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Strangers in Paradise Trade Paperbacks #12
Strangers in Paradise, Volume 12: Heart In Hand
Francine has canceled her wedding and returned to Houston to find herself, but finds Katchoo instead. While they try to repair their relationship, a deadly anonymous Parker Girl stalks Katchoo from the wings.
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2003
2 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Terry Moore
826 books649 followersFollowing the examples of independent comic creators such as Dave Sim and Jeff Smith, he decided to publish Strangers in Paradise himself through his own Houston-based "Abstract Studios" imprint, and has frequently mentioned a desire to do a syndicated cartoon strip in the authors notes at the back of the Strangers in Paradise collection books. He has also mentioned his greatest career influence is Peanuts' Charles Schulz.[1] Some of Moore's strip work can additionally be found in his Paradise, Too! publications.
His work has won him recognition in the comics industry, including receiving 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".
It was announced on June 15th, 2007 that Moore would be taking over for Sean McKeever as writer of Marvel Comics's Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane series starting with a new issue #1. On July 27th, Marvel announced that Moore would also take over for Joss Whedon as writer of Marvel's Runaways.[2]
On November 19th, 2007 Terry Moore announced in his blog that his new self-published series would be named Echo and its first issue would appear on March 5th, 2008.[3]
His work has won him recognition in the comics industry, including receiving 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".
It was announced on June 15th, 2007 that Moore would be taking over for Sean McKeever as writer of Marvel Comics's Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane series starting with a new issue #1. On July 27th, Marvel announced that Moore would also take over for Joss Whedon as writer of Marvel's Runaways.[2]
On November 19th, 2007 Terry Moore announced in his blog that his new self-published series would be named Echo and its first issue would appear on March 5th, 2008.[3]
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 15, 2018
This volume of Strangers in Paradise contains issue 50 - a great cover summarizing the first 50 issues. A pretty neat cover!
Heart in Hand was a very intense volume. After the cliffhangers and unknowns of the last volume, this one delved deeper into the psyche of our heroines and their pursuit of happiness and each other.
By the end of it, everything is so out of control I have no idea where we are going to end up. I feel like Moore has left me here before. But, I like it!
A great next chapter in a great series. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes stories about real life personal relationships.
Heart in Hand was a very intense volume. After the cliffhangers and unknowns of the last volume, this one delved deeper into the psyche of our heroines and their pursuit of happiness and each other.
By the end of it, everything is so out of control I have no idea where we are going to end up. I feel like Moore has left me here before. But, I like it!
A great next chapter in a great series. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes stories about real life personal relationships.
January 12, 2014
At this point in this series, I'm finally reading parts of the story that I haven't read before. Rather than re-reading dimly remembered story from the past, I'm reading entirely new material.
Understandably, this has changed my perception of the books a bit.
But, as always, there are two important questions that have to be asked. The essential questions.
Am I enjoying it?
I'm going to have to answer this with a slightly qualified yes.
I'm still curious about the story. I'm still emotionally engaged with the characters. I still CARE what happens.
But I'm not really sucked in at this point. I'm not obsessed and compelled to constantly read it.
It's a hard thing to define. I'm interested. I'm in. But I'm also feeling kinda... 'Meh' about the series.
Is this the end of the world? No. But at the same time, it's not a great thing for a story.
Warning: authorial musing ahead.
When I see something like this happen to a story, I always wonder why I'm having a particular reaction to it.
It's one thing to simply not enjoy a story. That's just an issue of taste and flavor.
But when your enthusiasm for a story starts to cool... that's really interesting to me. Because it means that something in the story was there, and you liked it, and now it has *stopped* working, at least for me as a reader.
My tuppenny theory is this. I think this is a lack of distinct narrative through-line.
To put it more simply. I think it's all about the plot. Or the lack of one.
This is a curious thing for me to think. Because in my own writing I am not very good at plot. It's actually fair to say that I'm distinctly bad at plot. If you're kind, you could call me plot-challenged.
But it's precisely because I have a hard time with plot that I spend a lot of time thinking about it. If it came naturally, I'd just do it.
But it doesn't, so I have to work harder on plot than other authors. Just like someone with a learning disability has to study much harder than your average student.
It's not that there's no plot. It's that the plot is loose and jumbled.
This is more of a character story. A story about the relationship of two people. And these people with problems continue to have problems. These people who make mistakes make the same mistakes.
