Terry, I saw this name in the news, today: 'Qin Guangguang' -- convicted of spying by the Chinese government. Looks like those Qin's are at it again. Seeing it made me wonder; will we ever see anything of David's relatives now that Darcy is gone? I am, of course, hoping, like so many others, that we will get to see some of his past. I just hope that some of it will take us to China.

Love your book and all your characters!

Thanks for sharing them with us!

Steve

Terry, I saw this name in the news, today: 'Qin Guangguang' -- convicted of spying by the Chinese government. Looks like those Qin's are at it again. Seeing it made me wonder; will we ever see anything of David's relatives now that Darcy is gone? I am, of course, hoping, like so many others, that we will get to see some of his past. I just hope that some of it will take us to China.

Love your book and all your characters!

Thanks for sharing them with us!

Steve

There is an incredible tension being built up in these books of late. Francine and Katchoo... will it work out? What is going on in David's head? With all of the suspense and feelings coming out, I am getting my plane ticket ready and flying south. There is a wedding taking place that I do not want to miss.

There is an incredible tension being built up in these books of late. Francine and Katchoo... will it work out? What is going on in David's head? With all of the suspense and feelings coming out, I am getting my plane ticket ready and flying south. There is a wedding taking place that I do not want to miss.

Man o man! It's been a while since I wrote about the series but I'm compelled to do it again. All I can say is that I'm glad we're back to present time (or close to it anyway) because I couldn't wait -- talk about withdrawals... I'm glad Terry has allowed even more diversity in the series (without all the stereotypes of black men not speaking formal english, ya know?) When I read it for the 2nd time -- I realized characters blend together in features - aren't we basically the same?? hmmmm --ok enuf of that...

One thing I did ask was why did the preacher look above and apologize? To me, he looked stressed in stating what the bible says (holding head down and running fingers in what's left of the hair). Did he realize that she was happy elsewhere and try to force the issue anyway? What do you guys think? HMMM....

To Francine: I'm with the other readers...follow your heart..go get your girl!

Why must you leave me hanging, waiting and anticipating the next issue? This roller-coaster ride is awesome.

Outstanding once more!

Jay

First lat me say, I'm thinking of taking the cover to the copysenter and ask them to make a poster out of it. It's great!!! Very Tomb Raider-like.

I lived the issue and the fact that the story is more on relationships again after all the action. Not to get me wrong: I loved that part to.

Reading I sometime wonder if not not Terry really is a lesbian on the inside, he makes me wonder. I've never seen any man writing so beautyful about the love between women

I read #41 in the store before my guy had all his purchases made...what a beautiful thing. Having a very close relative who is a lesbian, it meant a lot to me to hear Francine explainng clearly (and so touchingly) why it is she loves Katchoo, and the turmoil in her heart over Brad.

And to everyone who is chomping at the bit for more Katchoo and news of David: let the man work. I've been told I am a sucker for instant gratification, but y'all take the cake. Enjoy the anticipation while it lasts. I know I will. Once I know the story I won't be able to speculate about it.

That's all.

Claud

Can't wait to see you in Bethesda, Terry!

From Casey's ridiculous implants, to sexual dimorphism being a very good thing, I enjoyed immensely. I scent change in the wind, and I'm moved that Francine is wrestling what love means to her. I'm reminded of Andrew Sullivan, and his book 'Love Undetectable' where he shares his thoughts and experiences as a professing Christian and homosexual (among other things).

Great issue even though Katchoo wasn't in it! Keep up the great work, Terry.

Hannah:

the video guy w/ francie and margie, the valet guy w/ francie after lunch w/ veronica/rachel and chuck, and the ticket guy with casey are all the same guy, pat. he is a very sad little man.

y'know i'm really starting to feel sorry for casey. between horror stories of just how breasts are augmented (shaving off and repositioning the nipple?!?!!?) and the just plain silly size she is now... oh, gwyethia (or however you spelled it).

jesus what happened to you? it always amazes me how damaged people find each other. (not a knock against any othe them, but you have to admit, this group is pretty messed up.)

it would be nice if joe would be someone kind, but... i don't know, i think casey's setting herself up to crash again. poor kid.

brad must know something's up whether francine's told him how she feels or not. that he marries her anyway doesn't paint him in the best light. who knowingly marries someone who doesn't love them? ::coughcasey::

Oh my.....that cover!!! Not to mention the back of the comic which I soaked up for long, long moments.....

