Black Hole by Charles Burns is, I guess you could say, a ‘classic’ in indie graphic novels, so I won;t go into great detail here. The main things you need to know are 70s teenagers, STIs and grotesque disfigurations. The story of how the young people cope with their conditions amidst a complex web of relationships has been inspired by the author’s own experiences of teenage life, and is a highly compelling read, albeit one that leaves you feeling slightly uneasy. It took 10 years to complete Black Hole, which many would say is ludicrous, but Burns’ artwork is brilliant as always and it would take me 10 years to even learn to draw that well.
