Herman by Trade

Asking questions about art, creativity, and ownership, Kim%E2%80%99s 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%E2%80%99s 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%E2%80%99s utilization of it threatens to enrage the community and damage her reputation. Kim%E2%80%99s city unfolds in scratchy black and white, dominated by crowds and silence that sets the tone for this ruminative work. (May)