Book-It '10! Book #41
The Fifty Books Challenge, year two! This was a library request.
Title: Strangers In Paradise (5) by Terry Moore
Details: Copyright 2005, Abstract Studio
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover): "Life for David was once a street gang and a sister whose wickedness was only surpassed by her devotion to her brother. After standing trial for murder, David finds a change of heart that separates him from his family and leads him to the love of his life, Katchoo. Now, after a painful, year-long absence, David's return ignites a reunion that leads to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas-- and a marriage license?! Showgirls, art galleries and serial bombers, life with Katchoo is never boring!
Strangers in Paradise has been awarded the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for Best Comic Book, the Will Eisner Comics Industry Award for Best Serialized Story, and the GLAAD Media Award for Best Comic Book."
Why I Wanted to Read It: I found this on a graphic novel search and was attracted to the GLAAD seal of approval. I stupidly didn't realize that this was one in a series, not a stand-alone book (which I largely prefer).
How I Liked It: The book may be serialized and I may be starting in a random spot, but it appears the plots are written so we have prequels and sequels woven throughout each of the books in the series (after the first chronological story in the novel, it concludes "Continued in Issue One!"). Surprisingly, the plots are moreover easy to follow and some of the dialog is almost Gaimanesque, as well as the subtleties in character expressions within the panels, something so small and yet so vital.
I admit to cringing when I found out a book (series) whose main characters are bisexual women and lesbians was written by a straight man, but Moore's characters are multi-faceted and it appears (in this volume, anyway) that for every scantily clad or naked female, there is a naked or scantily clad male (or, for every cheesecake, beefcake). Apparently Moore's ability to transcend stereotypes is a hallmark of his work and what, according to a web search, has made him something of a hero among female comic fans relieved to have found a voice.
As far as sexuality, it's more or less progressively dealt with. A character thought to be bisexual is whispered about as "painting both sides of the fence" by it's established that the whisperers are blustering. It's notable that no bisexual character is characterized as being promiscuous or "confused" (although one character thought to be bisexual comes to the conclusion that she's actually a lesbian). Similarly, there is a relative lack of lesbian stereotypes. A female character is a fairly buff (though not butch) body-builder, but she still is kept from being a stereotype by a multi-faceted personality, a trait shared by most of Moore's characters. The bisexual character who later discovers she's actually a lesbian goes on a misandric rant
"Men. Is there anything on this planet they haven't screwed? Women, animals, the ecology... this park. Roger Waters was right. Pigs and dogs, that's what they are. Pigs and dogs. Rape their own children and build smarter bombs. Buy bigger trucks to hold their bigger butts and ignore starving nations." (pg 292)
to herself whilst walking through a childhood park. But it should be noted that she is reacting some time after physically defending one of her friends from a particularly misogynist stalker, who is later learned to be (probably) criminally insane. She notes
"I have no sympathy for the criminally insane. They steal what humanity needs most... our heroes-- the ones who tell the truth-- Lincoln, Bobby Kennedy, Dr. King, John Lennon... and who knows how many mothers wives and daughters over the course of time." (pg 244)
It should also be noted that she mentions the work of John Lennon again and even paints a cathartic image of a pillaging soldier (of indeterminate era) clutching the severed head of Mark David Chapman.
Back to the park scene. We get a better insight into the source of the character's anti-male rage by a particularly creepy-looking stranger circling her and "staring at me like I'm his next meal." (pg 293)
She stares him down and he moves on as the character's continuing internal monologue flatly states
"If you're going to survive on a planet inhabited by men, you need to learn to abide by two simple rules...
Rule #1: Don't be a victim. If they bark, you bite. If they hit, you cut. If they cut, you shoot-- and do it without hesitation or you'll end up on the news.
Never forget that this is the gender that gave us rapists, invaders, dictators, suicide bombers, and professional baseball players. To them, life is nothing more than what they can see, touch, eat, or screw. Is it any wonder why they think we came from apes and fish? ...Idiots.
When I see a flower I want to believe in God, but when I look at men and all I see is a cosmic mistake--
A biological kudzu strangling the life from the planet-- one woman at a time." (pg 294)
Somehow, perhaps because Moore has taken pains to endear us to this character as well as present her views as an internal monologue after saving a friend from a stalker and while deflecting a potential attacker in the park (rather than, say, have her screeching it, unprovoked, at a sympathetic male character, ala, maybe, Bob Fingerman), it's a character's own frailty rather than a cartoon (no pun intended) stereotype.
Strong plot-lines and suburb art in a range of styles (also very Gaiman) already has me requesting the other books in the series from the library.
Notable: Whilst puzzling out the annoyance that is graphic novel editions, I was hunting for the ISBN number and came across a rather interesting bit in the otherwise standard copyright information:
"Names, characters, places, and incidents featured in this publication are either the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events, institutions or locales, without satiric intent, is coincidental. Peace." (pg 2)
The joys of self-publishing!
