Black Hole

Hailed by Time as “the best graphic novel of the year,” Black Hole is a chilling and unforgettable portrait of adolescence unraveling under the weight of an inexplicable plague. Set in the hazy, disaffected world of 1970s suburban Seattle, this acclaimed work by Charles Burns explores the horrifying—and eerily familiar—nature of high school alienation.

A strange sexually transmitted disease is sweeping through the teenage population, manifesting in grotesque, surreal physical mutations. For some, the changes are dramatic and visible; for others, they're subtle enough to hide. But once infected, there’s no going back.

Rather than offering a conventional story of resistance or redemption, Black Hole slowly immerses readers in the minds of teens who are infected, unaffected, or about to be—until things take an even darker turn.

As moody, disorienting, and beautiful as it is terrifying, Black Hole is a genre-transcending exploration of youth culture, identity, trauma, and transformation—anchored in a cultural moment where Bowie was too weird, hippies were no longer cool, and bodies were betraying their owners in unimaginable ways.

Who might be interested in reading?

• Fans of psychological horror and body horror in graphic fiction.

• Readers interested in coming-of-age stories with a surreal, unsettling twist.

• Enthusiasts of independent comics and literary graphic novels.

• Collectors of award-winning alternative comics and underground classics.

• Anyone drawn to visually rich, metaphor-laden explorations of adolescence, sexuality, and alienation.