Burnout
Written by Rebecca Donner
Drawn by Inaki Miranda
Gray tones by Eva de la Cruz
DC Comics/Minx
Cover price: $9.99; On-sale June 24, 2008
In Burnout, the latest book out of DC’s girl friendly comics imprint Minx, the story centers around a young girl by the name of Danni. Danni and her mother have recently moved in with her mom’s new boyfriend and things are not starting off on the right foot. It seems mom’s boyfriend is also an alcoholic powder keg waiting to explode. While all of this is going on, Danni develops a crush on her soon-to-be stepbrother Haskell, who seems to be hiding some secrets of his own. When Danni discovers his secret, she embarks on a journey that will bring her face to face with family secrets, her first loves, and eco-terrorism.
In her first foray into graphic novels, writer Rebecca Donner slips comfortably into the comic book writing mindset. While there are more captions than I would have liked, the pace and dialogue of the comic is superb. I especially like how she incorporates the theme of Eco Terrorism into the storyline, giving equal time to show each side of the issue. Donner’s portrayal of Danni is your garden-variety rebellious teenager who falls hard for the bad boy but in the hands of the writer, the concept seems brand new. Whether or not Burnout is a commercial success, Donner’s writing ability will definitely get the attention of a comic book industry that is in need of more female writers with unique voices.
Artist Inaki Miranda does not disappoint on his end. His art is every bit as expressive as the dialogue. Eva de Cruz’s gray tones also add an interesting flavor to the piece. It creates a somber, dark, and mysterious mood that matches the story’s tone perfectly. My only complaint is that the paper stock of the book does not do Miranda’s art justice. In the advance reader copy, the pages seem almost like Xerox reproductions of the actual art. I’m sure when the books hit the stands, this problem will be fixed.
The graphic novel is also affordably priced. At $9.99, readers are given over 170 pages of good quality comic book writing. At a time when gas prices, comic prices, and even milk prices are on the rise, it is nice to see that some things are stilled priced within reason.
If there is a book you would want to check out from the Minx line, look no further than Burnout. The art is solid and the writing is top notch. While the story may look familiar on the surface, there is more to meet the eye with this graphic novel.
