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Underground > Comic Books >

Strangers in Paradise

02:04 / 02.10.01

I'm surprised that this title never seems to come up on a board dedicated to alternative views of reality. While Terry Moore's brainchild has a plot that is, admittedly, mind-numbingly repetitive, his attitude of "let's drag this story out for ten years so I can make more money" can't eradicate the fact that he's both a talented artist and a storyteller with an innate sense of character and motive.

Any comments on Francine, Katchoo and David, or the padding that rounds out too many issues of SIP? Darcy's murder in "Immortal Enemies"? The crash of flight 495 in "My Other Life"? David's lethal act of self-defense in "Child of Rage"? Anything?

SecretlyClarkKent

02:30 / 02.10.01

A friend of mine recently latched me onto Strangers In Paradise... luckily, he had the entire collection, so I was given the entire story, up to date, all at once. I was really amazed by it, and I'm extremely fond of the characters, especially David, and Katchoo because she's, well... Katchoo. I do find it a bit repetitive, but I can deal with that.

And I can deal with the padding because, ultimately, it's realistic. Not only is Moore true to his characters, he creates stories that flow realistically. Nothing in reality happens in the quick, episodic nature of comics, anyway, it's all padded by hours of life.

The question is, have you read the latest issue, #43, I believe? It's just about insane, and almost enough to turn me away from the series for good. I'd want to leave it while I still loved it. Moore promises that this storyline will be, supposedly, short-lived, but I still don't know...

Later,
Jared

02:47 / 02.10.01

Yeah, I saw it. I'm probably the only person on the planet who thought hitting the reset button was a great idea: "Brilliant, Terry! Throw away the revelation about Francine and Brad getting married and start over from scratch!"

Of course, the impression I received from the website was that this is all just a way for Terry to jerk around his loyal following for a few issues while making fun of the people who tell the truth about the cyclical nature of the books.

And what was the deal with the cover? Did he draw two for #31, then decide to stick the substitute in the freezer for twelve episodes?

Yeah, I've always felt Yousaka and Katina they were an intrinsically better match than Katchoo and Francine, but that's probably due to the creeping heterosexuality that poisons my thinking.

Do you have a favorite scene in the entire run?

02:47 / 02.10.01

I've got the first book.

Kind of like the idea, like the drawing, but..

quote:Originally posted by Flunitrazepam:
mind-numbingly repetitive,

yep.

It's funny how so many comics writers fall into that trap when they get their own way (witness the decline of Preacher, Transmet).

Our Lady of The Two Towers

11:54 / 02.10.01

Can't remember which was the last issue I read, is 43 the one set in the future with Katchoo and Francine as old ladies, or the one after? It struck me as Terry trying to justify himself against his critics, "Yes, I've been repetative, doing the same two stories for the last 6 years but here's my excuse." If he restarts the story from the beginning I'll have the excuse I've needed for several years to drop the book, hopefully it'll continue from the previous issue.

SecretlyClarkKent

11:34 / 04.10.01

I dunno, the "reset" idea really threw me off. I don't like the fact [if I can remember correctly... spare me, it's quarter after eight in the morning, and I shouldn't be awake, but I am] that they played the entire thing off as the girl's story, and then turned around with the intention of starting over again without the entire Darcy connection, even without David. Instead, retelling it as the tale of two girls that fell in love.

Now, on the site, he mentioned that this would only last, what, like two issues? That, as far as I'm concerned, makes it even more of a cop-out. "Okay, now I'm going to fuck with you... but don't worry, because I'm going to make it all better again!" I really don't know. I'm going to have to wait until a few more issues are available before I can give you an honest opinion on the entire thing.

As for the cover... I have no clue. It's kind of like the issue that featured Katchoo in the ocean with a knife and a fishing net... only there was no Katchoo in the issue.

I'm sure I do have a favorite scene, but I can't think of it at the moment. I need to re-read the series, again, some time soon. I know that I can say how much I loved the interaction between Katchoo and David in issue 42, and her reaction to him telling her that she "feels like home". Good stuff.

Later,
Jared

[ 05-10-2001: Message edited by: Transpotr ]

09:49 / 05.10.01

Yeah, that seems to be the general consensus towards the "reset" idea. Those who didn't mind the cyclical nature of the title were either outraged that Moore might throw out everything they've enjoyed in a continuity cleaning, or annoyed that he was wasting two issues in an Elseworlds-type story. Those who were sick to death of the repetitiveness, like me, were aggravated at his snide attitude and the fact that this is merely a minor detour, not a major turning point. The end result was that Terry seemed to piss off just about everybody; I wouldn't be surprised if his purchasing audience dropped by over ten percent.

I was going to nominate David's murder of Veronica's henchman as my favorite scene ("Yes! That's the Yousaka I remember! I knew he was under all that piety somewhere! Glory Halleluah! Thank you God for throwing him back!"), but in retrospect, that encounter was no better or no worse than Francine's quiet, understated conversation with Lillian.

09:35 / 01.11.01

Anybody read the new issue? Compliments? Criticism? Post-modern pseudo-ironic indifference to such a bourgeois attempt to manipulate the emotions of the working class?

09:49 / 01.11.01

Hmm hey what about that Beautiful colour he had on the 1999 Calendar.

09:49 / 01.11.01

Oddly enough, that comment strikes me as being more far more profound than the long-winded reviews on Terry Moore's website, which are basically just thinly-disguised squeals of joy from a rabid base of diehard fans.

15:17 / 01.11.01

Sorry Traz, it was a selfish comment. I did the colour on the calendar and on a handful of covers. I always loved working on his art it was so easy to make fantstic and too much fun to 'work' on, wide open lots of room to move in.

18:36 / 01.11.01

Aha. Well, do you read the comic? I'm going to laugh if you say no. I'm looking forward to telling Mr. Moore, "Hey, I've spoken with one of your colorists, and your publisher, and even your mother, and none of them read your work; they say it's too repetitive."

09:22 / 02.11.01

Sure I read it, mind you I haven't recently. When I was colouring it I kept up with it all the time. I got a few of my girlfriends into reading it and I think they still do. Now my reading constists of my to read by pile and Transmetropolitain, but thats just to indulge my cynical nature.

Our Lady of The Two Towers

13:47 / 02.11.01

Whilst I'm relieved that he's not throwing away everything he's done for the last six years I think it highlights the problem, namely that the last two or three years have been all about Francine not being able to fully commit to either Brad of Katchoo (and being in the unlikely position of having both of them willing to wait as long as it takes for her to make up her mind). And I do wonder whether Terry really has no idea where's going any more, or has heard that terrible word 'franchise'. Someone has an option on a 'SiP' movie you know. I hear Nic Cage is going to play Katchoo...