Synopses & Reviews
The Three Paradoxesis an intricate and complex autobiographical comic by one of the most talented and innovative young cartoonists today. The story begins with a story inside the story: the cartoon character Paul Hornschemeier is trying to finish a story called "Paul and the Magic Pencil." Paul has been granted a magical implement, a pencil, and is trying to figure out what exactly it can do. He isn't coming up with much, but then we zoom out of this story to the creator, Paul, whose father is about to go on a walk to turn off the lights in his law office in the center of the small town. Abandoning the comic strip temporarily, Paul leaves with his camera, in order to fulfill a promise to his girlfriend that he would take pictures of the places that affected him as a child. Each "chapter" of the story is drawn in a completely different style, with strikingly unique production and color themes, and yet, somehow, despite (or perhaps because of) this non-linear progression, it all comes together as one story: a story questioning change, progress, and worth within the author's life.
Review
"It is an intelligent example of how much the graphic novel form can achieve with such economy: a picture is indeed worth a thousand words." Neel Mukherjee
Review
To breathe even a lungful of fresh air into the autobiographical comics genre is a challenge, but Hornschemeier succeeds.
Review
Moments like those have earned Hornschemeier his legion of champions, and that make us want him to reach a little more.
Review
The book is grounded in a sincere humanism as it ponders the transitory nature of life and how frightening that aspect can be… one more rung on Hornschemeir's ladder as he slowly reaches toward what will surely be a truly seminal work. --Chris Mautner
Synopsis
An intricate, complex autobiographical comic blending multiple threads of reality and fantasy, each drawn in a different style, coming together as one story questioning change, progress, and worth in the author's life.
About the Author
Paul Hornschemeier lives in Chicago, IL, with his fiancée, Emily. He is the author of several graphic novels, including Mother, Come Home, Let Us Be Perfectly Clear, The Three Paradoxes, All and Sundry and Forlorn Funnies.