Charles Burns’s latest creation, Kommix (Fantagraphics Books), isn’t your run-of-the-mill graphic novel. Picture it as a bizarre mixtape of 80 (mostly) macabre, imagined comic books that flirt with the pulp looniness of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Burns isn’t serving up a linear narrative; instead, he pulls you through a psychedelic maze of sci-fi, horror, and romance, plunging into themes of adolescence, transformation, and sex. Forget neat storylines; this is a hallucinogenic rollercoaster through a twisted, alternate dimension.
Buy Kommix by Charles BurnsBurns’s art? It’s a symphony of harsh contrasts and jagged etchings—a stark fever dream on paper. Each cover of Kommix offers a peculiar glimpse into the subconscious, hinting at stories that defy the ordinary. With titles like “Drug Buddy,” “Huss,” “Throbbing Heart,” and “Unwholesome Love,” it’s a love letter to the weird, a collage of unsettling homage.
But Kommix isn’t just about being spooky or nightmarish—it’s a blackly humorous affair, too. The covers do more than mimic bygone styles; they infuse a sinister, enigmatic twist that keeps you on edge. And color me amused. Wrapped in a moody, monochromatic veil, Burns’s earlier work, Black Hole, is a grim masterpiece of ‘70s teen angst and grotesque STDs. Other Burns creations, like The Last Look and X’ed Out, dance with surrealism and psychological depth, but they stick to narrative paths. With a mohawk’d Tintin that creeps around the landscape, Kommix takes a wry detour into chaotic splendor—a kaleidoscopic spectacle of fragmented stories and vivid colors, with a nostalgic yet comical edge.
While Black Hole plunged into the psychological depths of body horror, Kommix is a mind-bending teaser of comics that never existed. Each piece feels like a tantalizing glimpse—a cryptic artifact from an untold tale. It’s quintessential Burns—darkly humorous, merging the weird with the mundane.
If you’re a devotee of Burns and crave darker, experimental comics, this collection is essential reading. It’s a wild dive into his warped imagination, brimming with quirky delights and peculiarities.
So, strap in—Kommix is one hell of a ride.
