Rating: 
Summary: A tantalizing introduction to three intriguing characters.
Review: This first compilation of Terry Moore's Strangers in Paradise collects the first three issues of the comic (Volume 1, Issue 1: Breaking up is Hard to Do; Volume 1, Issue 2: Katchoo's Revenge; and Volume 1, Issue 3: Busted!) into one volume. We are introduced to two long-time friends, Francine Peters and Katina "Katchoo" Choovanski, as well as assorted other characters such as Francine's boyfriend (well, at the start) Freddie Femur and the smitten David Qin. So many relationships! Francine is in love with Freddie, Katchoo is in love with Francine, David is in love with Katchoo, and Freddie is mostly in love with himself. The volume revolves around Francine's relationship with Freddie. The sexual tension, the infidelity, the breakup. Then, there's Francine's reaction to the situation, which spurs Katchoo's reaction to the situation, which spurs Freddie's reaction to Katchoo's reaction. It's all very cause-and-effect. The interaction and by-play between characters tends to be fairly fast-paced, with everyone reaecting to the world around them. The one exception seems to be David Qin, Katchoo's unwanted admirer, who seems to take on the role of observer in all of the drama unfolding around Francine and Katchoo. What strikes me about this comic is that it's about normal people in (mostly) normal situations. Francine tries to deal with a breakup. Katchoo and David deal with unrequited love. Freddie is a jerk... There are no magic powers. There are no fantastic worlds. It's just about ... people, living their lives. The exception to this rule seems to be Katchoo herself. Her methods of dealing with alarm clocks must make the alarm clock manufacturers of the world very happy. She seems to be unnaturally strong. She has what the politically correct might call 'anger issues.' But underneath it all, she is a friend, and a protector, willing to do anything she can to keep Francine safe, and happy, and sheltered from the ugliness of the world. Oh yeah, and she also has a felony record that the FBI won't release. Interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best
Review: This is such an excellent comic. Great stories. Fascinating characters. It's worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: To be honest I don't read American or Brtish comic books that much. I really only read Japanese comics. My local comic store owner said that because I enjoyed reading Rumiko Takahashi's Maison Ikkoku I would probably enjoy SiP, and I did. That was four years ago. I've just finished reading the slim volume again, and I enjoyed it once again. It is a refreshing comic book. No super heros, or "Satanic Trash" that is what the guy who reviewed before me said, guess he doesn't like Lady Death :) Anyway this series is a simple love story With Katchoo who loves her best friend Francine, and David who seems to have a thing for Katchoo, problem is she does not like men. Just read the book. I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Jeepers crow, what a book!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Jeepers crow, what a book!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Quite rollicking and UNCONVENTIONAL!
Review: 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...
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