PopCultHQ received an advance review copy of MEMOIRS OF A MAN IN PAJAMAS by Paco Roca from Fantagraphics, releasing Tuesday, August 29th.
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Here’s PopCultHQ’s spoiler-free review of…
MEMOIRS OF A MAN IN PAJAMAS by Paco Roca
Written & Illustrated by Paco Roca
Translated by Andrea Rosenberg
Pages: 232
Format: Paperback / Softback
Color: Full-color
Dimensions: 8.66″ × 10.6″
ISBN-13: 9781683967576
In Shops: August 29th
Spain’s answer to Seinfeld, these observational, relatable autobio vignettes by Spanish cartoonist Paco Roca poke fun at the vexing tribulations of modern life.
At 40, cartoonist Paco Roca has finally achieved his childhood dream — to spend all day at home in his pajamas! However, his blissful, loungewear-clad reverie is beset with a host of mundane problems: He dreads small talk with “the world’s biggest bore,” but his excuses and white lies are finally catching up with him. When a good friend breaks up, taking either side could lead to social disaster. The simple mission to change his train ticket descends into an impossibly complicated, Kafka-esque affair. And worst of all, his partner keeps hanging the toilet paper roll the wrong way!
In the vein of sitcoms like Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Roca’s comic vignettes brilliantly satirize the pesky pitfalls of modern-day life. Like most of us, Roca’s alter ego just wants to be liked and to do the right thing, but finds that through crippling indecision, cowardly behavior, and the absurd machinations of the universe, he is usually thwarted. The ensuing situations he finds himself embroiled in are as hilarious as they are often painfully relatable.
PopCultHQ’s Comic Book Review:
For every instance where people think they can craft a story about nothing in particular, someone comes along to shake those notions apart and raise the bar to another level. Paco Roca spins a marvelous yarn in this book about the day-to-day activities of his alter ego dealing with the most ordinary of problems; from annoying friends and overbearing romantic partners to the failed quest of having a “relaxing evening in.” Newcomers to Paco’s work will appreciate how much of themselves they will find in these vignettes and the outstanding blend of satire and realism that blends throughout the book.
Writing: Paco’s writing style is wonderfully engaging. Through a combination of autobiographical recall and dry wit that stems from recounting the odd mundane, yet outrageous moments of life, Paco provides a fun escape for anyone familiar with his work or new to the types of pieces he produces. One of the things that is noticeable right away is that any of these stories could happen to anyone. People encounter so many odd problems every day, whether tied to work, life, or simple social engagement. It is only when creative minds like Paco Roca step in to offer reflections on their personal lives that readers can stop, take a step back, and realize that the issues they tackle, both big and small, are trivial when viewed through the creative lens of satirical storytelling.
Art/Colors: Paco’s art style of rich detail is the perfect yin to the yang of his charming and amusing stories. It is an endless roller coaster ride of engaging artwork that continually pulls the reader along on the journey that is his fictional counterpart’s life. These vignettes contain juicy nuggets of artistic wonderment, though some go above and beyond. For example, the story ‘Sticky Debt’ is page after page of visual delights, taking a deep-dive into the perils of debt and the overall impact it continues to have on the world. And the color choices for each tale pair well with the art; nothing is too flashy or over the top. This entire book is a veritable feast for the eyes.
Overall Assessment:
For all of the comics published over the years that provide a means of escape through fantastic adventures or outrageous scenarios, encountering work like that of Paco Roca provides a refreshing break from the usual onslaught of material out there. His work serves not only to provide a degree of humorous wisdom into the day-to-day minutiae of life itself, but also will challenge the reader to take stock of where they are on life’s journey. Long-time fans of Paco will enjoy this latest collection of his comics, and newcomers will want to go out to read his previous works—a resounding success from a creator who injects a little joy into everyday life.
PopCultHQ’s Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
Cartoonist Paco Roca
Paco Roca (Francisco Martínez Roca) is a graphic artist and a cartoonist from Valencia, Spain, who has won several art/writing awards. The Spanish strip cartoonist has experience in graphic novels and advertisement illustrations. His graphic novel Wrinkles has been adapted into an animated movie.
He’s best known for his comic-books like Wrinkles. Perro Verde Films produced a cinema adaptation titled Arrugas (Spanish for Wrinkles) directed by Ignacio Ferreras and released on September 19, 2011.
Publisher – Fantagraphics
For over 40 years, Fantagraphics has published the very best comics and graphic novels that the medium has to offer. Our mission is to celebrate great cartooning in all of its incarnations, from the form’s early luminaries to contemporary artists currently forging the future of visual storytelling. Not content to rest on our laurels and extensive roster of talented artists, we constantly seek out fresh voices from across the globe. Thus, we honor the rich history of comics while providing a platform for bold new stories, styles, and perspectives that push the boundaries of the medium. Fantagraphics remains peerless in our commitment to be the publisher of the world’s greatest cartoonists.
