Daytripper issue 9 is
quite possibly the first issue of the series that I have truly enjoyed and
connected with. With the series reaching it’s climax within the next month the
stories so far have been little more than a collection of heart-shattering or
teary-eyed tales. Each individual issue has contained a host of reoccurring
characters, yet the stories themselves seem unconnected, the worlds they
inhabit again too, seem unconnected. They all end with a tragedy from within
the Domingos family and for a while maybe we were supposed to take everything
at face value.

#9 however leads
deeper than the book has ever before; we get a glimpse of the end, our first
hint that a deeper connection outside of us peeking through a window on these
lives could exist. That is you see, what the book does so well. Like it’s
previous issues, if feels like we peering not only into the lives of these
people, but their very souls. This is of course due to the wonderful duo of
Fåbio Moon and Gabriel Bå. They have created a whole different type of Vertigo
book; the way the beautiful and emotive art merges with the storybook style
telling is just wonderful.

I don’t know how they
do it, but when you read through any issue of this book pay close attention to
the eyes. The eyes are like a portal, through which the duo can convey more
than they could ever write or draw.

It’s stunning work to
say the least. While I haven’t been the greatest fan overall, at one point I
considered dropping it, but with issue #8 the whole thing clicked. It’s one
idea, one emotion and one story – explored through various scenarios. We are on
a journey of discovery, with the characters and with ourselves.

This penultimate issue
of Daytripper weaves and meanders senselessly like a dream, knowing full well
that it is both engaging and playful to read. It would have, in all honesty,
been a glorious way to end the series. It’s touching and mysterious enough to plague
your mind – still hours after you put it down.

Whether you have been
buying this from the start or whether you are now waiting for the trade, Daytripper
is a truly unique book. In that I’m not sure what is really happening and I don’t
know where the book is taking me, all I can say is that I am happy I was
allowed to come along for the ride.

-Josh “origami kid” West
Twitter.com/origamikid

http://www.origamikid.wordpress.com