It is, in fact, very much like real life.
While this makes the story very realistic. It also makes it less satisfying. Less compelling.
This is what plot gives us. I know this because I'm bad at plot. I tend to write loose, rambly character-centered stories. I want things to feel real. But I also want them to be gripping and satisfying and narratively pleasing. These two elements are often at odds.
Suffice to say that it's interesting for me to read another work of fiction that is struggling to balance these two things.
I'm also aware that my personal tanglement with these issues probably makes me hyper critical in this particular area. Damaging my immersion in the story, making me enjoy it less.
2. Is it still worth reading?
Yes. Especially if you're in it for the characters. If you enjoy stories about stories. If you like the meta. If you're into indi comics. If you like feeling all the feels.
Understandably, this has changed my perception of the books a bit.
But, as always, there are two important questions that have to be asked. The essential questions.
Am I enjoying it?
I'm going to have to answer this with a slightly qualified yes.
I'm still curious about the story. I'm still emotionally engaged with the characters. I still CARE what happens.
But I'm not really sucked in at this point. I'm not obsessed and compelled to constantly read it.
It's a hard thing to define. I'm interested. I'm in. But I'm also feeling kinda... 'Meh' about the series.
Is this the end of the world? No. But at the same time, it's not a great thing for a story.
Warning: authorial musing ahead.
When I see something like this happen to a story, I always wonder why I'm having a particular reaction to it.
It's one thing to simply not enjoy a story. That's just an issue of taste and flavor.
But when your enthusiasm for a story starts to cool... that's really interesting to me. Because it means that something in the story was there, and you liked it, and now it has *stopped* working, at least for me as a reader.
My tuppenny theory is this. I think this is a lack of distinct narrative through-line.
To put it more simply. I think it's all about the plot. Or the lack of one.
This is a curious thing for me to think. Because in my own writing I am not very good at plot. It's actually fair to say that I'm distinctly bad at plot. If you're kind, you could call me plot-challenged.
But it's precisely because I have a hard time with plot that I spend a lot of time thinking about it. If it came naturally, I'd just do it.
But it doesn't, so I have to work harder on plot than other authors. Just like someone with a learning disability has to study much harder than your average student.
It's not that there's no plot. It's that the plot is loose and jumbled.
This is more of a character story. A story about the relationship of two people. And these people with problems continue to have problems. These people who make mistakes make the same mistakes.
It is, in fact, very much like real life.
While this makes the story very realistic. It also makes it less satisfying. Less compelling.
This is what plot gives us. I know this because I'm bad at plot. I tend to write loose, rambly character-centered stories. I want things to feel real. But I also want them to be gripping and satisfying and narratively pleasing. These two elements are often at odds.
Suffice to say that it's interesting for me to read another work of fiction that is struggling to balance these two things.
I'm also aware that my personal tanglement with these issues probably makes me hyper critical in this particular area. Damaging my immersion in the story, making me enjoy it less.
2. Is it still worth reading?
Yes. Especially if you're in it for the characters. If you enjoy stories about stories. If you like the meta. If you're into indi comics. If you like feeling all the feels.
January 10, 2023
When you think Strangers in Paradise is losing its way, you’re wrong.
November 12, 2012
2012 Reread: I got lost in this for a month. My very first full reread since the series hit its ending. Since I knew where it would start and go and end up. It was just as terrible, wonderful, painful, heartbreaking, heart healing, amazing as every other read. I never stop knowing my heart belongs to this.
July 15, 2021
(Zero spoiler review for the series as a whole and the score for the individual volume)
So I am writing this literally a few minutes after finishing this story, and it all feels a little bit raw and unexpected. Unexpected for the fact that I thought a had a couple of hundred pages to go. I had been powering through the second book for the last two days, and I stopped after a binge read this morning. When I came back to it just now, I read a page, turned another one, and found the story abruptly ended. A few days before, I had carefully flipped through to the last few pages to see how long it was, so I knew how much I had to read and look forward to. It seemed like there was no added content at the end, and the story went to the final page. Good I thought, and returned to my reading. To say the end of the story hit me like a tone of bricks would be an understatement. Its true the story had sort of reached a natural conclusion, although going off the little twist in the middle of the book, I kind of thought there was one more arc to come, although maybe I need to go back and read it again. I kind of feel like I was robbed of something. I read 200 pages today, and then somehow stopped two pages before the end without realising it. I settled in for another 200 pages, to find I only had 2 left. I don't really feel like reading the additional content. Most of it isn't the story itself, and I don't want to add those memories to what is something pretty close and personal right now. I think I'll sit with it and let it gestate before I delve into it, if I ever do. Let the grieving process commence.
