Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas

Trilogía de un hombre en pijama #1-3

by Paco Roca

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 He dreads small talk with “the world’s biggest bore,” but his excuses and white lies are finally catching up with him. When good friends breaks up, taking either side could lead to social disaster. The simple mission to change his train ticket descends into an impossibly complicated, Kafkaesque 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. Full-color illustrations throughout

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Humor, Bande Dessinée, Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2023

About the author

Paco Roca estudió en la Escuela de Arte y Superior de Diseño de Valencia. Aunque su trabajo se centra en los cómics, compagina su tiempo con la ilustración y las charlas y talleres.

En el terreno de los cómics, su obra se ha traducido en trece países. Entre su bibliografía publicada por Astiberri destacan El juego lúgubre (2001); El Faro (2004); Arrugas (2007); Las calles de arena (2008); El invierno del dibujante (2010); el recopilatorio Memorias de un dibujante en pijama. El integral, que recoge las páginas aparecidas en el periódico Las Provincias y El País Semanal –que serían publicados en tres tomos: Memorias de un hombre en pijama (2011), Andanzas de un hombre en pijama (2014) y Confesiones de un hombre en pijama (2017)–; Los surcos del azar (2013); La casa (2015), La encrucijada (2017), colaboración con el músico José Manuel Casañ (Seguridad Social), El tesoro del Cisne Negro (2018), con guion de Guillermo Corral, Regreso al Edén (2020), y El abismo del olvido (2023), su última novela gráfica. También es el autor de El dibujado (2019), creado para las paredes del Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (IVAM) y que en 2021 toma forma de libro.

Sus cómics han sido galardonados dentro y fuera de España con, entre otros, el Premio Nacional del Cómic 2008, el Goya al mejor guion adaptado por Arrugas en 2011, el Excellence Award de Japón, el Inkpot Award en la Comic-Con de San Diego en 2019 o el Eisner 2020 a la mejor obra extranjera. Paco También ha recibido la Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes 2021 del Ministerio de Cultura del gobierno de España y el Gran Premio del Cómic Barcelona 2025 a toda su trayectoria.

Algunos de sus cómics han sido llevados al cine y la televisión, como es el caso de Arrugas (Ignacio Ferreras, 2011), Memorias de un hombre en pijama, El tesoro del Cisne Negro (Alejandro Amenábar, 2021) o La casa (Álex Montoya, 2024).

Como ilustrador, ha realizado carteles, portadas de libros, murales y campañas sociales para todo tipo de eventos, publicaciones o clientes, en especial organizaciones no gubernamentales.

Imparte charlas y talleres por todo el mundo y su obra ha sido expuesta en salas nacionales e internacionales. Paco Roca ha recibido la Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes 2021 del Ministerio de Cultura del gobierno de España y en mayo de 2023 le concedieron el Premio al Mérito Cultural Ciutat de València.

Reviews

[Rod Brown]

I'm about 50/50 with Paco Roca projects. I loved the geriatric misadventures of Wrinkles, but this excursion into memoir disappoints with its blandness.

The first section, from Memorias de un hombre en pijama, are all one-page strips with lots of jokes about dating, being a cartoonist, and working from home -- or rather, wandering around one's apartment while procrastinating. Each page is pretty dense, usually with 12 panels, setting up and paying off what are pretty mild or cliched gags, including some about running out of ideas for the strip, which was apparently appearing in some periodical in Spain.

The second section, from Andanzas de un hombre en pijama, revives the strip with a 12-page time-travel epic before settling back into 2-page gags -- now with nine panels per page -- about being a cartoonist and family man. It gets a bit meta at one point as it examines the many ways Roca's avatar in the strip -- the "man in pajamas" of the title -- is a fiction.

The third section, from Confesiones de un hombre en pijama, bookends 2-page strips with a couple longer stories. Having used up so much the slice-of-life material, Roca gets political, creating essays about economics, colonialism, anti-capitalism, and universal healthcare.

None of the above is bad, but it didn't do much to stand out in a field crowded with graphic memoirs about cartoonists and their home life. Being set in Spain didn't bring as much of a new slant as I thought it would. And Roca's tendency to include dozens of celebrity cameos -- Groucho Marx, Superman, the Pink Panther, Alfred Hitchcock, etc. -- didn't actually do much to enliven the pages.


FOR REFERENCE:

Collects three volumes of the Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas series: Memorias de un hombre en pijama (2011), Andanzas de un hombre en pijama (2014), and Confesiones de un hombre en pijama (2017).

[Dan]

This is a collection of Paco Roca's Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas strips. Since I previously enjoyed Wrinkles and The House, I nabbed this when Fantagraphics was doing its big sale last November.

So this is some great stuff. Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas is a slice of life strip about the life of a cartoonist that works from home in his pajamas. It sounds like a boring premise but Paco Roca makes hay with it.

The blurb on the back mentions Seinfeld. I wouldn't exactly say that's what it reminds me of but it is a strip about nothing but also everything and everything. Roca covers mundane topics like grocery shopping and plane travel and waxes philosophically about getting older, relationships, capitalism, fatherhood, and things of that nature. Maybe it is like Seinfeld.