Title: Strangers In Paradise (5) by Terry Moore
Details: Copyright 2005, Abstract Studio
Synopsis (By Way of Back Cover): "Life for David was once a street gang and a sister whose wickedness was only surpassed by her devotion to her brother. After standing trial for murder, David finds a change of heart that separates him from his family and leads him to the love of his life, Katchoo. Now, after a painful, year-long absence, David's return ignites a reunion that leads to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas-- and a marriage license?! Showgirls, art galleries and serial bombers, life with Katchoo is never boring!
Strangers in Paradise has been awarded the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for Best Comic Book, the Will Eisner Comics Industry Award for Best Serialized Story, and the GLAAD Media Award for Best Comic Book."
Why I Wanted to Read It: I found this on a graphic novel search and was attracted to the GLAAD seal of approval. I stupidly didn't realize that this was one in a series, not a stand-alone book (which I largely prefer).
How I Liked It: The book may be serialized and I may be starting in a random spot, but it appears the plots are written so we have prequels and sequels woven throughout each of the books in the series (after the first chronological story in the novel, it concludes "Continued in Issue One!"). Surprisingly, the plots are moreover easy to follow and some of the dialog is almost Gaimanesque, as well as the subtleties in character expressions within the panels, something so small and yet so vital.
I admit to cringing when I found out a book (series) whose main characters are bisexual women and lesbians was written by a straight man, but Moore's characters are multi-faceted and it appears (in this volume, anyway) that for every scantily clad or naked female, there is a naked or scantily clad male (or, for every cheesecake, beefcake). Apparently Moore's ability to transcend stereotypes is a hallmark of his work and what, according to a web search, has made him something of a hero among female comic fans relieved to have found a voice.
As far as sexuality, it's more or less progressively dealt with. A character thought to be bisexual is whispered about as "painting both sides of the fence" by it's established that the whisperers are blustering. It's notable that no bisexual character is characterized as being promiscuous or "confused" (although one character thought to be bisexual comes to the conclusion that she's actually a lesbian). Similarly, there is a relative lack of lesbian stereotypes. A female character is a fairly buff (though not butch) body-builder, but she still is kept from being a stereotype by a multi-faceted personality, a trait shared by most of Moore's characters. The bisexual character who later discovers she's actually a lesbian goes on a misandric rant
"Men. Is there anything on this planet they haven't screwed? Women, animals, the ecology... this park. Roger Waters was right. Pigs and dogs, that's what they are. Pigs and dogs. Rape their own children and build smarter bombs. Buy bigger trucks to hold their bigger butts and ignore starving nations." (pg 292)
to herself whilst walking through a childhood park. But it should be noted that she is reacting some time after physically defending one of her friends from a particularly misogynist stalker, who is later learned to be (probably) criminally insane. She notes
"I have no sympathy for the criminally insane. They steal what humanity needs most... our heroes-- the ones who tell the truth-- Lincoln, Bobby Kennedy, Dr. King, John Lennon... and who knows how many mothers wives and daughters over the course of time." (pg 244)
It should also be noted that she mentions the work of John Lennon again and even paints a cathartic image of a pillaging soldier (of indeterminate era) clutching the severed head of Mark David Chapman.
Back to the park scene. We get a better insight into the source of the character's anti-male rage by a particularly creepy-looking stranger circling her and "staring at me like I'm his next meal." (pg 293)
She stares him down and he moves on as the character's continuing internal monologue flatly states
"If you're going to survive on a planet inhabited by men, you need to learn to abide by two simple rules...
Rule #1: Don't be a victim. If they bark, you bite. If they hit, you cut. If they cut, you shoot-- and do it without hesitation or you'll end up on the news.
Never forget that this is the gender that gave us rapists, invaders, dictators, suicide bombers, and professional baseball players. To them, life is nothing more than what they can see, touch, eat, or screw. Is it any wonder why they think we came from apes and fish? ...Idiots.
When I see a flower I want to believe in God, but when I look at men and all I see is a cosmic mistake--
A biological kudzu strangling the life from the planet-- one woman at a time." (pg 294)
Somehow, perhaps because Moore has taken pains to endear us to this character as well as present her views as an internal monologue after saving a friend from a stalker and while deflecting a potential attacker in the park (rather than, say, have her screeching it, unprovoked, at a sympathetic male character, ala, maybe, Bob Fingerman), it's a character's own frailty rather than a cartoon (no pun intended) stereotype.
Strong plot-lines and suburb art in a range of styles (also very Gaiman) already has me requesting the other books in the series from the library.
Notable: Whilst puzzling out the annoyance that is graphic novel editions, I was hunting for the ISBN number and came across a rather interesting bit in the otherwise standard copyright information:
"Names, characters, places, and incidents featured in this publication are either the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events, institutions or locales, without satiric intent, is coincidental. Peace." (pg 2)
The joys of self-publishing!