Strangers in Paradise

Last updated
Strangers in Paradise
Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book 1 Cover Art.jpg
Pocket book #1 cover.
Publication information
Publisher (vol. 1) Antarctic Press (3 issues, 1993–1994)
(vol. 2) Abstract Studio (14 issues, 1994–1996)
(vol. 3) Image Comics/Homage Comics (8 issues, 1996–1997)
Abstract Studio (82 issues, 1997–2007)
GenreRomance, Slice-of-life, Crime, Thriller
Publication dateNovember 1993 – 2007
No. of issues107
Main character(s)Katina "Katchoo" Choovanski
Francine Peters-Silver
Creative team
Created by Terry Moore
Collected editions
I Dream of You ISBN   1-892597-01-2

Strangers in Paradise is a creator-owned comic book series, written and drawn by Terry Moore, which debuted in 1993. Principally the story of a love triangle between two women and one man, Strangers in Paradise began as a slice-of-life dramedy that later expanded to incorporate aspects of the crime and thriller genres. Moore has remained the sole creator throughout the run, with the exception of a superhero dream sequence drawn by Jim Lee that opens Volume 3, issue #1. The artwork was originally presented in Moore's distinctive black-and-white style, aside from two full colour dream sequences, which included the aforementioned superhero panels.

Contents

The majority of the run has been published under Moore's creator-owned imprint, Abstract Studio. The first issue was published in November 1993, and the original series reached its planned conclusion in 2007 with issue #90 of Volume 3. [1]

In 2012, Moore announced he was working on a Strangers in Paradise novel at Comic-Con International. [2]

In 2018, Moore officially revived the series as Strangers in Paradise XXV for the 25th anniversary.

Origins and publication history

Terry Moore stated that "I started out wanting to do a newspaper strip, and tried one idea after another before I realised I hated the gag-a-day life and really wanted to try a story instead". The story he chose to tell turned out to be Strangers in Paradise, or "this story about 2 girls and a guy who gets to know them" (from Moore's introduction to The Collected Strangers in Paradise, Volume One), which used characters he had developed during his time on the gag-a-day circuit. For example, Katchoo appears as a "happy-go-lucky wood nymph" in an early strip by Moore about an enchanted forest. These strips were collected into two trade paperbacks, but they did not include three issues. Because of this, the entire run was later published in one large paperback edition entitled The Complete Paradise Too. [3] This volume can be considered the true origin of Katchoo, Francine and the Strangers in Paradise universe.

SiP, as it is commonly known, began as a three-issue mini-series published by Antarctic Press in 1993, which focused entirely on the relationship between the three main characters and Francine's unfaithful boyfriend. This is now known as "Volume 1". Thirteen issues were published under Moore's own "Abstract Studio" imprint, and these make up "Volume 2". This is where the "thriller" plot was introduced. The series moved to Image Comics' Homage imprint for the start of "Volume 3", but after eight issues moved back to Abstract Studio, where it continued with the same numbering. Volume 3 concluded at issue #90, released on June 6, 2007.

Moore revived the series as Strangers in Paradise XXV in 2018 for the 25th anniversary. The new miniseries included characters and elements from Moore's other works, Echo , Rachel Rising , and Motor Girl .

Plot

The story primarily concerns the difficult relationship between two women, Helen Francine Peters (referred to as Francine throughout the series) and Katina Marie ("Katchoo") Choovanski, and their friend David Qin. Francine considers Katchoo her best friend; Katchoo is in love with Francine. David is in love with Katchoo (a relationship which Katchoo herself is deeply conflicted over).

The love triangle (which later expands into a love rectangle with the introduction of Casey Bullock, who marries Francine's ex-boyfriend Freddie Femur and later divorces him, in order to pursue both David and Katchoo) alternates with the mystery and intrigue regarding Katchoo's past as an underage lesbian call girl and the Parker Crime Syndicate. Run by David's lesbian sister Darcy, the "Parker Girls" work for the shadowy 'Big Six' organization, an international crime syndicate with influence over the world of politics. "Parker Girls" are highly trained women used by organized crime to control, manipulate, spy upon, and ultimately kill men and women in positions of power and authority, for the Big Six.