So what's the story like? It's certainly not perfect, although I just can't imagine finding another graphic novel that will ever come close to doing what this one did. In a medium that is overflowing with easily digestible content and two bit superheroes, Strangers in Paradise stands apart as something pretty damn special. Francine and Katchoo, and the small but memorable cast of side characters will stay with me for a considerable time to come. Yes, the conspiratorial/crime aspects of the story were a little far fetched and weak at times (especially in the first half of the story where it was most prominent). Pretty much every male character played second fiddle to the female cast. Very one dimensional, with the slight exception of David, who was obviously more fleshed out, although always came across as subservient to the women around him. You can tell Terry Moore leans very much to the left, although I could have done without much of the modern day identitarianism that reared its head throughout. Whilst the females characters were flawed, they were never portrayed as the sexist Neanderthals most of the men were. It was at times, grossly stereotypical. Moore might have been going for humour, although it just soured a wonderful story somewhat. In fact, if I wasn't so invested in the story, you would be looking at lesser marks, and a much more critical review from me. Not to mention that every female character seems to be a lesbian. I guess I'm still a big softie at heart, that this rather lovely tale about love shone through, despite the flaws. Moore's artwork was near to faultless throughout. Some of his panels I just lingered on, feeling the emotions dripping off of the page. True, he occasionally over reached, like the excessive poetry and lyrics, although when he nailed it, it was pretty damn memorable. I've read Echo, which was written after this, as far as I know, and the art just didn't resonate the same way as it did here. Though Echo will never be as adored or heralded as SiP is. Even the title is one of the most poignant and evocative titles a work of fiction has ever had. I really miss that this is over. You absolutely need to read this, now! 4.75/5
OmniBen.
So I am writing this literally a few minutes after finishing this story, and it all feels a little bit raw and unexpected. Unexpected for the fact that I thought a had a couple of hundred pages to go. I had been powering through the second book for the last two days, and I stopped after a binge read this morning. When I came back to it just now, I read a page, turned another one, and found the story abruptly ended. A few days before, I had carefully flipped through to the last few pages to see how long it was, so I knew how much I had to read and look forward to. It seemed like there was no added content at the end, and the story went to the final page. Good I thought, and returned to my reading. To say the end of the story hit me like a tone of bricks would be an understatement. Its true the story had sort of reached a natural conclusion, although going off the little twist in the middle of the book, I kind of thought there was one more arc to come, although maybe I need to go back and read it again. I kind of feel like I was robbed of something. I read 200 pages today, and then somehow stopped two pages before the end without realising it. I settled in for another 200 pages, to find I only had 2 left. I don't really feel like reading the additional content. Most of it isn't the story itself, and I don't want to add those memories to what is something pretty close and personal right now. I think I'll sit with it and let it gestate before I delve into it, if I ever do. Let the grieving process commence.
So what's the story like? It's certainly not perfect, although I just can't imagine finding another graphic novel that will ever come close to doing what this one did. In a medium that is overflowing with easily digestible content and two bit superheroes, Strangers in Paradise stands apart as something pretty damn special. Francine and Katchoo, and the small but memorable cast of side characters will stay with me for a considerable time to come. Yes, the conspiratorial/crime aspects of the story were a little far fetched and weak at times (especially in the first half of the story where it was most prominent). Pretty much every male character played second fiddle to the female cast. Very one dimensional, with the slight exception of David, who was obviously more fleshed out, although always came across as subservient to the women around him. You can tell Terry Moore leans very much to the left, although I could have done without much of the modern day identitarianism that reared its head throughout. Whilst the females characters were flawed, they were never portrayed as the sexist Neanderthals most of the men were. It was at times, grossly stereotypical. Moore might have been going for humour, although it just soured a wonderful story somewhat. In fact, if I wasn't so invested in the story, you would be looking at lesser marks, and a much more critical review from me. Not to mention that every female character seems to be a lesbian. I guess I'm still a big softie at heart, that this rather lovely tale about love shone through, despite the flaws. Moore's artwork was near to faultless throughout. Some of his panels I just lingered on, feeling the emotions dripping off of the page. True, he occasionally over reached, like the excessive poetry and lyrics, although when he nailed it, it was pretty damn memorable. I've read Echo, which was written after this, as far as I know, and the art just didn't resonate the same way as it did here. Though Echo will never be as adored or heralded as SiP is. Even the title is one of the most poignant and evocative titles a work of fiction has ever had. I really miss that this is over. You absolutely need to read this, now! 4.75/5
OmniBen.
