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Chris Weldon

Professor Orta

ENGL-123 - 5015

11 May 2020

Shortcomings in Relationships & Their Roles

In Adrian Tomine’s graphic novel ​Shortcomings​, feminism is highly present and driven.

Tomine uses Ben and Miko’s relationship in the novel to send multiple messages to readers. One

of the most significant messages Tomine is trying to uncover and unpack is the power relations

in heterosexual romantic relationships. While we mostly follow Ben throughout the story,

Tomine has still managed to set this up in a feminist viewpoint. The relationship Ben and Miko

shared had many flaws, most due to Ben’s unwillingness to change his ways and stereotypical

views. The issues his character faces with race and sexuality are very difficult to read and

swallow, one can only hope Ben makes the connections he needs someday. The ways in which

he treats his relationship with Miko is very one sided and selfish. Using the couples unhealthy

relationship, Tomine is able to portray the “examination of how relationships between men and

women and those assuming male and female roles are depicted in the text, including power

relations.” as it is described by Linda Napikoski in ThoughtCO’s Feminism Definition. Tomine

does so by using the element of fiction, characters, which in fiction can be conveniently

classified as major and minor, static and dynamic. It is static and dynamic that Tomine heavily

focuses on. Static characters are as simple as that, they are static and do not change at all.

Dynamic characters change over time and typically grow and create an overall message or theme
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in a story. It is clear who is who in Ben and Miko’s relationship and character growth, and

change is what sets the scene for the feminist and power relations message.

Shortcomings is unique in its form, it is a graphic novel - even in a graphic novel a

feminist criticism can be applied, made clear, and presented thoughtfully. A graphic novel is a

"juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence." as stated by Scott McCloud in his

exploration of the medium, Understanding Comics: ​The Invisible Art​. Sure, a graphic novel is

pictures and bubbles but stories and messages can be told, they are not pure stupid entertainment.

Graphic Novels can carry serious and important messages, themes, and stories.

Stereotypes and gender roles play big parts. Tomine uses characters' dynamic or static

status to point to how these roles are still intact in many relationships, exemplified through Ben

and Miko. According to Professor Delahoyde of Washington State University, “feminist

criticism concern itself with stereotypical representations of genders.” This is very true and is

displayed heavily in this novel. Ben spent time being a stereotypical male, having no care for his

actions and talking in stereotypical conversation with a friend, i.e. talking crap about his

relationship with Miko with his friend Alice. Alice, whom is a stereotypical lesbian woman acts

as Ben’s sterotypical role as the “male” friend he can cut his beef with. Delahoyde also notes that

feminist literary criticism “examines gender politics in works and traces the subtle construction

of masculinity and femininity, and their relative status, positionings, and marginalizations within

works.” This further proves the point that Tomine is trying to portray and what these gender

politics are like in couples. While the novel is spent being seen through Ben’s eyes we can still

get this picture. The ways in which Ben views his relationship with Miko and the ways in which

Miko views her relationship with Ben are widely different. Ben feels he can be attracted to
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whatever he wants, whereas Miko wants Ben to see her more, to be attracted to her and not

stereotypical “beautiful” women. Ben’s denial of being obsessed with women who look much

different from Miko and who are stereotypical female “models'' can attest to this point of gender

politics. It is issues like these that tear between couples, add to power dynamic issues, and

overall add to this feminist criticism and lense. We can see the male dominant opinion and the

ways in which this type of behavior is demeaning to a partner in a relationship.

Ben is a static character in the novel. A static character does not change. Miko on the

other hand, is a dynamic character and she changes. Ben’s insecurities and weaknesses displayed

show he is unable to change while Miko’s strength to move on and find something passionate

shows her ability to change. The power dynamic and bias is real between Ben and Miko. The

relationship is clearly a one sided street. Miko is the only one willing to put any effort in and

change the way in which they operate as a couple. Ben is highly self-centered and is only

focused on how the relationship works in his favor, he is highly critical of anyone else’s opinion,

which is shown multiple times in the novel but the most significant ones being with Miko. Ben

simply treats this relationship the way he wants and has no regard for Miko’s feelings or desires

toward it. He has to have the power in the relationship.

It is clear that only Ben’s desires and wishes matter. Tomine uses his unwillingness to

change to further develop him as a static character, furthering her use of this element of fiction.

Ben believes the male has that power. In chapter one the porn argument between Ben and Miko

spirals out. In this scene, (page 27, panel 8) Miko is hurt by the porn collection with a heavy

amount of stereotypical blonde hair, blue eyed, white women she found in Ben’s desk. While

Miko simply wants to hash this out and talk about the problem, Ben is defending it left and right
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and feels that Miko is being too irrational and a little crazy, even going as far to tell her that. Ben

does not want to take any kind of responsibility or fault in this situation, his replies to Miko’s

concerns being “Oh my God…” (29) and “What am I supposed to do about it?” (30) Here,

essentially Ben is stating that it’s fine that he can be attracted to those women and that if Miko

doesn’t believe him she is not in the right state of mind. Ben simply wants to make his opinion

the dominant one here, he has to win this and his opinion is more superior.

