description Black Hole Overview
Black Hole is a haunting and atmospheric graphic novel set in suburban Seattle, where teenagers are afflicted with a sexually transmitted virus that causes grotesque physical mutations. Illustrated by Charles Burns' distinctive style, the story explores themes of alienation, adolescence, and societal anxieties.
help Black Hole FAQ
What is the disease in Charles Burns' Black Hole?
The teenagers call it 'the Bug,' a sexually transmitted infection that causes visible mutations. Burns uses those mutations as a body-horror metaphor for adolescence, shame, and alienation.
Was Black Hole originally one graphic novel?
No. Black Hole was serialized as a 12-issue comic from 1995 to 2005 before Pantheon collected it as a single book in 2005. Kitchen Sink Press and Fantagraphics were involved during the original comic publication.
Where is Black Hole set?
Black Hole is set around suburban Seattle in the 1970s. The woods, bedrooms, and teenage party spaces are as important to its mood as the horror elements.
Is Black Hole similar to Daniel Clowes or David Cronenberg?
It overlaps with Daniel Clowes in its outsider-comics sensibility and with David Cronenberg in its body horror. Charles Burns' stark black-and-white art gives it a different feel, closer to a nightmare version of a teen coming-of-age story.
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