Oh, this was excellent. Shortcomings is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Adrian Tomine, published October 2007 by Drawn and Quarterly, 108 pages for $19.95, hardcover novel. Shortcomings is a novel that focuses on two people who have more or less fallen out of love with each other.
The graphic novel touches on several issues that relate to race and relationships. The story is set in Berkley, California and mainly focuses on anti-hero, Ben Tanaka, a guy who is narrow-minded in his views in relation to his own culture and romantic ideals.
Asian-American, Ben Tanaka is a 30 year old college drop out who manages a movie theatre. His Japanese-American girlfriend, Miko Hiyashi is an event organizer for the Asian American Digi-Fest.
When the story opens, you can tell that Miko is used to enduring her boyfriend’s negativity and indifference. Despite his irritating flaws, she has stayed with him for two years. The two of them argue a lot over Ben’s insincerity and his apparent “obsession” with “white women.” The only person Ben can open his heart to is his lesbian friend, Alice Kim, a graduate student, who is a good match for Ben’s insensitive remarks and dry sarcasm.
The romantic relationship hits a crossroads when Miko is is awarded a four month internship in New York. She doesn’t ask Ben to come with her either and this doesn’t seem to bother him much because he doesn’t see it for what it is: a break-up.
However, they agree to a “time off” period and Miko goes to New York and Ben starts dating a young blond named Autumn, who is a 22 year old theatre clerk who is into punk and weird art. I had a WTF moment when Ben goes back to her apartment and Autumn shows him her “artwork.” Needless to say Ben can’t keep up with the young woman and she rebuffs him anyway.
He then makes his move on another blond named Sasha, a graduate student who dumps him after a couple of dates for her ex-girlfriend. After living out his fantasy of dating a white woman, he starts to miss his girlfriend. He calls her but can’t get in touch with her and this makes him upset enough to go find her. The three of them: Ben, Alice and Miko reunite in New York but it is not the reunion that Ben had hoped for when he flew to the east coast.
The graphic novel goes into many issues that we all can relate to and one must admit to knowing someone like Ben: always negative, seemingly insincere, intolerable to other viewpoints and a real pain in the ass. One wonders why Alice tolerates Ben.
I liked Ben’s lesbian friend, Alice, a lot in that she refuses to live up to some false ideal. Her parent’s disapprove of her lifestyle and wants her to marry, however, Alice is resolved to the fact that she’ll never please her parents and she doesn’t waste time doing so. I liked how Ben and Alice spar with each other. She often counters Ben’s moodiness and predictability with her own impulsiveness and witty sense of humor.
The plot does have a few surprises in store for the reader and I enjoyed every word of this book. A quick mention on the artwork: it is simply wonderful and the dialogue is easy to read. There’s a bit of humor and stimulating conversation between the characters that makes you think.
I came away from the novel a bit sad because Ben’s life had been shook up and he didn’t know how to deal with the aftermath of it. Yes, he was a jerk but the author manages to make me feel a bit of sympathy for him. He goes through the usual emotions of rejection and then finally, grim acceptance. I wish the author would continue the story as I didn’t like how it ended: so coldly, so detached and so… realistic. My grade, A.
Technorati Tags: Graphic Novel Review, Relationships, Adrian Tomine