Powerful dominance in a relationship includes criticism. Tomine continues to use the

characters element of fiction to show this. Miko’s changes to her life further develop her as a

dynamic character while Ben continues to stay static through his criticisms. In chapter 3 when

Ben is in New York he finds the model photos of Miko. While this is a shock to Ben, we get his

real opinion on this in a later scene (pg 85, panel 6) in the chapter. Ben says “Look… it’s

embarrassing and kind of pathetic for her to want to do that” (86) Basically, it’s okay for Ben to

have these pornos with white women while in a relationship but while on a break he can’t even

respect Miko for her modeling photos. Ben is making it clear that his opinion is what matters

most, it’s okay for him to be attracted to white porn stars but embarrassing for Miko to do some

modeling. Once again, Ben is being unreasonable and selfish, acting as if his desires are okay but

that Miko’s are pathetic and she should be different. Tomine uses Ben’s one sided opinion to

further develop the message that these old-fashioned and outdated cultural male and female roles

still exist and that there are still men like Ben out there that believe they are in the right and their

desires matter more. They can be attracted to a woman who models, but if their girlfriend were to

do that, it would be totally wrong. He must control this.

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Only males can break relationship rules, according to Ben at least. It is once again

through the characters element of fiction that Tomine uses to get this ignorant value of Ben’s

across. On page 39, panel 5 just after Miko has left for New York, Ben goes to the phone to call

up Autumn. A static character in the story, Autumn advances Ben’s character by showing how

judgmental and stereotypical Ben can be. However, aside from that in this scene Ben is simply

calling Autumn up to get together. Just as you think he would call Miko, he instead picks up the

phone and when she answers says “Hi… Autumn?” (40) Ben continues on his break with Miko

and takes up a relationship with Sasha, another dynamic character in the story because of her

change after being in a relationship with Ben. In seeing Sasha, we see a lot of the same behaviors

he had with Miko, this probably helping fuel Sasha’s decision to move on and back to her ex

girlfriend. Ben immediately moves on to pursue two other girls after Miko leaves yet is very

adamant that they are just on a break.

Power relations can be dangerous to someone trying to move on. Tomine uses the

element of fiction, characters, to show how power relations threaten someone trying to escape

them. In a scene that starts on page 88, panel 6 Ben finds out about Miko pursuing a relationship

with Leon Christopher. His response “Are you fucking with me?” (90) The scene immediately

following (page 91, panel 1) Ben says “I can’t believe she’d fall for a fucking rice king. I can’t

believe it.” (91) Ben is upset about what has transpired and that Miko is in a new relationship

with Leon Christopher. When him and Miko hash it all out further on in a scene starting on page

97, panel 7 Ben goes on to say to Miko “I guess I didn’t know that ‘taking some time off’ meant

that you could lie to me and fuck around behind my back!” (99) The point is made very clearly

here, Ben has made it apparent that only he was allowed to have any kinds of relationships
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during their break. He was the only one allowed to “fuck around” during this time off. Miko

dating a new guy, how dare she? But so what? He went out with 2 girls and pursued a sexual

experience with one. Big deal in his eyes. Once again, Ben is taking no responsibility and

defending his views. These relationship dynamics are exactly what delineate the power relation

and typical male & female roles in a relationship.

Feminism is inaccurately represented and literature helps reinforce its actual meaning and

mission. Another fantastic point made by Delahoyde is that the word feminism has gotten a bad

wrap and has turned into a “bad” word among many in today’s society, specifically among males

but all across the board. ​Shortcomings ​does a fantastic job at stomping on this and making it’s

point known. The messages in this graphic novel should be shared widely and need to be out

there. It’s messages and themes can save a relationship as well as help people understand that

there’s nothing wrong with the word and influence of feminism. There are many Ben’s out there,

and the only way to spark change in them is to get the message out there. Literature such as this

is what helps people see how they may act in their own relationships. Readers learn lessons from

literature. Literature with a feminist criticism such as this sparks readers to examine their own

lives and thus change can begin.

Tomine certainly has multiple themes and messages throughout the novel. One of the

most significant being this examination of how relationships between men and women and those

assuming male and female roles are depicted in the text as well as power relations as defined by

Napikoski. It is through the element of fiction of characters and their static or dynamic actions

that form this view of unhealthy power dynamics between male and female roles in relationships.

Ben’s unwillingness to change or see any faults in himself and only faults in Miko and really
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everyone else around him is what fuels this unhealthy dynamic he and Miko shared. Miko’s

dynamic actions and desire to break free from the toxicity that existed in their relationship. Miko

attempted to make changes and assist her relationship with Ben in getting better, but it’s a two

way street and Ben simply couldn’t make and still can’t make any changes to himself. One of the

messages here being that there are still relationships like this today even in the most diverse and

progressive places. It’s all around, and these roles need to be broken and examined more closely.

We have to keep our eyes on this. Tomine’s message is that these types of relationships are toxic

and that trying to dominate a relationship simply does not work and is irresponsible. The theme

presented is very clear: power dynamics in relationships can be toxic, it is important to ensure

equality among couples and to always seek change or flee if you find yourself in an unhealthy

relationship. After reading and analyzing Tomine’s work, you can see how it lays out what one

of these toxic relationships look like and how to go about fixing or breaking from them. It’s

important that we pay attention to power dynamics in our relationships. And it’s not just in

heterosexual relationships, this can happen in homosexual relationships, friendships, and

working relationships. Power hunger and struggles exsit everywhere but are especially prevalent

in heterosexual relationships, typically in similar ways Ben and Miko’s relationship faced.
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Work Cited

Tomine, Adrian. Shortcomings. Faber And Faber, 2016.

Napikoski, Linda. “What Is Feminist Literary Criticism?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 6 Feb. 2020,

www.thoughtco.com/feminist-literary-criticism-3528960​.

Delahoyde, Michael. “Introduction to Literature: Feminism.” Introduction to Literature,

public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/feminist.crit.html.

McCloud, S. (1993). Understanding comics: The invisible art. New York, NY: Harper Collins.