Big Baby [Paperback]

Charles Burns (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2007

An impressionable boy named Tony Delmonte lives in a seemingly typical American suburb until he sneaks out of his room one night and becomes entangled in a horrific plot involving summer camp murders and backyard burials.

From the creator of the 2005 hit graphic novel Black Hole comes this new softcover edition of his other masterpiece of modern horror. Big Baby is a particularly impressionable young boy named Tony Delmonte, who lives in a seemingly typical American suburb until he sneaks out of his room one night and becomes entangled in a horrific plot involving summer camp murders and backyard burials. Burns' clinical precision as an artist adds a sinister chill to his droll sense of humor, and his affection for 20th-century pulp fiction permeates throughout, creating a brilliant narrative that perfectly captures the unease and fear of adolescence. Black-and-white comics throughout

Editorial Reviews

Review

At once alluring and grotesque, Burns' imagery has been eagerly embraced by the counterculture, mainstream media, and a recalcitrant art world without ever compromising his strikingly singular aesthetic. (Juxtapoz )

The work of Charles Burns is a vision that's both horrifying and hilariously funny, and which he executes with cold, ruthless clarity... It's almost as if the artist... as if her weren't quite... human! (R. Crumb )

About the Author

Charles Burns is the award-winning creator of the graphic novel, Black Hole, currently in production as a major motion picture directed by David Fincher. He lives in Philadelphia, PA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books (February 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560978007
• ISBN-13: 978-1560978008
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #504,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gothic Americana, March 27, 2000

By 

Michael W. Draine (Acton, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Big Baby (Charles Burns Library) (Hardcover)

Graphic storyteller Charles Burns hits his artistic and narrative stride in the three immaculately rendered black and white comics stories reprinted in this beautifully bound, library-quality volume from Fantagraphics. Originally serialized in alternative weekly newpapers in the '80s, CURSE OF THE MOLE MEN, TEEN PLAGUE, and BLOOD CLUB portray the suburbs of "Leave It to Beaver", seen through the eyes of child who can't turn away the violence and seething sexuality behind the facade. Burns is possibly the finest draftsman to come out the 80s comics underground, and integrates a Bauhaus design sense with a flair for Fifties EC horror. Highly recommended for fans of EIGHTBALL, Psychotronic films, and anyone who grew up in Fifties or early Sixties suburbia.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Burn's Best, September 26, 2001

By 

C.J. Hustwick (Riverside, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Big Baby (Charles Burns Library) (Hardcover)

I have been a devout reader of Burn's Black Hole comic since I first found it on the shelves a couple of years ago. That he is a mesmerizing artist goes without saying. Black Hole has a very meandering plot at times, and it gets somewhat overshadowed by it's technical virtuosity. Big Baby, while it has less scope, is much more concise and places the reader directly in the path of evil. The final story in this volume "Blood Club" is a really haunting tale that I believe is his best work. One minor note, the image above is from Blood Club but it is not the actual cover on the book...It has Big Baby playing with some toys.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff from one of the very best, March 9, 2007

By 

J Feegin "Pumpkin Bear" (Iowa City, IA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Big Baby (Paperback)

I've never read a bad comic by Charles Burns; The art is incredible and his storytelling is subtle, smart, and engaging. I consider him one of the top five cartoonists working today (Dan Clowes, R. Crumb, Adrienne Tomine, and Chris Ware being the others) and "Big Baby" is another fine example of his talent. As always with contemporary comic books, it's a bit expensive for about a half hour of reading, but it inspires immediate rereading and is just to good to miss. Highly recommended.