“Monica” (Fulgencio Pimentel / “Mònica”, Editorial Finestres) stands as a landmark in comics, especially within the postmodern camp. The work is steeped in references to the author’s earlier books and life, presented with a fragmented structure and multiple layers of meaning. It offers a rich field for criticism and has become a staple in contemporary comic discourse. The book sustains its own strength, delivering both visual and narrative pleasure without requiring dissection of its most enigmatic sections. It also communicates a deep affection for the craft of making comics. The discussion here features Daniel Clowes, born 1961, speaking via video from his Oakland studio.
The core principle is that the time an artist spends on a project should not determine a reader’s experience, and readers need not measure it by labor alone. So, did seven years devoted to Monica lead to anxiety or obsession for the creator?
No. The artist spent substantial time refining the drawings. Early stages involved a flood of ideas, and finding a coherent way to assemble them wasn’t always enjoyable. Once the path became clear, joy returned in full. The seven-year commitment was rooted in a desire to let Monica live on longer, adding details and experiments even when they weren’t strictly necessary. Finishing the album brought a sense of sadness, akin to sending a child off to college.
The counterculture of the 1960s is often seen as a utopian dream that later degrades into a nightmare. The discussion turns to the darker side of that era. Why does Monica reflect that nightmare aspect?
From the start, the artist’s admiration for the era’s aesthetic and its spirit of artistic freedom is evident. Yet the work also conveys the unease of a child caught in a chaotic movement. The aim is to evoke that feeling rather than to provide a historical appraisal of the period.
I deliberately considered the structure of Desert Centaurs
The canon of narratives about searching for a person spans literature and cinema. Examples include Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, John Ford’s Desert Centaurs, and John Irving’s Till I Find You. Was this tradition a reference point for Monica?
I reflected on Desert Centaurs in its structure: a definite starting event and a clear final moment when a character is found. The film’s episodic nature allows for wandering as long as the destination remains in sight. Knowing the outcome lets the story move in unconventional directions. It’s reminiscent of jazz: a beginning and end frame exploration within an indeterminate form as long as the path remains recognizable. Stories about searching for someone have always intrigued the creator, partly because childhood memories were difficult to grasp and never fully explained, leaving a lifelong search for meaning.
To what extent is Monica autobiographical?
Emotionally, from start to finish. The goal was to translate felt experiences into narrative, even when events in the story aren’t direct mirrors of personal life. They capture the mood of different periods rather than exact happenings.
I found EC’s comics to be more extreme than underground art I’d seen
How did the discovery of EC Comics shape the artist, and why the lasting impression?
In the early 1970s, EC Comics were little known and largely out of print. A pivotal moment came with a collection titled 1950s Horror Comics found in a Chicago bookstore. The material felt intense and fearless, even more so given its era. The contrast with the era’s mainstream media—where clean relationships and tidy endings were common—was striking. That experience revealed the power and artistry behind these stories, created by some of the greatest cartoonists of all time, who thrived in a competitive, cross-pollinating environment. Even today, the influence of EC is undeniable in the creator’s work and remains among the artist’s most cherished influences.
Monica revisits themes from early major works, including the search for a person and the exploration of fragmented realities. How are these threads connected?
There was a period of intense admiration for Alfred Hitchcock, inspiring a practice of revisiting films every decade to reassess. The goal was to reinterpret those inspirations after ten years, recognizing shifts in perception. The result is Monica as a reimagining of Forged in Iron Like a Silk Glove from roughly thirty years later, reflecting a deeper understanding of related issues beyond instinctive reactions.
Why do many of the stories carry a sleepwalking atmosphere?
The intention is to keep the narrative focused while acknowledging that dreams can reveal honest truths. Dreams carry no censorship, bringing forward troubling, intimate topics. The author strives for honesty and courage in confronting uncomfortable subjects, as if navigating a dream scene.
Images often prompt a fresh view of the world
In Monica, images that shaped the creator’s life, especially from childhood, recur. Is there a recurring pattern in these images?
There is. The pattern centers on the unexpected. Images that could not be anticipated resurface, offering a new lens on the world and proving that there are countless subjects worth drawing, writing, or filming because they have not yet been seen. The belief is that most things have not been exhausted—there are always new visions waiting to emerge.
Did the artist collaborate with indie rock musicians through his album artwork?
Yes. The community was close, with musicians sharing space on the margins of culture. Although rock fans skewed male, the appeal reached a broader audience as mainstream culture disengaged from traditional channels. Both cartoonists and musicians were part of a marginalized cultural sphere that drew energy from a desire to see beyond cinema, bookstores, and radio’s dominant narratives.
I’m fond of The Raunch Hands’ cover for Pay Day (1989). Was that a band worth following?
Early on, The Raunch Hands left a mark. The artist admired their illustration and built a connection during a stay in New York, where those visuals and that independent spirit resonated deeply.
Music influence and cinematic sensibilities
What soundtrack influences are shaping the creator today?
Today’s listening includes more film scores: Ennio Morricone, Henry Mancini, John Barry, and similar composers. The Kinks hold a special place as a lifelong favorite band.
Monica presents twenty short stories on double-page spreads that carry the credits. How were these twenty moments selected?
The selection process aimed to convey a broad sense of world history through Monica’s perspective, rather than a neutral, objective timeline. It reflects a personal, cultural vision that treats world history as filtered through a unique sensibility rather than a conventional chronology.
Monica achieved streaming-level recognition in the United States. Does this signal a notable moment in comic history?
Seven years of work offered a sense of personal triumph and curiosity about how the audience would receive it. The creator felt satisfaction in the process and admiration for the varied responses, even if certainty about broader impact was elusive. The reception surpassed expectations, offering a sense of validation without diminishing uncertainty about the future.