Characters

Katina "Katchoo" Choovanski
Katchoo (occasionally referred to as "The Original Angry Blonde" by fans of the series) is a temperamental artist with a violent past. A former prostitute, Katchoo was the lover and agent of Darcy Parker. Katchoo has been in love with her best friend, Francine, for most of her life, though she has complicated romantic feelings for her only male friend, David, as well. Katchoo was ranked 69th in Comics Buyer's Guide's "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list. [4]
Francine Helena Peters-Silver
Katchoo's kind-hearted best friend. Francine struggles with her weight and her self-image, never quite able to see the beauty in herself that Katchoo is enamored with. Francine has difficulty bringing herself to make a romantic commitment to Katchoo, partly due to her Methodist upbringing and partly because of her childhood dream to become a wife and mother. Her fairytale marriage to Brad Silver comes crashing down when she realizes that he is unfaithful to her, leading her to reconsider choosing him over Katchoo. Francine was ranked 86th in Comics Buyer's Guide's "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list. [5]
Yousaka Takahashi/David Qin
A gentle, sensitive art student, Yousaka is the younger brother of Darcy Parker and the unwilling heir to the Takahashi crime syndicate. Once the leader of a violent street gang, Yousaka became a born-again Christian after a personal tragedy and he changed his name to "David Qin" to reflect his new identity and honoring the young man he murdered. The complex romantic feelings he harbors for Casey and Katchoo come to a head when he is diagnosed with a serious illness, leading the trio to contemplate having a baby in his memory.
Casey Bullock-Femur
A blonde, busty, and bisexual aerobics instructor, Casey was married to Freddie Femur but divorced him after learning that he was still in love with Francine. Since the divorce, she has had romantic involvements with both Katchoo and David. Because of her childhood anorexia, she is unable to have a child with David.
Freddie Femur
Francine's ex-boyfriend and Casey's ex-husband. A womanizing attorney, Freddie cheated on Francine and humiliated her during their break-up (giving her a nervous breakdown in the process) but later becomes obsessed with her.
Darcy Parker
Darcy was a ruthless and predatory crime boss who led the "Parker Girls", women who are skilled in various acts of seduction and espionage. Though she employed only women and expresses a profound abhorrence of the male gender itself, Darcy had an intense, incestuous love for her brother David. She had a relationship with Katchoo until Katchoo ran away to Hawaii with her friend Emma. Darcy was murdered by Tambi after the collapse of her crime syndicate.
Mary Beth "Tambi" Baker
A brutal enforcer who worked for Darcy Parker alongside her twin sister Sara Beth "Bambi", Tambi is skilled in not only the deadly arts, but in business and strategy. She and Sara are Katchoo's older half-sisters. In a quest to continue the Baker line, she subconsciously encourages Katchoo to bear David's child. Tambi's many scars are self-inflicted.
Griffin Silver
An aging rock star admired by Katchoo in her youth, Griffin's songs were printed in the series long before the character made his first appearance. He was the brother of Brad Silver. Griffin was shot and killed by a stalker.
Brad Silver
A charming, handsome gynecologist, Brad at first appears to be an ideal husband for Francine; however, their inability to communicate drives a wedge between them. When Francine discovers his infidelity, she initiates divorce proceedings.
Molly Lane
Molly has only a tenuous connection to the main SiP cast (she dated Francine's brother Benjamin in high school) but has nevertheless been the star of one of the book's major storylines. The protagonist of "Molly and Poo", Molly is a tortured writer who dreams of a mysterious muse ("Ma Malai") and murders her husband with a meat cleaver.

Awards

The series received the Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 1996 for "I Dream of You" as well as the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for Best Comic Book in 2003. It also won the GLAAD Award for Best Comic Book in 2001.

Collected editions

Strangers in Paradise has been collected into a series of full-size trade paperbacks, hardback collections, and smaller format paperback collections. These reprints collect the issues into different sets.

