Optic Nerve #4

Optic Nerve #4

by Adrian Tomine

Three stories are featured in Six Day Cold (11 pages), a man spends a tense, awkward evening with his ex-girlfriend after she comes over to his apartment to help nurse his sickness; "Fourth of July" (7 pages) recounts the story of a young boy who isolates himself as his parents are being separated; in "Hazel Eyes" (6 pages), a young woman tries to recreate her life after she realizes she has nothing in common with her friends.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comic Book, Short Stories, Graphic Novels Comics

Paperback

Published January 1, 1997

About the author

Adrian Tomine was born in 1974 in Sacramento, California. He began self-publishing his comic book series Optic Nerve. His comics have been anthologized in publications such as McSweeney’s, Best American Comics, and Best American Nonrequired Reading, and his graphic novel "Shortcomings" was a New York Times Notable Book of 2007. His next release, "Killing and Dying" will be published by Drawn and Quarterly in October 2015.

Since 1999, Tomine has been a regular contributor to The New Yorker. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughters.

Reviews

[Udai · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I get a chance to meet my younger self who thought that comics are for kids and don't hold the depth that other forms of books hold I'd slap it in the face with this particular issue.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere I read that his visual style was reminscent of Raymond Carver's writing. Elsewhere criticized for being too Dan Clowes-like. Intrigued to find out more...

[Matt Graupman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes Adrian Tomine’s comics are so subtle and restrained that they can come off as kind of cold and detached; that’s not the case with “Optic Nerve” #4. Even though there’s plenty of cringe-y moments in the three stories in this issue, there’s a gentleness that doesn’t always come through in Tomine’s work. He seems to have a genuine affection for the characters in these particular comics; they’re all a little damaged but they’re trying their best to get better. “Optic Nerve” #4 is definitely a highlight of the series.

[Shawn Robare · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are still bleak, but they’re easing up a bit.

[Nayeli · Rating 2 out of 5]

i've been reading the Optic Nerve series and this was, naturally, the fourth one I read. Maybe I'm not in the right mood today but these three stories just... didn't make me feel much, I mean, they weren't as meaningful as the others, somehow. I realize I sound a little dumb saying that, but oh well. There is only so much "mystery" and heartache one can take.