I loved Black Hole's grotesque intensity, so it's tough to compare it to this one. I enjoyed the artwork and the panels hearkening back to the 1970s style of filmmaking and sci-fi themes. The story feels boring and disjointed, though (especially the bits about everyone being obsessed with Laurie).

Final Cut is a meditation on how art mirrors and influences the lives of those who participate in it's creation. Burns returns to the realm of youthful sexual anxieties and grotesque imagery reminiscent of Black Hole with some narrative twists: an unreliable narrator, a cast of characters a bit older in age (20s?), and some visual parallels to well-known horror films.
I loved that this work is in color- there are striking scenes with no dialogue, just pure saturated skies and foliage with Burns iconic bold shading and linework. Breathtaking! I also appreciated that the color helped to distinguish which character was which.
One detractor from this story was how the characters really resembled each other. I heavily relied on different hair colors to know who was on each page. There is very little body differentiation or any physical quirks with these characters- everyone feels like a blank slate. I would have appreciated more differences in body size, facial features, clothing options, etc. Maybe this was a choice meant to reference anxieties about identity as a group versus as an individual... but I felt it detracted from my reading experience.
Overall, Final Cut is a gorgeous work of art with a creepy, atmospheric quality perfect for older teens and adults alike.

This wasn't for me, even though I like graphic novels and horror movies and the 70s. Font was tough to read, was confused about who Dana/Tina was, and found characters unsympathetic, except for Laurie, I guess? She was pretty much fawned over by everyone almost to the point of harassment so I guess I felt bad for her. I really wanted to like it but it wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Final Cut by Charles Burns.

Burns returns with his signature style in Final Cut. This story of art, obsession, and friendship is told well through the style of his art and the contrast coloring. Fans of Black Hole will find much to love.

I first read "Black Hole" by Charles Burns a little over two years ago and it left such an impression on me that I immediately had to request this one when I saw it. I loved the setting and the nebulous plot, along with the nagging feeling that I had in the back of my mind that something awful could happen to the whole cast of characters, especially when they're out camping for their shoot. I would highly recommend this title for fans of the adult graphic novel genre and anyone who loves the old style of comics.

A Charles Burns book through and through, he’s a creator with a niche all their own (b-movie influenced bildungsroman) and if that’s to your liking you will love this excellent work. But if you’ve been turned off by any of his work in the past nothing here will change your mind.

Charles Burns is always a joy and his art remains unparalleled. Final Cut is up there with his best work and reignited my love of his previous books.

This is Charles Burns at his finest. His illustrations are true pieces of art. So beautiful and tell the story perfectly. Would recommend to fans of his other work, Black Hole.

Charles Burns has this magical way of telling the most bizarre stories and adding in these stellar art pieces. His illustrations are what draw me into his stories. I always go back to the beginning of the story to take another look at his work. It’s beautifully bizarre.

I was stoked to see that he was releasing another book. Buzzing with excitement is quite the understatement.

While this wasn’t one of my favorite by him, it was still a decent read with the most amazing illustrations. I love that feel of old Hollywood horror and the process of creating your own monster film. It was something else. The story about almost everyone being obsessed with Laurie was kind of drab. That’s the part of the story that loses me a bit. The rest was okay.

Final Cut was an okay story with the best illustrations. In typical Burns fashion, you’re thrown this wicked and wild curveball as the characters develop on the pages. It was definitely worth the read.

A beautiful story with Burns's typical illustration style (that I will never get sick of). Brian is obsessed with creating art - from drawings to home movies - and his friends are happy to support him even if they don't always understand it. At a get together with friends where he is showing reels of movies they've made, he meets a new girl: Laurie. Brian is immediately enamored but doesn't know how to express those feelings. Laurie is ambivalent, not quite knowing what to make of him but finding his art beautiful. Brian begins incorporating Laurie into his art, using her as a muse. The book explores that relationship, of drawing lines and boundaries between what is real and what is imagined. Can creating something that mimics the imagination change the reality of the situation? And how does Brian reckon with his two worlds?

I did not know what I was getting into with "Final Cut" but could not wait to dive into the world of Charles Burns and I have to say I was shocked, hooked, and cannot wait to read more! I felt as though I entered the psyche of the main character and got lost between his reality and imagination. The art aided in the overall feel of the storyline and at times made me uneasy and uncomfortable. I would love to see this in print to see if the pictures have the same effect. I definitely feel this graphic novel is for adults with the subject matter and graphics; perfect for fans of classic horror.