For this week on comics as contemporary literature, I read Daytripper. From the very first page until the last page of the final volume I was hooked. I went in knowing absolutely nothing about the comic, having chose to read it only because I found the cover art absolutely gorgeous. Sufficed to say I think that was the best way to approach this book.
The end of the first issue shocked me, as the protagonist who we had been introduced to was brutally shot and confirmed dead. What was even more shocking though, was the second issue, where the reader follows the same exact character but during what is an earlier point in his life. Yet, just as I was assuming this was a story that would be told backwards, Brás de Oliva Domingos, the protagonist, dies yet again.
It was only by the third issue that I realized a pattern was forming. All but the final two issues are snippets into various parts of Brás life. What make up the most significant events though the story of him become our ‘plot’ and yet the end of each issue, with again, the exception of the final two, Brás dies with an obituary seemingly written by Brás himself, but the following issue acts as if nothing happened. Its an interesting storytelling device and it was very refreshing to read something with this non-linear style. I feel telling stories in such a fashion always brings an extra layer of depth to the writing and has the reader on the edge of their seat waiting to see how it will all unfold.
Considering the format, Daytripper deals with very heavy topics. Despite a few of the ways Brás dies and a plane crash, Daytripper isn’t exactly action packed. It mostly relies on the surreal way its telling what would otherwise be a very average story to be interesting. Brás is an author, but he’s also the son of a very successful Brazilian author and he wants to be free from his father’s shadow. We learn of how he met the love of his life and the birth of his child and how he came to find success. But Daytripper isn’t about all of this. Every issue seeks to remind us that life is fleeting. Death could come at any time as it is just a natural inevitable part of life so enjoy life while you can.
The end of the first issue shocked me, as the protagonist who we had been introduced to was brutally shot and confirmed dead. What was even more shocking though, was the second issue, where the reader follows the same exact character but during what is an earlier point in his life. Yet, just as I was assuming this was a story that would be told backwards, Brás de Oliva Domingos, the protagonist, dies yet again.
It was only by the third issue that I realized a pattern was forming. All but the final two issues are snippets into various parts of Brás life. What make up the most significant events though the story of him become our ‘plot’ and yet the end of each issue, with again, the exception of the final two, Brás dies with an obituary seemingly written by Brás himself, but the following issue acts as if nothing happened. Its an interesting storytelling device and it was very refreshing to read something with this non-linear style. I feel telling stories in such a fashion always brings an extra layer of depth to the writing and has the reader on the edge of their seat waiting to see how it will all unfold.
Considering the format, Daytripper deals with very heavy topics. Despite a few of the ways Brás dies and a plane crash, Daytripper isn’t exactly action packed. It mostly relies on the surreal way its telling what would otherwise be a very average story to be interesting. Brás is an author, but he’s also the son of a very successful Brazilian author and he wants to be free from his father’s shadow. We learn of how he met the love of his life and the birth of his child and how he came to find success. But Daytripper isn’t about all of this. Every issue seeks to remind us that life is fleeting. Death could come at any time as it is just a natural inevitable part of life so enjoy life while you can.
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