Adrian Tomine Signed Firsts: A Reference

Adrian Tomine (born 1974) is the cartoonist whose precisely observed, emotionally understated work has defined a particular strain of literary comics — quiet, character-driven stories set in contemporary urban life, rendered in a clean, elegant line influenced by Hergé and Japanese comics. His work has appeared as New Yorker covers and in literary anthologies alongside prose fiction, positioning him as one of the most “literary” of contemporary cartoonists.

Key Titles

• Optic Nerve (1991–present) — Drawn & Quarterly. Self-published, then D&Q. Tomine’s primary outlet.
• Shortcomings (2007) — Drawn & Quarterly. Tomine’s first graphic novel.
• Killing and Dying (2015) — Drawn & Quarterly. Short story collection.
• The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist (2020) — Drawn & Quarterly. Autobiographical.

Signed Copy Market Values

• Signed Shortcomings first edition: $30–$75
• Signed Killing and Dying first: $25–$60
• Signed Loneliness first: $25–$50
• Signed early Optic Nerve issues: $20–$50

Tomine has been a regular presence at conventions and bookstore events, making signed copies relatively accessible. His New Yorker covers are collected separately and carry distinct market value.