I'd heard so many great things about STRANGERS IN PARADISE that I had pretty much assumed that it was going to blow me away. I like it. I enjoy it. But I'm also somewhat underwhelmed.
I fundamentally have two major problems with STRANGERS IN PARADISE after the first two volumes. The first is the "action" elements of the stories. The second are the rather terrible poems that are inserted at various spots. I won't say much about the latter except that the poems and songs are the series "weakest link" and add nothing to the stories. As far as the action elements go, I find them perplexing. I love Katchoo and Francine and the parts of the books devoted to their everyday lives. It was said of SEINFELD that it was a show "about nothing." When STRANGERS IN PARADISE is "about nothing," it excels. It is charming, delightful, and riveting. I almost wonder if Terry Moore knew that he had something special, but didn't quite trust it to stand on its own. The "action" or "adventure" aspects of the books feel like distractions. I don't want to read about Darcy and Katchoo's dark past and Tambi (especially Tambi!) or any women wearing those stupid tattoos! If Tambi is part of the story, you know it is sucking.
I'm going to stick with this, but I really hate Terry Moore for not trusting his characters to stand on their own. This is speculation on my part, but I think that many others who love these comics ignore the Darcy aspects of the stories. I think they ignore them. I can't. I hate the parts dealing with Katchoo's criminal past and feel that they pull the series as a whole down. I already have Volume 3 on my bookshelf and will start reading it almost immediately. I just hope that the series ceases being a somewhat unsuccessful blend of crime and everyday life stories. Katchoo and Francine are great; the thugs and criminals are not.Get more detail about Strangers In Paradise Pocket Book 4 (Strangers in Paradise (Graphic Novels)) (Bk. 4).
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