Paco Laburantes
Paco Laburantes (パコ・ラブランテス, Pako Raburantesu) is a primary ally featured in the ninth part of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, The JOJOLands.
Paco is a gangster working in the same gang as Jodio and Dragona Joestar. They are assigned to the same team in order to steal a diamond belonging to Rohan Kishibe. Paco is a Stand user possessing THE Hustle, which allows him to grab objects with his muscles anywhere on his body.
Appearance
Paco is a 19-year-old teenager with an athletic build. Despite his youth, he has rugged features making him look more mature. A piece of his left ear is chewed off. Jodio notes that Paco used to be sort of chubby but lost weight and became more muscular when he was around 17.[1] He has light hair that goes down to his neck, finishing in a square cut. His hair is mostly covered by his cap, which bears a stylized plate with "P∆CO" engraved on it. Paco has distinctive dark marks and spots below his eyes that extend vertically to his chin, and also has a chain of triangles split into dark and bright halves tattooed along his arms from hands up to shoulders.
Paco does not wear a shirt but instead wears a harness comprised of two wide straps with several grommets that cross each other over his solar plexus. There is a hood attached by the two grommets over his shoulders. On the strap crossing over his right pectoral is a large brooch-like object resembling a melting ice cream cone stylized to spell out his name "PACO". He also wears plain trousers with "P∆CO" engraved on the belt buckle, as well as several straps at the waist and knee pads. Finally, he wears sneakers, wristbands and, in earlier appearances, a necklace. Later on, he is also shown wearing a codpiece.[4] He wears a smartwatch underneath his left wristband.[4][5]
Color Schemes
Personality
Paco Laburantes is a loud, straightforward teenager. He is quick to openly speak his mind, making him come across as rude or ill-mannered. He develops a particular fondness for Jodio[6] and Dragona,[7] while making sarcastic remarks to Usagi or telling him to shut up.[8][9] Paco is recognized for his skills as a kleptomaniac. His thrill for theft is described by Jodio as almost "game-like",[10] leading him frequently into trouble. Thus, Barbara Ann Joestar doesn't want Jodio associating with him because of the rumors she's heard, believing that he's the type to intimidate kids that he has power over.[11]
Having been held back a year in high school, Paco isn't particularly intelligent and quite brutish. He threatens to get violent when he doesn't get his way,[12] and confidently admits that violence is his area of expertise.[13] While trying to find Charming Man after he got away with the Lava Rock, Paco strangles ordinary bystanders like Leo to see if their skin has the same sandy texture.[14] His speech is notable for the use of child-like words where he duplicates syllables, such as "ouchi" (おうち)[a] for "home" and "otete" (お手手)[b] for "hand".[15]
Paco is observant and judgmental, often recognizing the characteristics of others. He immediately suspects Usagi of being a drug addict[16] and frequently critiques Charming Man's poor knife-wielding skills.[17][18][19] Although he sometimes criticizes them, he values his allies and those he deems good. Sensing that Charming Man is actually a good person, Paco recalculates his stance on killing him, understanding that teaming up would lead to a win-win situation.[20] He is aware of his surroundings and quick to react to sudden enemy attacks, using THE Hustle on Jodio's neck to protect him from Charming Man's attack, and warning Dragona not to touch the watch that was seemingly flying toward them.[21] He is also the only one to hear gunshots from Bobby Jean's Glory Days, prioritizing Dragona's safety above his own.[22]
Paco is always the driver of the vehicles on the team's missions.[3][5] He demonstrates leadership qualities such as discussing strategies with his teammates, studying maps of their heist locations,[23][5] delegating tasks,[16] giving orders, and making decisions for the gang.[16][12] For instance, Paco determines when they should return to the airport or head out on their missions,[4][5] decides for the whole team that Charming Man should be their ally,[20] and orders Dragona to submit the authorization on Congressman White's tablet.[24]
Abilities
Stand
Paco's Stand THE Hustle allows him to freely manipulate his muscles, notably allowing him to bulge his muscles to grab objects and attach them to his skin.
