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lukevburns.bsky.social
Luke Burns
@lukevburns.bsky.social
5.5K followers 520 following 1.5K posts
Writing funny stuff/weird stuff. New Yorker, McSweeney's, NY Mag, etc. Translator of THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT (2026), on shelves now, and MASTERS OF THE NEFARIOUS, also on shelves now. https://lukevburns.tumblr.com/writing (He/Him) Header image by Lucas Adams
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Luke Burns @lukevburns.bsky.social · Aug 3
The Children of Light, the graphic novel I translated, is coming out on August 18th, and is available for pre-order!

So far it's been getting some very nice reviews, which I'm gonna put in this here thread
The Children of Light
An advanced alien race attempts to escape oblivion with the help of a world-sized spaceship, an omniscient supercomputer, and a mysterious group of godlike creatures in this astonishingly illustrated ...
bookshop.org
Reposted by Luke Burns
lukevburns.bsky.social
molto bene gesserit
bene gesserit pain box with image of italian chef from pizza box doing "chef's kiss" gesture layered on top
March 4, 2024 at 8:40 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
lukevburns.bsky.social
The Library Journal's starred review says it's "a gorgeously illustrated, thrilling and thought-provoking episodic epic sci-fi odyssey unlike anything else in contemporary comics"
The Children of Light
www.libraryjournal.com
August 3, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
lukevburns.bsky.social
And you can also check out my lineup of short humor workshops coming up in October here
Upcoming Workshops
Let’s Write MORE Short Humor Pieces - Tues Nights in October (5 Spots Left) Tuesday, 10/06/26, 7:00-8:30PM Eastern via Zoom Tuesday, 10/13/26, 7:00-8:30PM Eastern via Zoom Tuesday, 10/20/26,...
lukevburns.tumblr.com
September 18, 2026 at 8:08 PM
lukevburns.bsky.social
TOMORROW!
lukevburns.bsky.social Luke Burns @lukevburns.bsky.social · 6d
On Sunday, Sept 20th @jamesfolta.com and I are hosting the launch party for OBEY IN ADVANCE, a new book of satire by @ginnyhogan.bsky.social & @shadesofgreaves.bsky.social published by @mcsweeneys.net!

🎟️: www.eventbrite.com/e/obey-in-ad...
Flyer for a book launch party all in red with black and white text. The cover of the book "Obey in Advance" is on the bottom right. Text reads: OBEY IN ADVANCE BOOK LAUNCH PARTY SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 2:30 P.M. ET at CAVEAT NYC 21 A Clinton St. New York, NY HOSTED BY JAMES FOLTA and LUKE BURNS of A NEWSLETTER OF HUMOROUS WRITING FEATURING CHANDLER DEAN, FELIPE TORRES MEDINA, TAYLOR KAY PHILLIPS, and JOSH GONDELMAN
September 19, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
mangiotto.bsky.social
Zach Cregger's next video game adaptation should be Katamari Damacy. You heard me.
September 18, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
danceyrselfdean.bsky.social
September 18, 2026 at 6:37 PM
lukevburns.bsky.social
In this week's newsletter, @jamesfolta.com and I assemble great writing by Justin Courter in @pointsincase.com and Maria Choong, Juliet Zhou, and @chandlerjdean.bsky.social in @mcsweeneys.net

Plus info about the event we're co-hosting and my upcoming workshops!

Check it out and subscribe ⬇️
A Newsletter of Humorous Writing
by Luke Burns & James Folta A weekly newsletter dedicated to humorous writing and humorous writers. We round up the best short humor pieces and funny articles every week, and have some fun extras ever...
buttondown.com
September 18, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
markpaglia.bsky.social
Having snagged a copy the first time it was in stock, I can authoritatively tell you that you don't want to miss out on this one.
lukevburns.bsky.social Luke Burns @lukevburns.bsky.social · 8d
My translation of Jean Pleyers' The Children of Light is back in stock on @bookshop.org!
September 13, 2026 at 1:21 PM
lukevburns.bsky.social
On Sunday, Sept 20th @jamesfolta.com and I are hosting the launch party for OBEY IN ADVANCE, a new book of satire by @ginnyhogan.bsky.social & @shadesofgreaves.bsky.social published by @mcsweeneys.net!

🎟️: www.eventbrite.com/e/obey-in-ad...
Flyer for a book launch party all in red with black and white text. The cover of the book "Obey in Advance" is on the bottom right. Text reads: OBEY IN ADVANCE BOOK LAUNCH PARTY SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 2:30 P.M. ET at CAVEAT NYC 21 A Clinton St. New York, NY HOSTED BY JAMES FOLTA and LUKE BURNS of A NEWSLETTER OF HUMOROUS WRITING FEATURING CHANDLER DEAN, FELIPE TORRES MEDINA, TAYLOR KAY PHILLIPS, and JOSH GONDELMAN
September 13, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
markpaglia.bsky.social
"This screenshot has been doctored," said Encyclopedia Brown. "Based on the timestamp, Bugs Meany wouldn't have called it 'woke 1' because woke 2 hadn't happened yet. He would have just called it 'woke.'"

Bugs Meany glowered. "You got me again, Encucklopedia Beta. But I need to get back to DC."
September 13, 2026 at 12:10 PM
lukevburns.bsky.social
my temporal pincer movement is when I alternate reading the latest issue of the new yorker with the oldest one in the pile next to my bed
September 12, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
lilliekoi.bsky.social
Marmaduke cartoons with Thomas Ligotti captions
September 12, 2026 at 3:02 PM
lukevburns.bsky.social
In this week's newsletter @jamesfolta.com & I rounded up great writing by @heathertalty.bsky.social in @pointsincase.com and @johnmoe.bsky.social, JiJi Lee, and David Epstein in @mcsweeneys.net

Plus James and I are hosting an upcoming McSweeney's event!