The full-size paperback collections to date are:

#TitleIssues
1The Collected Strangers in ParadiseVol. 1, #1–3
2I Dream of YouVol. 2, #1–9
3It's a Good LifeVol. 2, #10–13
4Love Me TenderVol. 3, #1–5
5Immortal EnemiesVol. 3, #6–12
6High School!Vol. 3, #13–16
7SanctuaryVol. 3, #17–24
8My Other LifeVol. 3, #25–30
9Child of RageVol. 3, #31–32, 34-38
10Tropic of DesireVol. 3, #39–43
11Brave New WorldVol. 3, #44–48
12Heart in HandVol. 3, #50–54
13Flower to FlameVol. 3, #55–60
14David's StoryVol. 3, #61–63
15Tomorrow NowVol. 3, #64–69
16Molly & PooVol. 2, #14, Vol. 3, #49 & 73
17TattooVol. 3, #70–72, 74–76
18Love & LiesVol. 3, #77–82
19Ever AfterVol. 3, #83–90

The hardback collections to date are:

#ISBNTitleIssues
1 ISBN   978-1892597052 The Complete Strangers in Paradise, Volume 1Vol. 1, #1–3
2 ISBN   978-1892597069 The Complete Strangers in Paradise, Volume 2Vol. 2, #1–13
3 ISBN   978-1892597106 The Complete Strangers in Paradise Volume 3, Part 1Vol. 3, #1–12
4 ISBN   978-1892597120 The Complete Strangers in Paradise Volume 3, Part 2Vol. 3, #13–25, Lyrics & Poems
5 ISBN   978-1892597144 The Complete Strangers in Paradise Volume 3, Part 3Vol. 3, #26–32, 34–38
6 ISBN   978-1892597175 The Complete Strangers in Paradise Volume 3, Part 4Vol. 3, #39–46, plus 49
7 ISBN   978-1892597236 The Complete Strangers in Paradise Volume 3, Part 5Vol. 3, #47–48, 50–57
8 ISBN   978-1892597281 The Complete Strangers in Paradise Volume 3, Part 6Vol. 3, #58–69
9 ISBN   978-1892597366 The Complete Strangers in Paradise Volume 3, Part 7Vol. 3, #70–72, 74–82
10 ISBN   978-1892597373 The Complete Strangers in Paradise Volume 3, Part 8Vol. 3, #83–90

The "pocket book" collections to date are:

#ISBNTitleIssues
1 ISBN   978-1-892597-26-7 Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book 1Vol. 1, #1–3 and Vol. 2, #1–13
2 ISBN   978-1-892597-29-8 Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book 2Vol. 3, #1–17
3 ISBN   978-1-892597-30-4 Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book 3Vol. 3, #18–24, 26–32, 34–38
4 ISBN   978-1-892597-31-1 Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book 4Vol. 3, #40–45, 47–48, 50–60
5 ISBN   978-1-892597-38-0 Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book 5Vol. 3, #61–72, 74–76, plus Complete Molly & Poo 46, 49, 73
6 ISBN   978-1-892597-39-7 Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book 6Vol. 3, #77–90

Other books to date are:

Merchandise

Two limited edition statuettes of Katchoo were produced by Clayburn Moore as the first in a planned series of three statues based around the series. In the first, she is standing in a skimpy black dress, and in the second she is reclining in a bath wearing her leather jacket and holding a drink and a gun.

In 2009, Shocker Toys released a Katchoo figure as part of the first series of its "Indie Spotlight" line. [6]

In 1996, a series of trading cards was released by Comic Images, consisting of a 90-card base set plus extra collector's cards, such as the 500 'autograph cards' that featured Terry Moore's signature and information on the creation of SiP. These extra cards were inserted randomly into packs. Also produced was a matching SiP binder, which came with 12 9-pocket sleeves to hold the cards.

Advertised on the official SiP website are character pin badges representing Francine, Katchoo and David. There is also a black tote bag featuring the Strangers in Paradise logo and a tumbler decorated with colour panels from the series, in addition to a postcard set and two T-shirts, [7] although several of these items are listed as 'sold out', and are hard to come by elsewhere.

