DIGESTATE CONTRIBUTOR:
ADAM HINES!
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| Portrait of The Artist as a Young Man |
Adam
Hines is the author of
Duncan the Wonder Dog, a graphic novel series that is graciously
published by AdHouse Books. He was born and raised in Illinois, and
eats the same lunch every day.
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| Cover art for "Duncan The Wonder Dog" |
I remember Adam's book creating quite a buzz at the Small Press Expo a few years ago. The sheer heft of the book immediately caught my attention and looking inside I was immediately intrigued by the density and disparity of the artwork. Some pages featured lots of open space and simple clean lines while others had layer upon layer of collage, painting and drawing. Some characters were depicted with realism and others were cartoony, often on the same page.
It wasn't until I brought the book home and started reading it that I realized that the content was right up my alley. Although the narrative veers away on tangents and subplots, the bulk of the story focuses on a world in which animals can communicate directly with humans. As could be expected, some animals react against the way they are often treated by humans by forming a terrorist group.
I won't pretend to understand much of what happens in this chapter (apparently this is the first book of a continuing narrative), but it was intriguing enough for me to finish the entire 400 pages in a couple of sittings. I liken Adam's work to William Faulkner or James Joyce in that it is often difficult to follow the story, but there are rewards in simply appreciating the beauty of the language (in Faulkner/Joyce's case) or interplay between art and language (in Hines' case).
That said, it doesn't feel as if Hines' is attempting to be opaque or "show off", and there is plenty of humor inter dispersed throughout. I suspect he's just a naturally intelligent and prolific dude doing what he enjoys. I look forward to the next chapter of "Duncan the Wonder Dog"!
