Charles Burns' “FINAL CUT” (graphic novel)
A book review by Dennis D. McDonald
The world of young people in Final Cut is one of exploration, old technology, obsessions with filmmaking and vintage sci-fi, and hanging out. Adults in this world are drunks, vagrants, or profane. The world is familiar and a place where imagination and dreams serve both as creative outlets and as escapes from the twilight zone of extended adolescence.
The story follows a small group over the course of several months. The main focus is Brian, a kid living with his alcoholic mom. He’s obsessed with drawing, old movies, and moviemaking. He frequently gets lost in his dreams--and his medication. He’s struggling as an artist. Red-haired Laurie is both drawn to and frustrated by Brian's quirks. Over the 240+ gloriously illustrated pages of this graphic novel, we follow the evolution of their relationship.
This is not the wistful "let's make a movie" world of Super 8. We catch glimpses of immediate reality. My initial reaction was, "Thank God I'm not young anymore," even as I marveled at the deceptively basic but stunning artwork. I found myself staring at some panels that seemed simple at first glance but that revealed increasingly complex layers of design and craft as I looked deeper.
Special praise goes to the book’s production quality. Manufactured in China for Pantheon Books, this oversized hardbound edition features heavyweight pages that beautifully showcase the eye-popping art. Kudos also to the Alexandria Public Library for adding Final Cut to its graphic novel collection!
Review copyright 2024 by Dennis D. McDonald
