Tanaka. Of course, there's something compelling to reading about a self-absorbed, small-minded, self-loathing, bitter cynic who can't help but insult everyone around him.
It's not very much different than any other Tomine work - extremely quiet, very subdued scenes, the characters captured in an almost voyeuristic way - it's compelling. And the ending is fitting.
+++++++++++++++
It's quite good, better than my initial feelings. Ben Tanaka's still difficult to like, but he's a very engaging protagonist, and Tomine's understated writing and art ground all the scenes in a clear reality. Good dialogue, good human shortcomings, definitely worth reading.
It's not very much different than any other Tomine work - extremely quiet, very subdued scenes, the characters captured in an almost voyeuristic way - it's compelling. And the ending is fitting.
+++++++++++++++
It's quite good, better than my initial feelings. Ben Tanaka's still difficult to like, but he's a very engaging protagonist, and Tomine's understated writing and art ground all the scenes in a clear reality. Good dialogue, good human shortcomings, definitely worth reading.
God.. I feel like I have to explain why I gave this three stars. I thought it was great, but I also hated it. I think it's inevitable to compare his story telling style to Dan Clowes and his art style to Clowes, Ware, Tatsumi, etc. I see the main differences being: 1. His stories seem (and I'm sure are) a LOT more autiobiographical and are thus, less surreal, 2. His characterizations range in quality (he gets a ton of flak about this in his letters), but in this series, I felt like the assholes were all so damn one-dimensional and unlikable, and 3. Tomine's most direct voice, perhaps is what he tells through the fan letters, and how he formats them, who he quotes from, etc. This is probably one of the strongest aspects of Optic Nerve.
Sadly, despite the fact that this is more of a personal attack, I think that his characterizations and stories are much more flat and one dimensional.. there is no undercurrent of wonder or awe in his world to me. Just the negativity that everyone (the "fictional" cast and the "fan" letters, critics) accuses his alter-ego of. I mean, he is a downer, just like Ben in this comic (which is Optic Nerve issues #9-11). He doesn't allow them any redemptive quailties. I just hate everyone in this book, except for the lesbians, who seem fun (unrelated note, but I think my boyfriend was friends with the real version that the Korean lesbian is based off of). I hear Tomine's really not too bad himself, but man, I've never hated him so much after reading this one. Even his treatment of "hard-hitting" Asian-American issues is just the typical blather, so OBVIOUS and CLICHE, so I'm not sure how Tomine really feels about the stereotypes he speaks through, but I'm assume the narrative voice is more inline with the lesbians, who seem to be the least infantile about race issues (and sigh with dismay at the main characters deluded views). He did say in one interview, "I think that the most frustrating aspect of the book for some people is the lack of clarity in terms of what are the views of the fictional characters, and what are the views of the author."
That being said, I still really enjoyed this book, because it had the most autobiographical feel yet (though he claims it is not http://www.guttersnipenews.com/2009/04/24/2326/ ; also btw he eventually moved to New York between Issue 8 and 9, and married a white woman), and because of that felt the most real in terms of people I have met and life experiences I have had. In that way, it made me extremely fucking depressed about certain facts about my life and personality that dwelling helps not at all. I think if I had read this book at different time, if my life were better and not somewhat parallel, I would not be so upset by the idea of this annoying self-loathing main character, but at the end of a sprint race through Tomine's works that felt like I was getting to know the guy more and more, it almost felt like.. betrayal?
For reference, my favorite Optic Nerve, by far, was issue 6 (D&Q), which was the most powerful (and like always, the letters in issue 7 are essential to fully appreciate in issue 6). I think his most productive work for the Asian-American community is when he does not belabor the race issues, but just has Asian characters experiencing the world, with the race as maybe a background or subtext, like in issue 6. I also loved 32 Stories, like all the other haters (which now comes in a lovely boxed set with reprints on different page qualities).
TL;DR version: This comic was flat, yet it brought out a shitstorm of emotions, for which I applaud Tomine, however I still think that a lot of his comics don't make the world a BETTER place, and I'm still not sure I'm happy I read it or if I want to read him at all anymore.
Meh, I probably will.
Sadly, despite the fact that this is more of a personal attack, I think that his characterizations and stories are much more flat and one dimensional.. there is no undercurrent of wonder or awe in his world to me. Just the negativity that everyone (the "fictional" cast and the "fan" letters, critics) accuses his alter-ego of. I mean, he is a downer, just like Ben in this comic (which is Optic Nerve issues #9-11). He doesn't allow them any redemptive quailties. I just hate everyone in this book, except for the lesbians, who seem fun (unrelated note, but I think my boyfriend was friends with the real version that the Korean lesbian is based off of). I hear Tomine's really not too bad himself, but man, I've never hated him so much after reading this one. Even his treatment of "hard-hitting" Asian-American issues is just the typical blather, so OBVIOUS and CLICHE, so I'm not sure how Tomine really feels about the stereotypes he speaks through, but I'm assume the narrative voice is more inline with the lesbians, who seem to be the least infantile about race issues (and sigh with dismay at the main characters deluded views). He did say in one interview, "I think that the most frustrating aspect of the book for some people is the lack of clarity in terms of what are the views of the fictional characters, and what are the views of the author."
That being said, I still really enjoyed this book, because it had the most autobiographical feel yet (though he claims it is not http://www.guttersnipenews.com/2009/04/24/2326/ ; also btw he eventually moved to New York between Issue 8 and 9, and married a white woman), and because of that felt the most real in terms of people I have met and life experiences I have had. In that way, it made me extremely fucking depressed about certain facts about my life and personality that dwelling helps not at all. I think if I had read this book at different time, if my life were better and not somewhat parallel, I would not be so upset by the idea of this annoying self-loathing main character, but at the end of a sprint race through Tomine's works that felt like I was getting to know the guy more and more, it almost felt like.. betrayal?
For reference, my favorite Optic Nerve, by far, was issue 6 (D&Q), which was the most powerful (and like always, the letters in issue 7 are essential to fully appreciate in issue 6). I think his most productive work for the Asian-American community is when he does not belabor the race issues, but just has Asian characters experiencing the world, with the race as maybe a background or subtext, like in issue 6. I also loved 32 Stories, like all the other haters (which now comes in a lovely boxed set with reprints on different page qualities).
TL;DR version: This comic was flat, yet it brought out a shitstorm of emotions, for which I applaud Tomine, however I still think that a lot of his comics don't make the world a BETTER place, and I'm still not sure I'm happy I read it or if I want to read him at all anymore.
Meh, I probably will.
This was less depressing than I anticipated, thus was more enjoyable. I read it in one sitting, and was left wanting a little more. I think this particular graphic novel could've really been something a little more robust (further character development, a little more of a story arc - just more of it in general). Very good overall, though!
Perhaps I wasn't meant to read this all in one sitting, perhaps it hit too close to home regarding certain aspects of my personal life. But overall I just could not find myself "enjoying" this per se. The characters have real problems, and real attitudes towards those problems, and perhaps I just like my art/books with a slightly unrealistic flavor that wraps up in a nice neat message, or where the suffering feels like it has a purpose rather than being a side effect of life. I think many will find this refreshing in a read, but it didn't quite work for me.
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Body shaming, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racism, Lesbophobia
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Antisemitism, Classism