Paul Goes Fishing
March 10, 2008 | Comics
Paul Goes Fishing
Michel Rabagliati
Drawn & Quarterly
$19.95 CAN/US (Paperback)
**** 1/2 (out of five)
There is a remarkable complexity belied by the simple title of Michel Rabagliati’s Paul Goes Fishing.
This entrancing semi-autobiographical book, the fourth in the “Paul” series which was originally published in September 2006 in French by Editions de la Pastèque as Paul à la pêche, is centred around a young Quebecois couple, Paul and Lucie, who leave the hustle and bustle of Montreal behind for a week’s vacation at a fishing camp along with Lucie’s sister and her family.
But more than just the expected digression into the wonders (or nightmares) of nature and the thrill (or agony) of angling, Paul Goes Fishing is about some extremely heartfelt reminisces about growing up as a straight-D student, the pitfalls of globalization, the surprising cost of the computer age and, most importantly, family — both having one and starting one.
With a clean and increasingly elegant cartooning style that is somewhat reminiscent of Seth (Palookaville), Rabagliati, a 2007 Joe Shuster Award winner for fan-favourite French-language creator, continues to add to his credentials as one of the top creators in Canada.
>> Michel Rabagliati will be appearing at the Toronto Public Library, Lillian H. Smith Building, 239 College St. on March 15 at 5 p.m. for a slideshow, Q&A and signing. Admission is free.
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