Daytripper tells the story of one man’s life’s obsession with his own mortality, by showing his loves, his fears, his broken relationships, and his shattered—and realized—dreams.  It is a graphic novel in which it is impossible to separate words from art.  Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá work together, seamlessly, like the best music you’ve ever heard, to combine elements of words and picture, lines and imagination, and transport the reader into the life of a fictional character who, by the end of the work, feels as real as your own family.

I don’t want to say too much about it because it is full of surprises, but I will say that I was reluctant to read it because it sounded boring to me.  A fake biography?  No capes?  No zombies?  No guns?

But this creation shows what comic books can do that no other medium can.  Yes, I can see how Daytripper could be made into an art film and probably a decent one.  Hell, probably a damn good and impactful one.  But I doubt a movie would stay with me the way this book undoubtedly will.  Unlike movies, comic books allow the reader to linger and focus—to pause, and reflect.  And Daytripper invites a lot of that.  And unlike novels, where the reader has to conjure pictures in his head, comic books provide basic imagery so that when the brain begins to tire of reading, it can refocus and regroup.  When I read novels, I find my mind frequently wandering, but comic books let me focus.

Let me also say this: I read Daytripper on my iPad in one sitting.  The iPad is a terrific way to read this—it’s bright, you can zoom in on particularly detailed and beautiful panels (many of which are almost like paintings)…But as soon as I was done, I ordered the hardcover.

I want other people to read this book.  It is brilliant, and it is the greatest graphic novel I have ever read.

I leave you with this, just one visually beautiful and well written panels out of hundreds in this ten-issue series.

Cardinal, a duo from England, released their last and first album in 1994 and according to them it was brilliant. I never heard it. But I have been fortunate enough to have heard “Hymns,” their second album in eighteen years.

It’s indie rock and pop, with eclectic mixes of retro/1960s styles, with breathy vocals, written with precision and clarity. In other words, it’s from the “clean and pure” side of the indie tracks–not the rough and grungy one.

I’m diggin’ it.  And given their sporadic production history, I thought it appropriate to post this review on Groundhog Day!

Bird House is limited to a one-time pressing of just 300 hand-numbered 12″ records. This single-sided LP features original Jad Fair artwork which is screen-printed directly on Side B of the record, and is packaged in a picture-disc sleeve. The first 45 copies are pressed on translucent gold vinyl with black ink (pictured at left), and 255 copies are pressed on translucent yellow vinyl with red ink.

Let’s Win

There’s an awful lot going on in Chap Taylor, Peter Johnson, and Michael Ryan’s book, on Aspen Press, not the least of which is the art. Ryan has a wonderful ability to make humans look “real” and “real creepy” at the same time, mostly by spending time on faces. Faces are something too many comic artists ignore or hide in shadow. But there’s very little shadow in Ryan’s work. And yet, he can still do horror. Quite good.

It’s hard to get a sense of the writing from this one issue, particularly because the concept is so rich and the plot develops at a pretty breakneck pace. Not that I’m complaining: You’re pretty much in and running from page one, never slowing down.

I dig it.

Maple Trails EP by Bear Cavalry