Uploaded July 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Charles Burns's comics magnum opus Black Hole may be more popularly known as a single 360+ page volume, but it was originally published in 12 single issues over a period of 10 years. And as handsome a production as the author-designed, dustjacketed hardcover is, the singles (originally out of Kitchen Sink Press, continued by Fantagraphics) contain a wealth of details, in art and text, that didn't make the collected edition. These details, aided by an unmatched black-gloss production style, give the original issues a unique flavour, resulting in a slightly different story, almost like a 'director's cut'.
In this video I examine these story-adjacent details and differences between the hardcover and the singles, including a quick look at each of the gorgeous colour covers, with discussions on endpages, publication history, narrative, paper stock, lighting travails and much more.
Buy the collected edition here (Amazon affiliate links): amzn.to/3fOQ7Ba
Charles Burns' latest book, 'Free S**t': amzn.to/2WzRGv2
Other books by Charles Burns, including some issues of Black Hole: amzn.to/2OALqPe
Introduction: 0:00
Main Titles 1:32
The Hardcover - size, binding,jacket, covers, flaps, endpapers, 1:42
The Singles - front and back covers, Kitchen SInk and Fantagraphics history, David Bowie 5:03
The SIngles - the endpapers 8:21
The Singles - the before and after portraits 9:31
The Singles vs the Hardcover - Blacks Battle 11:24
A Tangent 12:12
Back to the Blacks , A Side-by-Side Comparison 12:26
The Singles - the 12 Monologues 13:32
The Singles - A Secret Ending? (SLIGHT SPOILER): 16:25
Conclusion (SPOILERS OVER) 18:35
My previous, introductory, video on Black Hole, 'Teen Angst as Body Horror by Charles Burns': youtu.be/WHc6_SibULA
Many of Burns' books appear in our comics collection videos:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf2B7UoR9NKXZmUIzDgAp-41MzR9JW5zt
Check out our Community tab, right here on YouTube! Polls, tidbits, behind-the-scenes pics and more!
youtube.com/channel/UCHWewIR09S61SA5egCaa7Iw/community
Check us out on Facebook for updates, polls and tidbits related to the videos: facebook.com/FTLOComics
We are on Instagram! Check us out on instagram.com/ftlocomics
NEW - We are on Twitter! @ftlocomics
Music: Jimmy Fontanez, Media Right Productions from YouTube Audio Library.
#charlesburns #blackhole #comics
Charles Burns's comics magnum opus Black Hole may be more popularly known as a single 360+ page volume, but it was originally published in 12 single issues over a period of 10 years. And as handsome a production as the author-designed, dustjacketed hardcover is, the singles (originally out of Kitchen Sink Press, continued by Fantagraphics) contain a wealth of details, in art and text, that didn't make the collected edition. These details, aided by an unmatched black-gloss production style, give the original issues a unique flavour, resulting in a slightly different story, almost like a 'director's cut'.
In this video I examine these story-adjacent details and differences between the hardcover and the singles, including a quick look at each of the gorgeous colour covers, with discussions on endpages, publication history, narrative, paper stock, lighting travails and much more.
Buy the collected edition here (Amazon affiliate links): amzn.to/3fOQ7Ba
Charles Burns' latest book, 'Free S**t': amzn.to/2WzRGv2
Other books by Charles Burns, including some issues of Black Hole: amzn.to/2OALqPe
Introduction: 0:00
Main Titles 1:32
The Hardcover - size, binding,jacket, covers, flaps, endpapers, 1:42
The Singles - front and back covers, Kitchen SInk and Fantagraphics history, David Bowie 5:03
The SIngles - the endpapers 8:21
The Singles - the before and after portraits 9:31
The Singles vs the Hardcover - Blacks Battle 11:24
A Tangent 12:12
Back to the Blacks , A Side-by-Side Comparison 12:26
The Singles - the 12 Monologues 13:32
The Singles - A Secret Ending? (SLIGHT SPOILER): 16:25
Conclusion (SPOILERS OVER) 18:35
My previous, introductory, video on Black Hole, 'Teen Angst as Body Horror by Charles Burns': youtu.be/WHc6_SibULA
Many of Burns' books appear in our comics collection videos:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf2B7UoR9NKXZmUIzDgAp-41MzR9JW5zt
Check out our Community tab, right here on YouTube! Polls, tidbits, behind-the-scenes pics and more!
youtube.com/channel/UCHWewIR09S61SA5egCaa7Iw/community
Check us out on Facebook for updates, polls and tidbits related to the videos: facebook.com/FTLOComics
We are on Instagram! Check us out on instagram.com/ftlocomics
NEW - We are on Twitter! @ftlocomics
Music: Jimmy Fontanez, Media Right Productions from YouTube Audio Library.
#charlesburns #blackhole #comics