Hand-to-Hand Combat
Paco shows he is proficient at hand-to-hand combat when he fights and fends off Charming Man for a moment. During their fight, he skillfully blocks and evades the enemy's dagger strikes, even managing to take an advantage and grab him.[21]
Relationships
Family
- Father: Paco has a strained relationship with his father, who bit off a piece of Paco's ear at one point.[1]
Gangmates
- Jodio Joestar: Although they work together, Jodio does not consider Paco as his friend.[1] Paco starts to appreciate Jodio after seeing his ability in action.[3]
- Dragona Joestar: Dragona and Paco seem to fight often. When Paco tries to steal from customers at Iko Iko, Dragona reprimands him and threatens to wrap his ear around his head. Paco also challenges Dragona to fight afterwards, though Dragona refuses.[1]
- Usagi Alohaoe: Paco despises Usagi, often telling him to shut up. Paco claims Usagi is a drug addict based on his energetic personality. When Usagi seemingly abandons them during the fight against the cats, Paco becomes angry and swears to kill him.[25] However, when Usagi comes back to the rescue, Paco is also moved to tears.[26]
- Charming Man: Paco and Charming Man initially meet as enemies. Charming Man charges at Paco using deadly force with his knife, though Paco derides Charming Man for having amateurish knife skills. Upon seeing that Charming Man is more merciful than at face value, notably when Paco notes that he didn't really kill his pet cats, Paco changes his mind about him and is the first to decide to make friends with him.[14] He helps Dragona persuade Meryl that Charming Man is really a good guy.[27]
Chapters
- The JOJOLands Chapter 1: Departure (1st appearance)
- The JOJOLands Chapter 2: South King Street
- The JOJOLands Chapter 3: The Villa on Hawaii Island, Part 1
- The JOJOLands Chapter 4: The Villa on Hawaii Island, Part 2
- The JOJOLands Chapter 5: "Rise Up"
- The JOJOLands Chapter 6: Hualalai - Cat Size, Part 1
- The JOJOLands Chapter 7: Hualalai - Cat Size, Part 2
- The JOJOLands Chapter 8: Hualalai - Cat Size, Part 3
- The JOJOLands Chapter 9: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 1
- The JOJOLands Chapter 10: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 2
- The JOJOLands Chapter 11: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 3
- The JOJOLands Chapter 12: Charming Man
- The JOJOLands Chapter 13: Joestar Brothers
- The JOJOLands Chapter 14: Aim for That Fifty Billion Dollars, Part 1
- The JOJOLands Chapter 15: Aim for That Fifty Billion Dollars, Part 2
- The JOJOLands Chapter 16: Lulu's Bags Groove, Part 1
- The JOJOLands Chapter 17: That Girl's Bags Groove, Part 2
- The JOJOLands Chapter 18: That Girl's Bags Groove, Part 3
- The JOJOLands Chapter 19: Glory Days, Part 1
Quotes
- “Dragona! There's a gym on the other side of the street! Wanna go there with me? (ドラゴナァァ~~~~っ 裏通りにジムがあるぜェ~~ッ 行きますかぁ~~~~, Doragonaaa~~ Uradōri ni jimu ga aru zē~~ Ikimasukā~~)”—Paco Laburantes, The JOJOLands Chapter 1: Departure
- “So what you're saying is you don't know shit, right? Well thanks for the pointless lava lesson! Now go find the damn safe! (つまり何ーんにもわからねぇんだよなァ?どうでもいい会話ありがとう!さっさと金庫を探しなッ!!, Tsumari nānnimo wakaranē nda yo nā? Dō demo ii kaiwa arigatō! Sassato kinko wo sagashina!!)”
