Strangers in Paradise

Strangers in Paradise 31-32, 34-38, 40-45, 47-48, 50-60

I do not remember SiP being this good this late into its run.  Sure, Francine and Katchoo go through a few more repetitive rounds of “Francine can’t decide what she wants,” and boy has that gotten old, but the combination of relationship moments and the persistence of the Parker organization despite Darcy’s death ages ago has me riveted; Another thirty-two issues read in the last two days, and I’d still be reading more if I didn’t have to write this now.    

A cruel, cruel assessment of David.  Also, Francine is totally a sheep too.

Then there’s the multiple timeline twist he springs on the readers in issues 43 and 44.  It’s blatantly meta, and I’m still not sure how I feel about it.  

Does it a good thing that Moore recognizes the problems?

Back to more moments:

Yeah, she's being horrible here.  She really is such a flawed character.

Hard to feel sorry for her once she has to deal with the consequences.

Who among us hasn't had this internal monologue?

Thank goodness for Casey.

If only this wasn't only another tease by Moore.

Love the Mucha homages.

Seriously, when did Casey become the wise one?

Moore is so good at capturing heartache.

Amazing sequence.  So horrible. So well done.

Between this and Sex Education, I'm so over phone message deletion as plot point.

These lyrics speak to me.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Strangers in Paradise 33

Complete shit.  I don’t know what this stupid-ass superhero dream sequence is meant to accomplish.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Disliked

Strangers in Paradise 39

Terry Moore tries to humanize Freddie Femur by giving us a little bit of his background and showing us a peek of him at his most vulnerable.  Sure, I feel more sorry for him, but he’s still a loudmouth dick who annoys the crap out of me.  

To be honest, Freddie isn’t that far from Francine, Katchoo, or David, unable to be with the person that they love, unable to let go no matter how many years go by.  It’s not hard to relate to what he’s going through.  In fact, it’s really easy.  He just sucks so hard in how he deals with it.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Strangers in Paradise 46

I really do not need to read about Molly from Molly & Poo.  I mean, really.  Moore has a horrible track record when he goes off on his tangents.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Didn’t suck

Strangers in Paradise 61-63

David’s origin story.  The retcon of the very first issue of SiP is still a little clunky (There’s no way Moore meant for him to be a spy from the very start.  No one’s that good of an actor), but it’s not bad.  Just not as good as the rest.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good