Shortcomings
Adrian Tomine

If you asked me if the graphic novel was literature a few years ago, I might have said, “don’t be ridiculous.” (I may or may not have sounded like Balki Bartokamus.) But like most stupid and ignorant opinions, my view would have been based on prejudices and not actually experience.

My opinion began to change after reading The Watchmen by Alan Moore. Considered by many to be the greatest graphic novel, The Watchmen turned the superhero myth on its head with its multi-layered storytelling and dissection of the usual comic book good vs. evil paradigm. Although still dealing with costumed superheroes, only one of the characters had actual superpowers, making each of the main characters as frail and flawed as any regular joe. To call The Watchmen a comic book doesn’t do it justice. It is literature through and through.

But could a graphic novel escape the superhero genre? I wasn’t sure. That was until I discovered Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware. Innovative, funny and yet tragic, the novel tells the story of a hopelessly awkward and lonely man who is reunited with his long-lost dad. Confronting family, history and despair with humor and unwitting honesty, Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth manages to be as complex and poignant as a great prose novel. Oh yeah, the art is beautiful too.

My latest foray into graphic novel genre is Adriane Tomine’s Shortcomings. Set in the San Francisco Bay Area (where I coincidentally grew up), Shortcomings follows the life of Asian-American Ben Tanaka, a negative, self-absorbed slacker who has a thing for white girls. Not exactly your usual comic book material.

Ben’s relationship with girlfriend Miko is falling apart. They argue constantly. In fact most of the novel’s first half is focused on this doomed relationship. Tomine manages to get these scenes just right. Each line of dialogue feels painstakingly real (believe me I know), but what makes these just about perfect is the art. It’s beautifully drawn and real to life. Tomine manages to accomplish in one frame what might take a prose write two pages to accomplish.

As the story moves forward and Ben’s life falls apart, Tomine’s characters become fully formed and earn a note of dignity; despite their shortcomings, each takes on an air of individuality that avoids any Asian American clichés. You won’t find any engineers here. In fact Ben runs a movie theater. That’s pretty unambitious for anyone. And Alice, his Korean best friend, is the Don Juan of lesbians. She hits on anything that moves. (Isn’t that awesome?)

In the end as the story moves to New York City and a climax and Ben’s whiteboy rival pulls out some kung fu moves, I couldn’t decide how to feel about Ben’s absurd plight– should I laugh, cry, pity him or watch with judgment as Ben’s fate became sealed by his own flaws. But one thing was clear to me: without any seeming effort, Adrian Tomine has taken the graphic novel and made it something very personal and original. Like the best literature, Shortcomings is not only great storytelling but has the themes to match; few novels ruminate on the unseen power of race and love with as much humor and dramatic grace as Tomine’s wonderful work.