Tag: Charles Burns

Sugar Skull

Sugar Skull

by Charles Burns (Jonathan Cape, 2014)

Book cover: “Sugar Skull” by Charles Burns (Jonathan Cape, 2014)

To his credit, Burns ties all the loose threads together and brings the trilogy to a coherent close. On the downside, everything weird, dark and seemingly portentous in the previous volumes is revealed to have mundane origins, rather cheapening the overall experience.

The Hive

The Hive

by Charles Burns (Pantheon, 2012)

Burns_Hive

In what already was a knotty and obscure story, Burns contrives to add new layers, answering few (if any) of the questions raised in X’ed Out. At this point it’s hard to see the trilogy delivering more than just mood and grotesquerie.

 

 

Black Hole

Black Hole

by Charles Burns (Pantheon, 2005) [collecting Black Hole #1-12, Fantagraphics, 1995-2004]

Burns_Black Hole

Burns goes all out in this shadowy and grotesque, trippy mix of 70s teen culture, body horror and sexually explicit allegory (self-identity; belonging). The plot is deliberately abstruse, and though the black-and-white artwork is striking, some characters are hard to tell apart.

 

 

X’ed Out

X’ed Out

by Charles Burns (Pantheon, 2010)

Burns_X'ed Out

In this confronting homage, Burns shows us what Tintin’s adventures might be like if they took place in a grim alternative reality (think the Upside Down of ‘Stranger Things’). Burns lacks Hergé’s sense of movement and pacing but this remains darkly memorable.

 

 

Derelict Space Sheep