"When I was in Japan, Tambi came to see me. She was angry because you and I had not produced a child that could be an heir to the Baker and Takahashi families. I realized this was the reason I had been allowed to live after Darcy's death, the reason I had been allowed to get near you, and most importantly, the reason you had been allowed to leave the family business to lead a private life."

Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book 6 by Terry Moore is the last volume in an addictive, inventive graphic series that I was sorry to see end. The above quote is not a spoiler - the reader gets the background early on regarding this complex tale involving the Yakuza, a secret U.S. private organization that has infiltrated our government, an operative that wants out, and the plotting of Tambi and others regarding her fate. One unusual aspect of this series is that all that is, in many ways, secondary to what makes the series unputdownable - the characters, their relationships, the wit, the sarcastic banter, and the creativity. David loves Katchoo, Katchoo loves Francine, Francine loves Katchoo - but has difficulty facing that same sex attraction. And Katchoo has strong feelings for David, too! Meanwhile others love each of them, and they further complicate the road to resolution.

You quickly end up pulling for the main characters, who are funny and real and endlessly engaging. Japanese David has had a traumatic experience that has turned him away from his lethal skill set toward seeking redemption, blonde lovely Katchoo has a similar skill set she is looking to leave behind her and also has exceptional artistic talent, and rubenesque Francine warms everyone's heart while continually, humorously, and unsuccessfully, trying to be "normal." It's difficult to capture the humor of the banter apart from the graphics and the characters. An example: sexy and omni-friendly Casey drops an important key into her brassiere as a safe place to keep it, and Katchoo says, "Oh, like that's a place none of us will go!" I found myself laughing out loud throughout the series, and all of it is very much in character.

There are songs, text interludes, wordless drawings, and other departures from the usual. Just as comedians tend not to win Oscars, this funny and touching series doesn't often get mentioned among "the best". But in my opinion it should be. ( )

And so, having read this, the sixth and final digest collection of Strangers In Paradise comics, I have read the entire story of Francine and Katchoo, which went on waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long. Artist/writer Terry Moore really should have wrapped up his story much earlier, rather than piling up the ridiculous plot devices to keep his perfect couple apart. I mean, by the end of the saga, everyone has slept with everyone else, various characters have been introduced and killed, and Moore has employed dramatic coincidence in a way that would have embarassed even Victor Hugo.
That said, I still love Strangers In Paradise, and even though the ending is BEYOND idealized and sappy, I loved it. Moore simply earned too much goodwill for me to get angry with him now. And if the story hadn't ended happily, my critical mind would have approved (what verisimilitude!) but my heart would have cried out in protest (nooooo! love must triumph!). The wicked are punished and the good are rewarded -- as Wilde says, that's how you know it's fiction.