The traditional speech bubbles and highly stylized text of mainstream graphic novels (or “comics” if you prefer) can often be awkward or even a distracting intrusion, taking a reader’s focus away from the art. In contrast to other graphic novels I’ve experienced, what I love about Collins’ work is the seamless integration of text into art. There are many frames and full spreads that I wouldn’t hesitate to hang on my wall. I found myself pausing frequently throughout the story to bring the work a breath from my nose to examine the precise hashing and surprisingly intricate detail. The soft, cloud-like whites and grays juxtaposed to the deep and fibrous blacks of the oncoming beard gives the illustrations a texture-rich quality that is often lovely. Through a grayscale spectrum, Collins offers illustrations that are playful yet deep in shadow and mood when appropriate–a kind of “cartoon-noir” reminiscent of Tim Burton but in no way an imitation. Stephen Collins is an award winning illustrator and cartoonist, and The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil is a strong testament to his artistry. What I will tell you, though, is that this book is beautiful. To say much more would cross the border into spoiler territory. He grows a beard–a prolific, colossal, razor-proof, metaphysical, culture-shifting beard. But the disorder of There finds a way through, and that gateway is Dave’s face. This perfection is a force that holds something at bay: the chaos and unknown of There. His existence, along with the other citizens of Here, thrives on and is sustained by perfection and order: perfect houses on perfect streets a vaguely important job built on data charts, routine, and predictability completely shaven faces. Winner of the Inaugural 9th Art Award for 2013 and a recent New York Times Best Seller, The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil tells the story of Dave and his beard. But what if it wasn’t? What if, rather than choosing the beard, the beard chose you? Caution: “I didn’t choose the beard life the beard life chose me” is never a valid excuse, so please don’t use it–unless you are Dave of Stephen Collins’ graphic novel The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil.
Regardless, you do have your reasons and your beard growth is your choice. Perhaps you’ve always had one, or maybe you really are just following “the trend” as beardsmen are so often accused lately. Your reasons for growing your beard are your own.
“I just want to see what it can do,” I sometimes say, which is true, I suppose I’m still seeing what it can do, and I’m not sure what that threshold is. “How long are you going to let your beard get?” I’m often asked.
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