Herman by Trade

by Chris W. Kim

Overview

Herman is a reclusive, straight-laced street cleaner—or so it seems to those he works with on the city’s waterfront. But he has an extraordinary hidden talent: the ability to transform his appearance at will. When the unsmiling cinematic genius MIO calls an open audition for her new movie, a queue forms along the waterfront, snaking past the industrial park, the beach, the shipyard, and beyond. On the fourth day, Herman joins it. As he waits, swept up in the frenzy of creative ambition that has overcome the city, his past life becomes increasingly remote. By the time he enters the audition room, he might have lost his job, but his talent remains. Dazzled by Herman’s ability to adapt to any role, MIO deems the rest of the cast redundant, sparking a furious outcry. When the cult director’s new film premieres, with Herman performing every role, it doesn’t get the reaction she expects. Spectacularly drawn, Herman by Trade is a captivating graphic novel about art, identity, and making space for self-expression.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781910593288
Publisher:	SelfMadeHero
Publication date:	05/09/2017
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Chris W. Kim is a comics artist and illustrator. Herman by Trade is his first graphic novel. He lives in Toronto.

Editorial Reviews

05/29/2017
Asking questions about art, creativity, and ownership, Kim’s debut graphic novel follows a quiet, keep-to-himself street cleaner, Herman, who has a peculiar ability to transform his appearance: he can literally be anyone else. Herman gets the chance to put this ability to practical use when he meets a filmmaker, Mio, who seeks local performers for her new movie. Jam-packed auditions follow, enticing Herman to walk away from his former life and give a new one a try. Embraced by Mio, and used in the film more than expected, Herman’s gift drowns out the talents of other performers and raises the observation that shape-shifting is not necessarily a creative power, but a derivative one. Soon, shape-shifting is criticized as unoriginal, and Mio’s utilization of it threatens to enrage the community and damage her reputation. Kim’s city unfolds in scratchy black and white, dominated by crowds and silence that sets the tone for this ruminative work. (May)

Publishers Weekly