Killing and Dying by Adrian Tomine : Book Review

Title  :  Killing and Dying

Author  :  Adrian Tomine

Format  :  Hardback

Length  :  121 Pages

Rating  :  ★ ★ ★

"One of the most gifted graphic novelists of our time." —Wired

Killing and Dying is a stunning showcase of the possibilities of the graphic novel medium and a wry exploration of loss, creative ambition, identity, and family dynamics. With this work, Adrian Tomine (Shortcomings, Scenes from an Impending Marriage) reaffirms his place not only as one of the most significant creators of contemporary comics but as one of the great voices of modern American literature. His gift for capturing emotion and intellect resonates here: the weight of love and its absence, the pride and disappointment of family, the anxiety and hopefulness of being alive in the twenty-first century.

“Amber Sweet” shows the disastrous impact of mistaken identity in a hyper-connected world; “A Brief History of the Art Form Known as Hortisculpture” details the invention and destruction of a vital new art form in short comic strips; “Translated, from the Japanese” is a lush, full-color display of storytelling through still images; the title story, “Killing and Dying”, centers on parenthood, mortality, and stand-up comedy. In six interconnected, darkly funny stories, Tomine forms a quietly moving portrait of contemporary life.

Tomine is a master of the small gesture, equally deft at signaling emotion via a subtle change of expression or writ large across landscapes illustrated in full color. Killing and Dying is a fraught, realist masterpiece.

I have enjoyed Adrian Tomine's work recently and couldn't wait to jump into this book. I was let down almost with this particular one simply because I wanted more. I feel all his sorties are kind of the same and I kind of wish i'd have left reading this for another few months. 

Nevertheless, the artwork was freaking insane as always. I find it to be so simple looking yet absolutely incredible. I liked how each story had different artwork whether it be from the layout to the colour it just made it that extra little bit better for me. 

There were stories that I liked more than others within this and if I'm honest was a little gutted about because I was expecting a lot more which is why I gave it only a 3 star rating. 

If you like Tomine's work I would definitely check this book out if you haven't already. It a beautiful book to add to your collection with it's stunning duct cover and boo cover illustrations.