I need to pause.
I probably didn't do myself any favours, reading the first 21 single issues of this series in a single day. I was happy with how things were going, all things considered. And then Ginny. And then drugs. I am so mad at both Alana and Marko right now, too mad to continue to 22 immediately. (I'm probably too invested in this series. But then again I like it a whole lot.) I've been furious at fictional characters (not the writer, mind you) before. I always continue reading as soon as that feeling dissipates because I know eventually there'll be some sort of stability. My anger, however, didn't go away. It's 5 days after as I'm typing this and I'm still pretty mad, exacerbated by my knowing precisely the reason why.
I don't like characters, fictional or otherwise, that go beyond their hard won happily ever afters and went so far out of their way to undo that. They both know precisely what they had to survive to get to a job, the stability to afford their child dance lessons (annoying teachers aside), for Hazel to have Friendo. Thing is, they stopped fighting for their relationship at the exact same time. It would be good to have both of them do the fighting against everything else, but at least one can carry it for a time. Those fucking idiots. (Pun so very much intended.)
Seeing as this comic series so very swiftly became one of my favourites, I'll go back to it. I've deliberately spoiled myself on the next few issues so I know the gist of what happens after this but I won't read immediately. I need some time to get over Alana and Marko's utter stupidity.