Kommix and Final Cut: Charles Burns’ New Stylish, Repulsive Stories

Charles Burns‘ literary sensibilities are often likened to the surrealism of David Lynch, infused with a touch of Hergé, the creator of Tintin. Burns carved out his niche in the 1980s by creating horror comics that evoke a retro-1950s ambiance. His narratives are typically set in seemingly “normal” white suburban American neighborhoods. His distinctive style is characterized by the heavy use of black India ink, resulting in artwork where black dominates over white.

Many of his comics evoke the sensation of a feverish nightmare, immersing readers in an atmosphere of palpable dread. Underlying themes of alienation, peer pressure, puberty angst, and sexual anxieties slither through the tales, amplifying the sense of unease. Burns masterfully taps into the darkest corners of the human psyche, bringing to life the fears and insecurities that lurk beneath the surface. The result is a haunting blend of horror and psychological depth that leaves an indelible mark on the reader’s mind.

Fans of Burns have much to look forward to in 2024, as he is set to release not one but two new books. The first, titled “Kommix,” will be available in July, followed by “Final Cut” in September.

In his forthcoming books, “Kommix” and “Final Cut,” graphic novelist Charles Burns explores the intricate dynamics of human connection and self-expression, capturing both the pleasures and discomforts that accompany them. Burns’s storytelling intricately weaves together moments of intimacy and alienation, exploring how relationships can be both nurturing and unsettling. Through his distinctive and evocative art style, he brings to life the complex emotions and experiences that define human interaction, offering readers a profound and unsettling journey into the depths of the human psyche.

The beloved and award-winning author of BLACK HOLE’s haunting and visually arresting story of an artist’s obsessions, and the value and cost of pushing the boundaries of creativity

Kommix

Master cartoonist Charles Burns has never hidden his passion for comic books and pop culture from the 1950s and 1960s. Inspired by the romance, horror, and sci-fi comics of his youth, as well as the 1960s American underground, the author of Black Hole has created a collection of 80 original comic book covers that, through his inimitable aesthetic, present an alternate universe of stories that never were, but that you will wish existed.

The covers ― some with otherworldly titles in alien letterforms, and others that riff on classic genres (Throbbing Hearts, Unwholesome Love) and eras (Drug Buddy, Huss) ― each inspire a multitude of interpretations, build entire worlds, and suggest entire narratives that lie within their non-existent guts. This is Burns at his most playful, imaginative, and suggestive, using the format of the comic book to continue to explore many of the themes that run through all his longer-form work ― adolescence, metamorphosis, nightmares, and sexuality ― and provide a pretext for the creation of some of the most mysterious and bewitching imagery of Burns’s incredible career. Kommix is like discovering an entire box of comic books you never knew existed.

Final Cut

As a child, Brian and his friend Jimmy would make sci-fi films in their yards, convincing their friends to star as victims of grisly murders, smearing lipstick on the “bodies” to simulate blood. Now a talented artist and aspiring filmmaker, Brian, along with Jimmy, Jimmy’s friend Tina, and Laurie—his reluctant muse—sets off to a remote cabin in the woods with an old 8-millimeter camera to make a true sci-fi horror movie, an homage to Brian’s favorite movie: Invasion of the Body Snatchers. But as Brian’s affections for Laurie go seemingly unreciprocated, Brian writes and draws himself into a fantasy where she is the girl of his dreams, his damsel in distress, and his savior wrapped into one. Rife with references to classic sci-fi and horror movies and filled with panels of stunning depictions of nature, film and the surreal, Burns blurs the line between Brian’s dreams and reality, imagination and perception. A master of the form at his finest, Final Cut is an astonishing look at what it means to truly express oneself through art.

Charles Burns grew up in Seattle in the 1970s. His comics were first published in Françoise Mouly and Art Spiegelman’s influential Raw magazine in the mid-’80s and he is best known for his award-winning comic series Black Hole which was collected into a graphic novel in 2005. His other works include Big Baby (2000), Skin Deep (2001), Last Look (2016) and his latest collection, Free S**t (2019). His newest book Kommix (July 2024), is a collection of 80 original unpublished comic book covers that present an alternate universe of stories that never were — this is Burns at his most playful, imaginative, and suggestive, using the format of the comic book cover to continue to explore many of the themes that run through all his longer-form work.