Film adaptation

Angela Robinson and Moore announced in Autumn 2017 that they were developing the film adaptation. [8] Moore was working on a script for it. IMG Global Media is backing the project and Robinson will direct. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>From Hell</i> Graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell

From Hell is a graphic novel by writer Alan Moore and artist Eddie Campbell, originally published in serial form from 1989 to 1998. The full collection was published in 1999 by Top Shelf Productions.

<i>Terry and the Pirates</i> Comic strip

Terry and the Pirates is an action-adventure comic strip created by cartoonist Milton Caniff, which originally ran from October 22, 1934, to February 25, 1973. Captain Joseph Patterson, editor for the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate, had admired Caniff's work on the children's adventure strip Dickie Dare and hired him to create the new adventure strip, providing Caniff with the title and locale. The Dragon Lady leads the evil pirates; conflict with the pirates was diminished in priority when World War II started.

Tom Strong is an American comic book series created by writer Alan Moore and artist Chris Sprouse, initially published bi-monthly by America's Best Comics, an imprint of DC Comics' Wildstorm division. Tom Strong, the title character, is a "science hero", with a wife, Dhalua, and a daughter, Tesla, both with enhanced physical and mental abilities and longevity. He lives in a building called The Stronghold in Millennium City. He is also helped by Pneuman, a steam-powered robot, and King Solomon, a gorilla with human characteristics. His greatest foe is tuxedo-clad "science villain" Paul Saveen. The series explores many different timelines and universes, which are a nod to different comic genres. The primary characters are tributes to and spoofs of early pulp heroes.

<i>Love and Rockets</i> (comics) Comic book series by the Hernandez brothers

Love and Rockets is a comic book series by the Hernandez brothers: Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario. It was one of the first comic books in the alternative comics movement of the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dame Darcy</span> Cartoonist

Dame Darcy Pleasant, better known by the pen name Dame Darcy, is an alternative cartoonist, fine artist, musician, cabaret performer, and animator/filmmaker. Her "Neo-Victorian" comic book series Meat Cake was published by Fantagraphics Books from 1993 to 2008. The Meat Cake Bible compilation was released in June 2016 and nominated for The Eisner Award July 2017. Vegan Love: Dating and Partnering for the Cruelty-Free Gal, with Fashion, Makeup & Wedding Tips, written by Maya Gottfried and illustrated by Dame Darcy, was the Silver Medalist winners of the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2018.

<i>Powers</i> (comics) Comic book series

Powers is a creator-owned comic book series written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Michael Avon Oeming. The series' first volume was published by Image Comics from 2000 to 2004, the latter moving to Marvel Comics as a part of its Icon imprint. In 2018 it moved to DC Comics as part of its Jinxworld imprint. The Jinxworld imprint moved in 2021 to Dark Horse Comics. The characters and its creators appear in Crossover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Moore (cartoonist)</span> American cartoonist

Terry Moore is an American cartoonist, known for the series Strangers in Paradise, Rachel Rising, and the founding of Homage Comics. His work has won him recognition in the comics industry, including the Eisner Award for Best Serialized Story in 1996 for Strangers in Paradise #1–8, which was collected in the trade paperback I Dream of You.

<i>Trouble</i> (comics) Marvel romance series

Trouble is a five-issue romance comic book limited series published in 2003 by Marvel Comics as a part of its Epic Comics imprint. Written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Terry and Rachel Dodson, the series deals with teen pregnancy. The basic concept was created by Bill Jemas and Joe Quesada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ms. Tree (comic book)</span> Comics character

Ms. Tree is a comic book series named for its lead character, co-created by writer Max Allan Collins and artist Terry Beatty. Her name is a paronomasia, or play on words, of the term "Mystery".

Stranger in Paradise or Strangers in Paradise may refer to:

<i>The Sensational Spider-Man</i> (vol. 2)

The Sensational Spider-Man is a comic book series starring Spider-Man and published monthly by Marvel Comics for 41 issues between 2004 and 2007. It was originally published under the Marvel Knights imprint.