- “THE Hustle! Time to do your stuff! (『THEハッスル』 行くぜハッスル!, "THE Hassuru" Iku ze hassuru!)”—Paco Laburantes, The JOJOLands Chapter 4: The Villa on Hawaii Island, Part 2
- “Nice! Screw off! I beat your shitty trap, asshole! (よっしゃあふざけんなッ!くそ野郎やったぞッ, Yosshc fuzakenna! Kuso yarō yatta zo!)”—Paco Laburantes, The JOJOLands Chapter 4: The Villa on Hawaii Island, Part 2
- “I said don't move! You asshole! Otherwise, things are gonna have to get violent! (動くなっつってんだ!!こらァッ!!さもなくばバイオレンスしかなくなるぜッ!, Ugoku nattsutte nda!! Korā!! Samonakuba baiorensu shika naku naru ze!)”—Paco Laburantes, The JOJOLands Chapter 4: The Villa on Hawaii Island, Part 2
- “They said they sold out of chicken burritos around noon. So I went to that shop over there and had them fry us up some abalones that were raised in the deep sea. Man, I really wanted to eat some 'a the chicken they raise high up in the mountains here on Hawaii. (チキンブリトー正午で売り切れだってよ。あっちのみせの深海の海洋水で育てたアワビを焼いてもらったぜ。ハワイ島の高山のチキン食いたかったなぁ~~, Chikin buritō shōgo de urikire datte yo. Acchi no mise no shinkai no kaiyōsui de sodateta awabi wo yaite moratta ze. Hawai-tou no kōzan no chikin kuitakatta nā~~)”—Paco Laburantes, The JOJOLands Chapter 9: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 1
- “DO "the HUSTLE"”—Paco Laburantes, The JOJOLands Chapter 10: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 2
- “So you're sayin' if we don't surrender, the only path left is violence, huh? You sure about that', asshole? That just happens ta be my area of expertise. (さもなくばバイオレンスしか方策は無いって訳かよ。それでいいんだな?てめえ?そーゆーのはオレの最も得意な分野なんだがよ, Samonakuba baiorensu shika hōsaku wa nai tte wake ka yo. Sore de ii nda na? Temē? Sōyū no wa ore no motto mo tokui na bunya nanda ga yo.)”—Paco Laburantes, The JOJOLands Chapter 10: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 2
Gallery
Trivia
- As of the first chapter of The JOJOLands, Paco was Hirohiko Araki's favorite character to draw.[28]
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The JOJOLands Chapter 1: Departure
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 18: That Girl's Bags Groove, Part 3
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The JOJOLands Chapter 2: South King Street
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The JOJOLands Chapter 8: Hualalai - Cat Size, Part 3
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 The JOJOLands Chapter 14: Aim for That Fifty Billion Dollars, Part 1
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 2: South King Street, p. 24.
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 17: That Girl's Bags Groove, Part 2, p. 44.
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 2: South King Street, p. 41.
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 3: The Villa on Hawaii Island, Part 1, p. 15.
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 1: Departure, p. 54.
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 9: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 1, p. 3.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 The JOJOLands Chapter 4: The Villa on Hawaii Island, Part 2
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 10: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 2, p. 11.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 The JOJOLands Chapter 11: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 3
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 3: The Villa on Hawaii Island, Part 1
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 The JOJOLands Chapter 2: South King Street, p. 32.
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 10: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 2, p. 25
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 11: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 3, p. 47
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 13: Joestar Brothers, p. 37
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 The JOJOLands Chapter 11: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 3, p. 47-49
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 The JOJOLands Chapter 10: Kailua-Kona - Flight Waiting Time, Part 2
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 17: That Girl's Bags Groove, Part 2, p. 41-43
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 2: South King Street, p. 31.
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 16: Lulu's Bags Groove, Part 1
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 6: Hualalai - Cat Size, Part 1, p. 28-30
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 7: Hualalai - Cat Size, Part 2
- ↑ The JOJOLands Chapter 13: Joestar Brothers
- ↑ Author's Note - Ultra Jump March 2023