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Lesbian Graphic novels? (comics); Is it on anybody's radar?
Topic Started: Mar 13 2007, 03:53 PM (861 Views)
iwoman
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Hi ladies,

I was wondering if anyone is interested in comic books with a lesbian story line. I know a lot of people consider comics as kids' stuff and completely discard it, when it's actually grown a lot in the past years.

Any way I was just wondering if anyone reads that, namely "Strangers in Paradise" which is a multiple awards winner and sadly coming to an end, or Jane's World which is a fun read..

Iman

PS: Yes I am above 18 years old.. way above.. :D
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abzug
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In love with a prisoner
I've read the first four books of Strangers in Paradise. I thought the first was amazing, and I guess I also really liked the fourth, but found myself getting impatient. Like, how friggin' long is it going to take Francine to figure out she's a big ole dyke and wants to spend her life with Katchoo?!?! Especially since the flash-forwards indicate that this is the ending, so it's not like they are trying to build suspense.

But that said, it's totally great to read such an epic story with a lesbian, heroic character at the core. It's also great to see a heroine like Francine, with her struggles with her self-image, weight etc. Not so common to see this type of character in tv and film. I have a fantasy that Angela Robinson will direct a movie version of Strangers in Paradise.

I haven't read Jane's World though--what is it about?
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iwoman
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Well Jane's World is about a lesbian writer, Jane, and her entourage. It's quirky and weird in the beginning but then it grows on you, and the story actually is becoming more solid. You can check it out at girltworlcomics.com, and they also have strips.

As to Strangers in Pardise, it's coming to an end. There are only two more issues and then it's done! :( My favourite was "I dream of you" (#2).

ANother one that's completely differnet of these two is Alison Bechdel's "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic". Have you read it?
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DontUWish
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Did you guys catch the www.afterellen.com interview today with Terry Moore, the writer of Strangers in Paradise? (It's one of my favorites too.)

Pretty interesting to read something where a married guy is talking at length about issues related to lesbians ... not something you see every day.
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abzug
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Thanks for the heads up. Great interview! I really need to read part 5 and get caught up.
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msalt
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abzug
Apr 17 2007, 09:34 PM
Thanks for the heads up. Great interview! I really need to read part 5 and get caught up.

when you say "part 5" are you refering to the pockets books? i've been reading the trade paperbacks of this series. i'm not sure what it would be like reading in big chunks like that (pocket books) as a first introduction. i like some parts of the series a lot more than others, and i found my main allegiance(sp?) shifting throughout. both the main characters are very compelling, i think. i'm not much of a comics aficiondo, but the art for this series is often really wonderful, particularly in decipting women's bodies and people's expressions.

i try to stay up-to-date with jane's world books as they come out, but i have to admit that i have a hard time really loving them. i want to like them a lot more than i do. i always feel like i wish more would happen or something.

and of course DTWOF (and Fun Home) are fabulous fabulous books. it would be impossible for me to overstate my appreciation of bechdel's work.

"fade from blue" isn't lesbian themed, but it does have an all female cast. it was a miniseries that i found through a TPB at a used book sale, and ended up buying the individual issues online. basically a crime solving story, i guess.

i'm eager to hear about any other graphic novel-y dykey stories out there from others.
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abzug
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msalt
Apr 17 2007, 11:57 PM
when you say "part 5" are you refering to the pockets books? i've been reading the trade paperbacks of this series. i'm not sure what it would be like reading in big chunks like that (pocket books) as a first introduction.

Yeah, I've been reading the pocket books. As for reading the series in big chunks, I think you're right, it's not the best way. I've been finding it really repetitive, and I've been really frustrated that Francine is still being such a wuss about being with Katchoo, after FOUR BOOKS! I mean, seriously, get over it already! So when you read it in chunks, the pace is off, I think. Not enough happens, and the same issues are addressed over and over. But I still want to read til the end.
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iwoman
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Hiya,

I have all the TPBs and that's how I started reading the series. My favourite is #2 (I dream of you). And Yes it is frustrating at times, and you just want them to get together already, but the journey is long! And I kind of like the fact tha it's not a Wham-Bam-Thank you ma'am kind of story..

Francine does deal with a lot of issues of women who have no idea what to do when faced with the fact that they've fallen for another woman, who will do anything possible to run away from that and convince themselves that they can actually get over it, and get the "normal" life they've always dreamed of..

We all know that is not possible...

But it's interesting to read about the journey some us have to make..
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Washuai
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I've been pondering whether to check out Strangers in Paradise, I think this thread added a little more to the "get it" column.

I've also been thinking of picking up Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8.
In addition to being curious how they are going to handle the Every possible slayer is a slayer thing, I'm definitely curious what a certain witch is getting up to with a certain slayer, as well. I mean I know I had in mind some fanfic, which I didn't write about Post season 7 happenings in general, so it should be interesting to see a cannon take on it.

-edit-
I am used to reading manga, so reading it in big chunks, isn't anything new. It is sad, in a way because the story is over faster, but on the other hand, kind of like with watching Bad Girls, I don't have to wait each week for the next episode, it already is all available. I've always kind of regretted not reading X-men. They have like a PC disc of every issue, I've been considering buying, as well.
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solitasolano
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Ok I've been reading what you all have had to say about Strangers in Paradise.

I'm staying in San Francisco just "down the block" from this extensive comix store on Divisadero St...I'm sure they have everything. Help me out some. You all have mentioned like volume 1 or 4 etc...when I look on the SIP site there's like it looks like there's only 3 issues in Volume 1 yet 84 and counting issues in Volume 3???@@##$$ What's with that? Plus I don't see a Volume 4.

Lacking buying all 84+ issues of Volume 3 and admitting that I doubt that I would read the whole series....can someone suggest a particular part of the story by way of volume and issues that I can pick up?
Much appreciated.

Figure I'd also pick up a Jane's world and some assortment of yuri...sure they have that too.

Thanks in advance, ss
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abzug
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The "parts" we've been referring to are actually the book-form "pocket books" which are compilations of MANY issues of the comics. I can't imagine there's a more economic way to read the series than to buy the pocket books. They're $18 each or so. And they're all about 350 pages.
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solitasolano
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Thanks, abzug, that's helpful...will ck out what they have down the street.
:)
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solitasolano
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Anyone who's interested, I have the following I have read and happy to pass on to anyone interested:

Ariel Schlrag's "Potential" - great Berkeley, California highschool aged lesbian reality graphically protrayed. She now writes for The L Word.
http://www.arielschrag.com/pages/bio.html

Terry Moore's, "Stranger in Paradise" Vol 1 and 2 (they go up to vol 5)
http://www.strangersinparadise.com/

ALC Publishings "Yuri Monogatari 4" - an anthology of 10 yuris.
http://www.yuricon.org/alc.html

First comes first served. Pick one listing and even a second choice if you want since I don't know what the interest is out there. Those of you across the pond or downunder, selection will be shipped by snail mail so don't know how long it will take to get there, but will.
Enjoy, solita


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