Charles Burns (b. 1955) is a cartoonist, illustrator and graphic novelist celebrated for his complex narratives and distinctive black-and-white imagery. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Seattle, Burns earned a B.F.A. (1977) from Evergreen State College and an M.F.A. (1979) from the University of California, Davis. At UC Davis, he experimented with photography, sculpture, painting and narrative imagery, developing an interest in storytelling through sequential art. Burns gained international recognition through his contributions to RAW, the alternative comics magazine founded by Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly. His graphic novel Black Hole (1993–2005) received numerous awards and established him as a major figure in contemporary comics. Characterized by precise linework, dramatic contrasts and surreal imagery, Burns's work draws on horror films, popular culture and underground comics to explore alienation, identity and transformation.