Book Review: Shortcomings

I discovered Adrian Tomine's Shortcomings when I went to the library to get a different graphic novel. However, there was a pamphlet on "suggested" readings and Shortcomings was listed in this pamphlet. I believe that the purpose of the pamphlet was to be used for outreach to those who have never read a graphic novel but are interested in finding something new. I had read almost all of the other books in the booklet and thought that I would try Shortcomings. Personally, I was disappointed. I thought that this graphic novel might actually turn other reader's away from the genre because it upholds some people's stereotypes that graphic novels are slow-moving and do not have a cohesive purpose.

Shortcomings tells the story of a 30 year old Japanese-American man who is in a relationship with a Japanese-American woman. Though they have been together for years, their relationship is now on the rock as the two people try to understand the role of their ethnicity in their lives and relationships. The main male character finds Caucasian women to be more attractive than Japanese women, which his girlfriend believes is racist. The couple decides to separate when Ben's girlfriend goes away to NYC. After some failed relationships and one-night stands, Ben decides to follow her only to find that she is hiding her own secret (though it is an extremely anti-climatic secret). Ben discusses all of her personal issues with his Korean best friend who is a lesbian with a revolving door of girlfriends.

Though issues surrounding identity and the role of ethnicity in a person's life are certainly worthy of exploration, this graphic novel does not handle the material as well as other novels (graphic and otherwise). The characters appear insipid and shallow. Ben's best friend is portrayed as a stereotypical lesbian character with a new girlfriend each night. Ben himself is depicted as a "typical" male who tries to find himself by sleeping with and drooling over other women besides his girlfriend. His girlfriend is also a two-dimensional character who flees the relationship by literally moving away. The graphics are interesting and all in sepia which adds a melancholic mood.  Still, the pictures are not that interesting and do not add much to the text.

Overall, I was disappointed by this selection and found both the text and pictures to be lacking. The theme of the story was quite interesting and in a different context would be a thrilling read.

-DLP