<i>A Distant Soil</i>

A Distant Soil is an epic space opera comic book series published by American company Image Comics, combining science fiction and fantasy with Arthurian themes. It is written and illustrated by Colleen Doran.

<i>Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane</i> American comic book

Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane is an American manga-influenced comic book series focusing on a teenage Mary Jane Watson, the romantic interest of superhero Spider-Man. The series, published by Marvel Comics, is a teen drama set outside the regular Marvel continuity and aimed at teenage girls as opposed to the traditional male comic book audience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Luck (comics)</span>

Lady Luck is an American comic-strip and comic-book crime fighter and adventuress created and designed in 1940 by Will Eisner with artist Chuck Mazoujian. She starred in a namesake, four-page weekly feature published in a Sunday newspaper comics insert colloquially called "The Spirit Section", which ran from June 2, 1940, to November 3, 1946. Her adventures were reprinted in comic books published by Quality Comics. A revamped version of the character debuted in 2013 in DC Comics's Phantom Stranger comic.

<i>Spider-Man: Blue</i> Six issue limited comic book series by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.

Spider-Man: Blue is a comic book limited series written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Tim Sale. It ran for a total of six issues and has been reprinted in trade paperback form. Loeb and Sale had also worked on the limited series: Daredevil: Yellow, Hulk: Gray and Captain America: White which also chronicle their respective Marvel Comics characters in their formative years.

<i>Echo</i> (comic book) American comic book

Echo is an American comic book independently published by Terry Moore under his Abstract Studio imprint. The first issue was released on March 5, 2008 with silver foil accents not to be included on future printings.

The character the Swamp Thing has appeared in seven American comic book series to date, including several specials, and has crossed over into other DC Comics titles. The series found immense popularity upon its 1970s debut and during the mid-late 1980s under Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben. These eras were met with high critical praise and numerous awards. However, over the years, the Swamp Thing comics have suffered from low sales, which have resulted in numerous series cancellations and revivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Latour</span> American comic-book and comic-strip artist and writer (born 1977)

David Jason Latour is an American comic-book and comic-strip artist and writer known for his work for Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics on titles such as Wolverine, Winter Soldier, Southern Bastards and Spider-Gwen, co-creating Spider-Woman / Gwen Stacy (Earth-65) in the latter, later adapted to the Spider-Verse film franchise.

<i>Rachel Rising</i> Comic book series

Rachel Rising is a 42-issue American comic book series created by Terry Moore and published through Abstract Studio. The first issue was released on August 3, 2011, to positive reviews. Reviewers sometimes criticized the pace later in the run, but the series won industry awards throughout its publication. Since its conclusion in 2016, members of the cast have reappeared in other works by Moore. Plans for a television adaptation were announced in April 2013, but was still in the scripting stage in 2015.

<i>Motor Girl</i> Comics by Terry Moore

Motor Girl is an American comic book series created by Terry Moore and published through Abstract Studio. It was initially serialized in ten issues between November 2016 and November 2017 with new installments approximately six weeks apart. It has since been collected into two softcover volumes containing five issues each, released in May and December 2017, and a single omnibus edition in March 2018.

References

  1. Tramountanas, George A. (March 17, 2006). "Strangers No More, as Moore Brings 'Strangers in Paradise' to an End". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  2. Liegl, Andy (July 12, 2012). "Terry Moore Announces New 'SIP' Story and All-Ages Comic Project". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  3. Terry Moore's blog Archived 2012-09-11 at archive.today
  4. Frankenhoff, Brent (2011). Comics Buyer's Guide Presents: 100 Sexiest Women in Comics. Krause Publications. p. 46. ISBN   978-1-4402-2988-6.
  5. Frankenhoff p. 54
  6. "Indie Spotlight 1: Katchoo review".
  7. "Official SiP store".
  8. Shanley, Patrick (13 September 2017). "Angela Robinson Adapting Graphic Novel 'Strangers in Paradise' With Creator Terry Moore". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  9. (November 3, 2017), "Indie Edge: Terry Moore", Previews World. Retrieved February 9, 2018