Shortcomings
A while back, I reviewed Exit Wounds, a great indie book about a young man with emotional problems trying to get a handle on life as he searched for his possibly deceased father.
About the same time (I’m a bit delayed here), I got a review copy of Shortcomings (Drawn & Quarterly, $19.95), by the well regarded illustrator Adrian Tomine. Strangely enough, it’s also about a young man with emotional problems trying to get a handle on his life.
Notice the difference in those descriptions, though. Exit Wounds had the drama of the missing father to power the poignant plot (alliteration!) along. Shortcomings lives up, or rather down, to its title by suffering from a severe case of the Indie Comics Problem. In other words, we get lots of conversations, lots of moping, lots of depressing slices of life. Just nothing resembling a plot.
This book, and the many like it that come out every year, seem to delight in not having a plot, as if such a “false” structuring is far from real and far from worthwhile art. Maybe those predisposed to such thinking will like this book, but anyone (and I’m speaking of the vast majority of humanity here) who understands that people view the world through stories will be bored out of their minds by this book. Thankfully, it’s at least not very long.
Grading Shortcomings on art alone, I’d give it a B+. But everything else sinks the ship, so the overall grade is a D-.
This is a little sad, as I’m a big proponent of Tomine. Then again, I like everything you guys hate. I don’t think Dan Clowes is going to get much props around here …
All that said, I’ll send you postage if you want to get the perceived taint out of your line of vision.
Careful trying to lump together a “you guys” taste, Doomie.
I’ll see if I still have the book. I can send it your way.
And trust me, I like a ton of indie books, Clowes’ stuff included, but this just isn’t any good. The Onion AV Club, that hipster hangout, even agrees.
Jim, I think Doominator was just trying to tell us how much he loves Rob Liefeld, Michael Turner and Reginald Hudlin.
Oh snap!
Yes, exactly that. Tonight, I’m going to touch myself in my Joe Madureira pornatorium, right after I write J. Scott Cambpell to ask him to finally release those long-sought nudes of Gen13.
I just meant “you guys” in the sense that I read a lot different of the stuff you all do. I doubt anyone here is going to jump over a Jeffrey Brown book or go the extra mile for a new Peter Bagge. I just know that I’ve supported some maligned things. But Rob Liefeld, Michael Turner and Reggie Hudlin are turds that we can all agree on.
Haven’t you only written like 3 posts? How would we know what you like, other than Longshot?
Oh, snap! Again!
PS – I just don’t want you doubting my indie bona fides.