December 5, 2020
Oh boy. I took a long hiatus from SIP. I missed Francine and Katchoo. Though I don’t remember all the details leading up to here, I do still remember the time shift and Francine trying to come to terms with the “alternative” lifestyle she will have to live in if she chooses Katchoo.
Of course, reading this story today actually feels pretty dated. I guess things have really changed a lot recently.
Of course, reading this story today actually feels pretty dated. I guess things have really changed a lot recently.
June 20, 2019
The varied subplots and character sets of the second half of Strangers in Paradise begin to coalesce here, as we return both to the character-based romantic dramedy of the very first issues and the baroque crime epic of the middle era. Plus, who would have thought Casey would be a character worth exploring as deeply as we are now?
April 27, 2020
I'm hoping that what happens in these pages is what leads to THE impasse that Katchoo and Francine experience. It's just that I want to hurry up and catch up with the future. I'm being impatient but man the suspense is killing me. I want only that these two end up happy. I also want David to be happy, but that looks likely not to happen. I'm so hooked on this series. Bring on some more.
July 27, 2025
The last car scene was funny! After nearly having a heart attack, it’s all “are we there yet?” Again, I loved the illustrations! In this one, there is a question about sexuality. How can one love a man and a woman? And what happens when jealousy rears its ugly head?
A lot of drama and romantic entanglements. A good read!
A lot of drama and romantic entanglements. A good read!
October 12, 2021
I love this series. Faults and all
February 5, 2016
http://morethansuperhumans.blogspot.c...
"Nobody likes an uptight white chick, Francine." So says Casey, who's becoming a bit fed up with Francine's confusion regarding her relationship with Katchoo. But it seems that even after three years nothing has changed, and Francine enters therapy in an attempt to sort out her feelings. While she does this, Katchoo meets Cherry Hammer (surely an alias!), one of Tambi's gals, who's in town because Tambi suspects someone might be gunning for Katchoo. Simultaneously, FBI Agent Bryan contacts Detective Walsh about Katchoo, and wonders if Katchoo might be her way in to the Parker girls operation. Meanwhile, halfway across the world in Japan, David and Tambi enter into an agreement that neither one of them is too happy about--until the saki starts flowing, anyway.
Moore provides a whole lot of setup in this volume, most of which pays off in volume 13. Highlights here include a fantasy counseling session between Francine and her 9-year-old self, Katchoo's drunken first meeting with Cherry Hammer, and the return of Brad--who brought along his famous brother, Griffin Silver, and Griffin's supermodel girlfriend, Nikki McQueen.
"Nobody likes an uptight white chick, Francine." So says Casey, who's becoming a bit fed up with Francine's confusion regarding her relationship with Katchoo. But it seems that even after three years nothing has changed, and Francine enters therapy in an attempt to sort out her feelings. While she does this, Katchoo meets Cherry Hammer (surely an alias!), one of Tambi's gals, who's in town because Tambi suspects someone might be gunning for Katchoo. Simultaneously, FBI Agent Bryan contacts Detective Walsh about Katchoo, and wonders if Katchoo might be her way in to the Parker girls operation. Meanwhile, halfway across the world in Japan, David and Tambi enter into an agreement that neither one of them is too happy about--until the saki starts flowing, anyway.
Moore provides a whole lot of setup in this volume, most of which pays off in volume 13. Highlights here include a fantasy counseling session between Francine and her 9-year-old self, Katchoo's drunken first meeting with Cherry Hammer, and the return of Brad--who brought along his famous brother, Griffin Silver, and Griffin's supermodel girlfriend, Nikki McQueen.
June 17, 2008
The story in this part of the story was getting a bit old. The end was exciting finally, but the rest was kind of frustrating and felt very repitive.
February 27, 2014
The series began a repetitive cycle midway. It's still good, but nowhere near as good as it had been.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews