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Summary: Should I die before I wake...
Review: Strangers in Paradise: Volume 10: Tropic of Desire compiles the following issues into one collection: Volume 3, Issue 39: You're a Loser, Freddie Femur; Volume 3, Issue 40: Lily; Volume 3, Issue 41: Something About You; Volume 3, Issue 42: When Dreamers Wake, and Volume 3, Issue 43: If I Cry Before I Wake. I very much recommend reading the first nine volumes of this series (The Collected Strangers in Paradise, I Dream of You, It's a Good Life, Love Me Tender, Immortal Enemies, High School, Sanctuary, My Other Life, and Child or Rage) as they provide vital backstory. I'd go so far as to say that, without reading the first nine, this volume will be completely incomprehensible. And, besides, all of the previous volumes are entirely worth reading. Wow. Tropic of Desire has something in it to hurt everybody's head! From Freddie Femur's Charles Schultz daydreams to Katchoo's soul searching to Francine's conversations with her mother's preacher to the final chapter... Wow. The final chapter. I won't ruin it for you, but suffice it to say that I don't know whether I'm angry, eagerly anticipating more, or just confused. Tropic of Desire fails to answer a lot of questions that have been raised in the past nine volumes of Strangers in Paradise, and in fact seems to set into motion and declare as fact story elements which are completely contradictory to what we've seen before. This is not a volume which ties up loose ends. Instead, it takes all of the raveling strings that are flailing about, selects the most beautiful strands, and ties those together, leaving the rest to trail behind and annoy those who care about such things. But wow. If you've read this far into the Strangers in Paradise series, then nothing's going to stop you from reading this volume. Not that I think you should be stopped. But don't expect all the answers. (And I decidedly am eagerly awaiting the next collection.)
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