Next up in my binge of graphic novels: Strangers in Paradise Volume 19: Ever After by Terry Moore. This is the last volume in a long-running series published (mainly) by Abstract Studios. Except that's not the whole story: Terry Moore wrote, drew, lettered and published every issue of this black and white comic himself. That's an impressive feat for anyone, but when you take into consideration that Strangers ran monthly for 14 years and 90 issues... well, hats off to Mr Moore.
This was the first volume I'd read and although it's not advisable to plunge into a story in its final chapter, I still loved Ever After. I think it's testament to Moore's writing that I can read a volume of stories that resolves the fates of several characters that I have no prior perspective on, and still find it really enjoyable. It's easy enough to pick up bits of the backstory, or at least enough to enjoy the events of this volume without realising the full significance of the events.
So... this book begins in the wake of the death of a major character and an affair revealed. The issues collected here are all concerned with how the death (which I presume is shown in Volume 18) affects the lives of those who remain, as well as detailling the last days of David, whose life is slowly consumed by his cancer.
I don't want to reveal too many details of the plot, but Francine, Katchoo and David are forced to make some hard decisions here that redefine their relationships with one another. Apart from that, you'll have to seek this book out yourself to see if they all manage to live happily ever after!
Overall, Ever After is a very humane story with believable characters and witty writing. The issues in this volume really pack an emotional punch and I'm looking forward to going back to the start to find out how it all began.
No comments:
Post a Comment