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Charles Burns Double Feature: ‘Final Cut’ and ‘Kommix’ (review)

Final Cut 
Written and Illustrated by Charles Burns
Published by Pantheon Books

Kommix 
Written and Illustrated by Charles Burns
Published by Fantagraphics

Charles Burns is truly unlike any writer and artist in the entire comic book medium.

Maybe that’s because he’s not really making funny books like so many others. He is actually creating fully realized works of art with his efforts and it shows more and more with each subsequent book that he puts out. The issue is that it takes so long for these books to appear. However, the lasting impact that each one has is worth the long waits, and each book is worth revisiting over and over again as you’re always guaranteed to find something new.

Each book is an experience. This time around he has two two works out from two different publishers: Final Cut and Kommix.

The latest narrative from Burns entitled Final Cut follows a new group of individuals that we have not really seen before in his work. They are a bunch of white suburban friends. We get to meet them all but they are all a little too straightforward and strait laced to feel like they belong in this type of book. They all have their individual quirks, of course. Two of the characters are in a relationship and that relationship is failing.

That story seems to be the focal point of the book entirely.

Brian and Jimmy have been friends for a really long time. Brian is more the artistic type and is a bit quiet. Jimmy is the more active type and outgoing. The two of them have been creating these home movies for quite a while. They both enjoy it and get something out of the whole thing. They are happy and comfortable in their lives. But then, Jimmy does something that is completely unexpected. He casts Laurie in their next film, and that sends the inertia of the book in a whole new direction.

Laurie is warm and friendly and has a very inviting personality.

This immediately attracts Brian to her, and it is very noticeable. Brian is used to having his head into whatever he is drawing at the moment. Now, Brian is stepping away from all of that to give Laurie some attention. The book actually starts to bend into an almost vision of how Brian sees Laurie. A lot of what happens in the books stranger moments really do reflect Brian’s very different point of view.

From there, the filmmaking team forms into place. B

rian becomes obsessed with making a work of art that people will never forget. They recruit a bunch of people and decide to make a film that is inspired by two of their favorite films, which are Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Last Picture Show (two of my favorites as well). While there, Brian becomes infatuated and obsessed with Laurie, leading things down a bad path for all who are involved.

We get to see them try to piece together this film.

As they do, the relationships between everyone starts to show the signs of failing. There are bits of betrayal that happen. There is horror within the group. And there is an inherent strangeness to it all that is usual in the work of Charles Burns. I don’t want to give away too much, but suffice to say that this is a good look at what it means to be a creative person. It is a good look at what creative people sometimes have to sacrifice to make their version of art. Mostly that means sacrificing relationships and life’s usual moments. That call comes through here spectacularly and with subtlety.

By the end of the book, the characters are all transformed.

They are transformed in many unexpected ways. Some of it was hard to see, but it made a lot of sense. The needing of the book is perfect, and it really wraps this whole story up perfectly. It also makes it pretty unforgettable, much like all of the work Burns has done so far in his career.

The writing is perfect as usual with Burns. He has a way of really making his characters feel unique and the environments unlike any other. The artwork is perfect as well. Burns is one of those creators whose artwork only gets better and more textured with each new work. That’s most likely because he does work in different fields (photography, advertising, children’s books).

Regardless of anything, this is a graphic novel worth seeking out and consuming, and then rereading it multiple times, knowing each time you’ll find something new.

Now, let’s move over to the Kommix book that Burns has created. This is a hard book to review as I looked at it in about 20 minutes. It is neat and all but does it justify the price? It is rather cool to see Burns tackle this book. Here, he creates 80 original comic book covers for books that never existed. And it’s fine, but I am not sure what the overall point is of the book, nor why it got such beautiful packaging in its presentation.

Still, the images that are shown here are very strong.

It is fun for the most part. But if you’re looking for something more substantial, I would probably look elsewhere. A lot of these faux comic covers look like they belong in the 1950s or 1960s and they do manage to bring a smile to your face. However, I was looking for more of a point and I am more of a story guy. There is an audience out there that might really like this. Who am I to say? Beyond that, it just feels like a curiosity for Burns, who does do strange projects from time to time, and does work in other various artist mediums beyond just in comics.

FINAL CUT
RATING: A

KOMMIX
RATING: B

 

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