Collecting the first four issues of Adrian Tomine's acclaimed comic series optic nerve, this book offers sixteen concise, haunting tales of modern life. The characters here appear to be well-adjusted on the surface, but Tomine takes us deeper into their lives, subtly examining their struggle to connect with friends and lovers. Adrian Tominewas born on May 31, 1974. He has produced two other book collections,32 StoriesandSummer Blonde, and he continues to publish new material in his comic book series Optic Nerve. The stories in this book have been translated into various languages worldwide. Tomine's comics and illustrations have also appeared in a variety of magazines, includingThe New Yorker,Esquire,Rolling Stone,Details,Fast Company, andGiant Robot.He lives in Berkeley, California. Collecting the first four issues of Adrian Tomine's acclaimed comic series Optic Nerve,Sleepwalkoffers sixteen concise, haunting tales of modern life. The characters here appear to be well-adjusted on the surface, but Tomine takes us deeper into their lives, subtly examining their struggle to connect with friends and lovers. "Tomine works with the deft, terse strokes of a short story writer, following a small idea or a simple notion to its logical, and usually poetic conclusion. [He] has a cinematic knack for finding the proper composition, the telling angle to capture these pensive instants . . . Your heart skips along with those of Tomine's characters."--New City Literary Supplement "Perfect, emotionally absorbing stories . . . Restrained text and mesmerizing art."--Shift "Tomine has rocketed to prominence among America's young cartoonists . . . In these narratives, we see a keep, expanding intelligence at work . . . untempered by compromise."--Wired "A perfect post-Valentine gift for overlooked hearts everywhere . . . Reading Optic Nerve is like peeking into someone's diary or flipping through your favorite photo album."--The New York Daily News "Optic Nerve mines the depths of human expression and emotion . . . Tomine has the eye of a director, skillfully guiding readers through frames and sequences with fluid transitions and unique angles . . . An emotional whirlpool."--The Rocket "Brilliant . . . we know we're in the hands of a major young comics artist--visually gripping and emotionally challenging."--Kirkus Reviews "Tomine is a master of pseudorealistic stories in the tradition of Raymond Carver. This understated, black-and-white collection should satisfy fiction aficionados in any medium."--Library Journal