Strangers in Paradise

I've been collecting comic books since the late 1950's when there was a great variety of quality comics to choose from. I bought Superman, Dennis the Menace, Archie, Mutt and Jeff, Little Lulu, Ritchie Rich, Nancy and Sluggo, etc. But for the past 20 years or so there's been only two types of comics to choose from -- superhero and satanic trash. Except for Strangers in Paradise. In my opinion, Terry Moore has created the best comic book series ever. And it's a pity that more people don't know about SIP. So many people are addicted to the TV soap operas. They should be so lucky to discover SIP! If they did, Terry's subscriber list would be in the millions and SIP would be a household word!

While browsing in the local comic book shop, I came across this book that seems to be about two young women - one blonde and one brunette... I went and bought it... Let me tell you...I'm really glad I got this book because I enjoyed it a great deal and even LAUGHED REALLY HARD at some parts! It's a very honest adult-oriented tale all about Katchoo (what a curious name!), a very feisty young blonde who would wield a REAL gun at the sudden drop of a hat and her dark-haired girlfriend named Francine who is just so innocent and gullible she'd expect any man - even a real jerk like her womanizing boyfriend, Freddie to be sympathetic with her. But poor Francine got stood up and BADLY INJURIED as a result, so the ANGRY Katchoo decides to take the matters into her own hands! Also tagging along is an angelic-faced Japanese-looking young man who likes Katchoo so much he'd patiently take any man-bashing abuse the old girl would dish out to him! Heck, you'd like the good, funny story all about love, sex, betrayal, friendship, gender issues, and the stuff as well as the really nice artwork that even has some REALISTIC-LOOKING close-ups of the characters! Additional bonus: Terry Moore also includes a handful of rejected but amusing comic strips...

When I first started to read Strangers in Paradise back in 1996, I had to immediatly get my hands on every issue I could possibly find. I coulnd't stop reading this compelling story of Katchoo, Francine, David, and the rest of the deeply molded characters in this book. Terry Moore, dispite being a really friendly guy, has a great storytelling sence- verbally and visually. Although all three of the Strangers in Paradise series are wonderfull, this one takes the cake. A very deep story that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you love the characters you are reading about. As soon as this collected edition came out, I had to own it, even though I own all of the indiviual comics. What more can I say... buy it, it's just amazing!

In this short collection of the first three issues of the Strangers in Paradise graphic "Comic Book" series, the reader is introduced to the main characters of the series, Katchoo and Francine. The story centers mainly around the dynamic relationship between the two, and delves deeply into the issues of true love, trust, and friendship. It's hard to remember that Katchoo and Francie aren't real people at sometimes; while the plot is at times fantastic and a bit too action-packed to be quite real, they experience every range of human emotion, and their lives will touch yours. No spandexed, overly-endowed superheroes in this one, and the most surprising fact of all is the accuracy of Mr. Moore's perception of the female psyche. You *really will* laugh and cry with this one. The girls are beautifully drawn and accurately proportioned and the story is superb. You won't be able to stop reading. Someday, like me, you'll bite your nails down to the quick waiting for the next issue to come out and hang on every one of Terry Moore's words.

Mr. Moores talent takes us further into the lives of Katchoo, Francine and several others in this at times funny, provactive graphic novel. A must read!