The stories are told in a minimalist style and are fairly amusing. The first section is all one page strips in twelve panel grids. The later sections are multiple pages, sometimes with fewer panels to a page. Not only will I not be hauling this to Half Price Books next time I go, it also makes me want to read more Paco Roca.

[Vinayak Hegde]

Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas is a witty and charming graphic novel where Paco Roca's self-deprecating humor shines throughout. Though presented as a collection of autobiographical vignettes, the book never feels repetitive or dull. Roca blends everyday observations with unexpected punchlines, making many stories laugh-out-loud funny, while also weaving in more philosophical reflections and commentary on politics, inequality, and modern life.

His illustrations are equally impressive—clean, expressive, and marked by thoughtful use of color to highlight shifts in tone and story. As a mostly homebound, slightly forgetful artist, Roca’s quirks feel authentic and relatable, especially for readers who appreciate the humor in life’s smaller, mundane moments.

While many stories are lighthearted, others take a more serious turn, adding depth and emotional weight to the collection. This balance makes Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas a delightful and thoughtful read—both entertaining and insightful. Quite an enjoyable read.

[Dakota Morgan]

A wide-ranging collection of Paco Roca's weekly comic strips, some covering his simple life (he's just a man who wants to work in his pajamas, after all), others covering vastly more complex topics (income inequality, climate change, Spanish corruption scandals).

Most strips are a page or two, opening with a segment that catches your attention, then some details, and finally a clever little twist. There's often quite a bit of text, which is unfortunate if you read the book front to back like I did. It's very easy to get bogged down in the duller strips and find yourself checking to see how many pages are left. I'd recommend reading a few at a time, perhaps before bed when you're also in your pajamas.

[Joanne]

Downright hilarious. I loved this guy. He puts it all out there: self-effacing tribulations of a guy who works in his pajamas, only goes out when all his pajamas are in the wash, and vies with other colleagues on who has had to wear real clothes most recently. As a fellow cranky introvert-slash-graphic artist, I could relate. And speaking of the art, it was fab. Hilarious facial expressions, purposeful palettes. One of the best comic strip books I’ve seen all year.

[Joshua Winchester]

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.

[Clint]

2.5 stars
I’ve loved everything else I’ve read from Roca and actively look forward to when his work gets translated to English, but this collection is a big disappointment. His past translated work has been long form and typically either fictional, or historical nonfiction that thoughtfully considers many nuanced concepts of time like legacy, aging, history and memory. In contrast, this is a collection of unrelated (mostly one page) autobio comics he created over many years for the weekend edition of a Spanish newspaper.

I can imagine one of these being pleasant enough to lightly chuckle at weekly, but this sort of frivolous observational comedy cranked out on short deadline lacks any real insight or meaning, and it quickly becomes a slog reading about various familiar retail annoyances or minor social mishaps. The earliest entries making up the first half seem to explicitly be limited to a single page, resulting in tight pages with 12(!) panels densely packed with dialogue. The later entries get slightly more room to breath and significantly less crowded dialogue, but it’s still in service of mostly unremarkable topics. There are a few gems to be found here, typically reflecting on some systemic injustice for several pages instead of quotidian personal gripes, but they’re also kind of a bittersweet reminder of what Roca can do when he’s not wasting time on ideas like “isn’t it just the worst to talk to customer service on the phone?”

Go read The House or Wrinkles instead; they’re great!

[Rick Ray]

I'm a fan of Paco Roca's works, but this one was completely inert for me. Switching from his more long form graphic novels to more strip style gag comics, Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas serves as autobiographical vignettes about relationship woes and balancing his day to day life with cartooning work. I'm not always onboard for graphic memoirs but there have been plenty in the recent years to win me over. This one was not one of them though.

Roca's artwork continues to impress, particularly with the great use of color. Where these strips fail is the overly scrunched compositions due to the excessive panels per page, and it doesn't help that the dialogue is highly dense and meandering. The stories themselves aren't even that captivating either, mostly falling back on hacky relationship gags. The opening story about him trying to avoid an annoying fan was probably the highlight for me, but that was a story that was allowed to breathe due to the number of pages allotted to it. The single page strips were the ones that really didn't work for me, and they make up over half the pages in this collection. Overall, I'd say this one can be considered a skip, even for more ardent fans of Roca's work.

[Dave Schaafsma]

I am a huge Roca fan and I am glad he is trying different things, and since there is a kind of melancholy air to a lot of his (excellent) work I get it that he would want to try something more personal and humorous and self-deprecating. This book is about him as middle-aged cartoonist, as in he gets to stay home in his pajamas drawing and storytelling all day, but it also has fun with his encounters with people, his wife, fame, and so on. it reminds me of Adrian Tomine's The Loneliness of the Long Distance Cartoonist, also funny and self=deprecating and insightful on the day to day work of cartooning they both know people ask about all the time at book roll-outs and comics expos.

