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Strangers in Paradise: Pocket Book 1

Terry Moore

Start date: February 1, 2013

Finish date: February 28, 2013

Discussion: Comic Books

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Jan 31, 2013 Fran rated it really liked it

Shelves: graphic-novels, 2013-books, 2013-c-gn

To start with, a quote from Terry Moore himself (source) :

Start with Vol. 2, #1. Skip the mini-series and go back to read it later. The mini-series is in continuity, but its cartoony and goofy compared to the rest of the series because I was fresh off of comic strips. VOl. 2 with its 14 issues is when the real tone of the comic book series begins.

I completely agree with that. It's not a good place to start, unless you know what's going to follow, as you might judge the piece too harshly. To To start with, a quote from Terry Moore himself (source) :

Start with Vol. 2, #1. Skip the mini-series and go back to read it later. The mini-series is in continuity, but its cartoony and goofy compared to the rest of the series because I was fresh off of comic strips. VOl. 2 with its 14 issues is when the real tone of the comic book series begins.

I completely agree with that. It's not a good place to start, unless you know what's going to follow, as you might judge the piece too harshly. To clarify, volume one is the very first three issues - not the first volume of these pocket books which I've added to my shelf. The art is much rougher and more cartoon-y than the refined and beautiful work it becomes by the end of volume 2 (issues #1-13 of volume two as it was published, which is issues #4-16 if you were numbering consecutively and the last issue reprinted in this pocket book - not the second volume of these pocket books). The way the story is told in the first three issues is more over the top and ridiculous than the later storytelling, which becomes much more reflective work mirroring real human emotion.

Strangers in Paradise is not so much about the plot devices, but how those plot devices cause the characters to relate to each other. It's fundamentally about relationships, love, and the human condition.

I first picked up an issue of SiP from a local comic store in 2002, issue #46, because the girl on the front cover looked Death-ish. That's both a good and bad issue to start with because it's all about Molly Lane (of Molly and Poo); good because it's fairly standalone and I wasn't lost mid-story, bad because it doesn't relate at all to the main SiP story. It got me intrigued though and I bought a few more issues. Eventually I managed to track down all the issues via stores and ebay. So, it's those issues I'm using for my re-read and not actually the pocket book as recorded here. After doing a little research, it sounds like spelling mistakes have been corrected for the omnibus editions (i.e. the pocket editions, I assume). I should get around to buying the omnibus editions at some point I suppose!

I've wanted to do a re-read for a while now, and turns out the time is right now - partly because of the SiP 20th anniversary novel that's due out this year, and partly because I just zipped through all the available issues of Rachel Rising (which is amazing btw). I'm getting a lot more out of this than when I first read it. I certainly enjoyed it the first time, but I don't think I had enough Life, or maturity, under my belt to really appreciate its depth. The thirteen issues that comprise the second volume is a brilliant piece of storytelling. I'm looking forward to re-reading through the next 90 issues over the next few months.

Also, I'd always assumed that SiP, Echo, and Rachel Rising were three separate works in separate universes. I've not yet read Echo, otherwise I might've realise that that's not the case. Note to self: must read Echo soon.
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Feb 09, 2013 Laurel rated it liked it

Shelves: graphic-novels

I understand the advice some people have given to skip the first several chapters of this book since they're indeed cartoony but I think they're needed because they establish story lines that continue in the series.

I had a bit of trouble balancing the intense scenes/themes with the goofy moments like Francine's mother's visit. I know comic relief is needed but much of it here is just too over-the-top and too much of it seems to surround Francine. I think this uneven flip-flopping is my biggest c ...more

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