Adrian Tomine

Adrian Tomine (born May 31, 1974) is an American cartoonist best known for his long-running comic book series *Optic Nerve* and his distinctive illustrations for *The New Yorker*. He first self-published the series as a teenager in 1991, and it quickly established him as a sharp observer of modern life. Tomine’s work is characterized by clean, precise linework and a quiet, often melancholic tone, exploring relationships, identity, and urban isolation. His major collections include *Sleepwalk and Other Stories*, *Killing and Dying*, and the autobiographical *The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist*. He has also worked on *Fallen Words* and *Halbe Wahrheiten*. Tomine’s collaborators have included editors and publishers at Drawn & Quarterly, which has released most of his work. He has received multiple Harvey Awards and Eisner Award nominations, and his art has been exhibited internationally. Still active in the 2020s, Tomine remains a vital voice in alternative comics, known for his understated storytelling and precise visual style.