Because of the format--densely packed panels, too many per page--I was a bit overwhelmed and tended to skim, which I have never done with his work. I might have trimmed the book by at least a third if not half, as the pay-off for the insights and humor is not all that great, usually. But hey, he's trying to make himself more accessible and human here, and I appreciate that. And he's also becoming more and more accessible and admirable through his better and better artwork.

[Dan Clark]

Paco Roco is one of my favorite current comic creators, but this is something a bit different from him. He tends to focus on real-life events that tend to have a historical significance. With A Man in Pajamas he is looking at real-life events once again, but this time they have far less historical significance. Well..maybe who knows what the future holds.

This is his graphic memoir of what it is like to be a cartoonist working at home and the awkward adventures he goes on. Never realized how much of a sense of humor he has, and he is great poking fun of himself. One of my favorite moments is when he encounters a fan near his home and is not sure what exactly to do.

Another difference is the use of a twelve-panel grid. Each page ends up becoming its own short story that you could read on its own and it works just as well. So when you have an entire novel filled with those pages you have a ton to enjoy.

A Man in Pajamas is Paco Roco stretching himself as a creator and finding a new groove for himself.

[Sneha Jaiswal]

“Random Ramblings of a Cartoonist” should’ve probably been the title of this graphic novel, but you’ve got to admit – “Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas” sounds more fun. Written and illustrated by Paco Roca, the memoir is jammed with anecdotal tidbits, travel stories, jokes, opinions that range from extremely hilarious to kinda tedious. If like me, you didn’t know that Paco Roca is a pretty celebrated Spanish cartoonist (which becomes pretty evident in the book), you should read some of his other works before this. Because, “Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas” (original title – Trilogía de un hombre en pijama) seems to be the kind of book that would be more enjoyable to those who are already fans of Paco’s works.

The artwork is expressive, comedic and keeps readers very engaged. I am definitely going to check more of Paco Roca's works. Wish I had known about him before!

[Brandon]

I think I'll enjoy just about anything Paco Roca does. I like how in the first third he kept the same 4x3 format for every story but in many pages he would find a way to alter them and make the format interesting. As the book went on things got changed up, some of them turned more like commentary than slice-of-life things, but they were still entertaining. This book was unbelievably dense though, so much was packed into each page and I'm not sure the payoff to all of it was worth it- compared to some of his other works which I found could lean on the strengths of the art without having to tell everything to the reader piece by piece.

[Janet]

I'm glad I finally finished this one (it was ineligible for nonfiction award). It's written and illustrated by a Spanish cartoonist. While I admire his talent, I found a lot of it quite silly and very boring. On the other hand, his "philosophizing" was at times quite deep and interesting. It was also interesting to discover that Spain has a lot of the same issues as the US when it comes to wealth inequality. I'm rather glad I read it; it's something I'd usually never tackle. On the other hand, I repeat, I'm sure glad I finally finished it.

[Chad]

These shorter strips that Roca did for a weekly gig in Spain are great. The first half of this is 5 stars. The strips are self-deprecating and witty. Once we get to parts two and three though the strips turn more towards politics and social commentary and lack the same punch and humor. The strips are 9 to 12 panels and take a lot of mental oompf to stick with. At 200+ pages that's asking a lot.

[Matt]

"Spain’s answer to Seinfeld" -there you go. I no longer watch that show or have any interest in Jerry Seinfeld (or stand up comedy really).
This was like a million other indie comics, short 1 or 2 page stories. I started skipping around, nothing amused me.
I still really like his other graphic novels and look forward to more of them.

[Ismael]

La verdad es que Paco Roca siempre me ha gustado y es un autor que me emociona mucho. Si bien este libro empezó muy bien, pero me interés fue decayendo. Me parece un libro cuñadista con una buena dosis de machismo.

[Brian]

In this graphic novel by Spanish author Paco, we are given small little vignettes about the modern world, including about dating and just general life experiences. The artwork was nicely done but the book played more like a comic strip than a graphic novel.

[Christian Adriaensen]

Wow, qué viaje. Empieza superfrustrante porque casi odias a Paco y acabas aprendiendo muchísimo con él. No he tardado nunca más de 24h en leer un comic y aquí he ido disfrutando viñeta a viñeta. Impresionante.

[Ari Westreich]

:) I love Paco Roca. Tqm

[Emily K]

I love people who are hot messes. So relatable.

[Pascal Shaw]

Fenomenal como siempre.

[Sharon]

Made it half way through. Got a few laughs!

[Kelly]

Didn't hold my interest.

[Mauricio Díaz]

Paco Roca se supera en cada historia.

[Debra Golden]

I've been a fan of his work, and now even more so.
He has serious insights and depth that fit in with his/our everyday lives.

[Nick Nguyen]

3.5 stars

[Mo Hickman]

A few thoughtful observations and reflections on creativity, technology, politics, and the mundane from a silk-pajama-clad man-child. A bit dull for me.

[Frank Vestal]

3.6 stars

[Aves Trainor]

Tedious, mostly episodic comic strip. The jokes don’t land, but they go on and on and on.

[Maria Tomás]

Divertida y graciosa esta recopilación de cómics de Paco Roca.

Ya sabéis que yo no soy muy imparcial, pues me declaro fan de Paco.