Check it out & subscribe at the link below
A Newsletter of Humorous Writing
by Luke Burns & James Folta A weekly newsletter dedicated to humorous writing and humorous writers. We round up the best short humor pieces and funny articles every week, and have some fun extras ever...
buttondown.com
September 11, 2026 at 6:01 PM
lukevburns.bsky.social
My translation of Jean Pleyers' The Children of Light is back in stock on @bookshop.org!
September 11, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
nyrb-imprints.bsky.social
Dash Shaw & Jesse Moynihan will be signing copies of their new books, Like Swimmers and Forming, tonight at Desert Island in Brooklyn. We'll provide the cheap beer. Come out, 7pm, should be fun. @fantagraphics.bsky.social
September 10, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
ericaliesalot.bsky.social
@lukevburns.bsky.social and @jamesfolta.com wrote some nice things about my piece in @mcsweeneys.net last week. Subscribe to their newsletter to learn what makes jokes good!
September 8, 2026 at 11:18 PM
lukevburns.bsky.social
In last week's newsletter, @jamesfolta.com & I assembled great writing by Graeme Carey and Glenn Boozan in @newyorker.com, @ericaliesalot.bsky.social in @mcsweeneys.net, & Ricardo Frasso Jaramillo in @thebeliever.net.

Plus an update about my graphic novel translation

Check it out & subscribe 👇
A Newsletter of Humorous Writing
by Luke Burns & James Folta A weekly newsletter dedicated to humorous writing and humorous writers. We round up the best short humor pieces and funny articles every week, and have some fun extras ever...
buttondown.com
September 8, 2026 at 2:53 PM
lukevburns.bsky.social
I'M the worst bluesky poster
Shot from the scene in Spartacus where everyone is claiming to be Spartacus
September 4, 2026 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
markpaglia.bsky.social
I just received the greatest piece of junk mail ever: a 16-page(!) appeal from Dwight Eisenhower's granddaughter seeking donations to restore the plane he used as Air Force One.

I may not have any children, but truly this marks me as A Dad.
An envelope printed with a photo of a big old propeller plane over canyons, mesas, and such, with text about "THE LOST AIR FORCE ONE"; next to it are its contents: a sheaf of 8 pages printed on both sides with photos of Ike Eisenhower and text from his granddaughter asking for money to restore the plane he used as Air Force One; also, an insert telling me that if I give $54, I'll receive a replica of "the pen that ended WW2," which I guess was used to sign a treaty or articles of surrender in either Europe or the Pacific—I'll be honest, I don't really care, much though the pen offer amuses me.
September 2, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
aemccarthy.bsky.social
having homemade stock to cook with: beautiful, wonderful, iconic

making homemade stock to cook with: a horror, miserable, nightmare
September 2, 2026 at 3:21 AM
lukevburns.bsky.social
I've got just ONE spot left in my intro to short humor workshop starting next week!

Learn the essentials of short humor and write a draft of your very own piece in just four weeks.
Where to Start With Short Humor (Four-Week Workshop Starting 9/08/26 - Evening)
DATES/OVERVIEW OF CLASSES: 1. Tuesday, 9/08/26, 7:00-9:00PM Eastern via Zoom [Overview of Short Humor & Idea Generation] 2. Tuesday, 9/15/26, 7:00-9:00PM Eastern via Zoom [List-Making & Outlining] ...
docs.google.com
September 1, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
markpaglia.bsky.social
I just finished reading Children of Light, and you're gonna want to snag a copy posthaste.
August 29, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Luke Burns
stevelieberart.bsky.social
NEW ADVICE-FROM-LIEBER LIST! I've posted these tips as a thread before, but I figured it's about time I made it available as a single, shareable image.
MISTAKES I'VE MADE THAT YOU CAN AVOID Don't be like me. 1. Don't trash your own work when complemented. In that context your self-deprecation is insulting someone else's taste! Just say thanks and change the subject. Maybe credit an influence? 2. As far as your readers are concerned, comics are drawn with a printing press or a monitor. Don't fetishize the original art or the tools you make it. Anything that gets the story told the way it needs to be told is the right tool for the job. 3. Don't use one job to audition for another. It's unfair to your collaborators and a betrayal of the reader to get flashy or sexy or explosive if the moment in the story doesn't call for it. 4. The important storytelling choices on a page can be worked out in thumbnails. Gesture, camera angle, framing, broad arrangement of tones-get this stuff right before you worry about anatomy, lighting, drapery, or facial expressions. 5. Some artists can put down a final inkline with no underdrawing, but that's because they're skilled and experienced enough to do all that underdrawing in their head. You probably aren't. Get your underdrawing right and save the masterstrokes for the masters. 6. What you're feeling while you work doesn't matter. What the audience feels when they read it does. You can be happy and still do a great drawing of someone in agony. You should understand what you're depicting. It's not necessary to experience it in real time at the board. 7. Get a fresh eye on your work. You never know when some accidental juxtaposition is going to completely change your intended meaning. 8. Don't let getting things 100% right keep you from getting things done. It's easy to get bogged down in research or prep sketches. Make a schedule at the start of a project so you know how much time you have. Do the best you can with the time allotted and move on. But...
August 28, 2026 at 10:41 PM
lukevburns.bsky.social
An extremely green-tinted Avengers: Doomsday poster with Doctor Doom, cloaked, lurching to the left, one hand in front of his face. Below, in the Avengers font, text reads "MY DINNER WITH ANDRE"
August 28, 2026 at 3:13 PM