Strangers in Paradise, vol. 6: High School!

Writer(s): Terry Moore
Artist(s): Terry Moore
Publisher: Abstract Studio
ISBN: 978-1892597076
Price: $8.95
Page count: 88
Year Released: 1999
Status: in print
Original Source: Strangers in Paradise (vol. 3) 13-16
Other Collected Edition(s): Strangers in Paradise Pocket Book, vol. 2
Genres: humor; romance/relationships
Recommended for Fans Of:
Possible Objectionable Material: none
If You Like This Book, Try:
Also in This Series: preceded by Strangers in Paradise, vol. 5: Immortal Enemies; followed by Strangers in Paradise, vol. 7: Sanctuary

Plot Summary
As you can tell by the title, this volume takes us back in time to witness the birth of Francine and Katchoo's friendship in high school. The pivotal moment in the story is the same one that introduced us to Francine in the first volume: her singularly embarrassing moment during the school play when good ol' Freddie Femur accidentally disrobes her in front of the entire audience. This time, however, it's not played (entirely) for laughs. Also, at the end of this volume, is Moore's charming parody of Xena: Warrior Princess, with Francine as Xena and Katchoo as her sidekick, Gabrielle (whose secondary position galls Katchoo, of course).

My Own 2 Cents
Moore begins this volume brilliantly by contrasting Francine and Katchoo's diametrically opposed upbringings side-by-side. As Francine wakes up bright-eyed in a pristine teenage girl's bedroom to the strains of Bill Haley's "Rock around the Clock," Katchoo simultaneously wakes up in a barren, trash-cluttered room on a bare mattress, smashes her alarm clock into silence, and lights up a cigarette. Thus we learn that Katchoo's had it bad pretty much from the start. If I have only one complaint, it's that Moore doesn't spend nearly enough time with the high school versions of his two protagonists, and the story is over all too quickly.