I enjoyed seeing Casey again, and my she had a Katchooesque (yes, it's a word! *grin*) moment there at the airport. I howled over that! By the way the tubby little jerk that tried to pick her up at the ticket booth is a dead wringer for a cab driver who tried a similiar line on Francine awhile back---coincidence?

Francine's conversation with the priest was awesome. Far from being ineffectual, the guy was trying as hard as he could, sticking to his values the whole way, without being a hellfire and damnation spewing jerk. There are alot of ministers around where I live that are not so compassionate or gentle and I can appreciate what he was struggling with as he talked with Francine. I also got the feeling that he was going to be doing a lot of soul searching later.

Francine is slowly tearing apart over this and I ache for her, and I know that nothing is going to stop this big mistake that she is embarcked on...

In many ways, even though Katchoo wasnt in the issue, she was. She was there in Francine's incredible assessment of Katchoo's heart and mind and abilities. She was there through what we saw of the cover...passing time in one of the most beautiful spots on the planet, while nothing can stop the days from slipping by ever closer to the date of Francine's wedding and her heart is breaking.

It will be interesting to see if she even goes to Francine's wedding. I know that Francine has asked her to be in it, but some how I cant see Katchoo even managing to go, let alone stand in it and watch it happen.....I dont think I could if I were in Katchoo's shoes.

Enjoyed this one, man. Keep

'em coming. Is there any way that you can make the issues a little longer???? I read the whole SIP series up to date in one sitting, due to a friend who dumped the entire collection in my lap and sat back to watch me read them (and he got every reaction he wanted too, dammit! Love you, Greg!!!)and you have no idea how short the single issues feel with the long wait between comic books!!!

Looking forward to the next one!!!

Hannah Webb

Just writing to say ....Claire (1 july 2001) you are truely cool and unlike many sip readers know what they are writing about :)

I just finished reading the latest issue,and i must say i am glad you are expanding upon the supporting cast. I thought casey might be good for David. I don't know. I do hope David gets away from Katchoo, she will do him no good.

I love you Terry, but get on with it already man! This one struck me too much of being a filler issue. Nothing was spoken of here that I hadn't already figured out. Drag drag drag.

I think that you manage to show both sides of the spectrum. While on one hand in the last issue, you've shown two growing apart for some reason or another. While in this issue you managedto show people metting for the first in its purity.

Last issue was my first encounter with Katchoo, Francine et al... And I was kinda scared that the quality of that one issue was a one-off... I wasn NOT disappointed by the latest installment! Wow! Francine is really having serious second thoughts about her wedding and the status of her relationship with a certain petite blonde!

Go for it girl!! Never mind the priest! Follow your heart!!!

I hope it all turns out for the best.

Sorry, I meant great creative, etc,etc.,are to be watched. My bad(though I wish there was an edit button here!).

I take one little exception to Claire's otherwise excellent review. SIP(aside from the mob plotline and nice humorous touches) is FAR more real than any "Reality" Show. Those are phonied-up contests whose popularity has more to do with voyerism than real life. My view is, reality is to be experienced in life, great creative enterprises on TV or comics or movies, etc. The exception is news, where watching reality is good, and even there it gets tabloid. If a writer, artist or actor can make it real and mimick life faithfully, as Terry usually does, that is more worth seeing than Survivor, or whatever. Plus, that show is nothing BUT Freddie Femurses! He's my favorite character, one per story is plenty! ;o)

I think that Katchoo's treatment of David is a flaw that i find very annoying in her character. If david is sheep, then what is Francine. David is driven, dedicated, loyal, and from the looks of it quite dead. That's too bad. After katina's last issue comments about David, i lost a whole lot of love for her character.In my mind this story can only end with Francine and David together, and Katina alone.

Man is it just me or is sip starting to geta bit blah? Don't get me wrong I love it but

lately it just seems like Terry is beating a dead horse. I've been a reader for many

years now but it's just getting a bit more soap operaish for me, too dragged out

. I was rather dissapointed with this issue, I hope the next one is more captivating.

Okay, this has nothing to do with the current issue (which I loved), but it does have to do with something I think you all will like. I just read Neil Gaiman's new book: American Gods. I highly recommend it. I think that anyone who likes SIP will adore this book. In fact, I know it. Enjoy.

Bleah. SIP just hasn't held my interest as much now that we already know that Francine and Katchoo will never be together and that something terrible has happened to David. Before, I always had a hope that somehow F. and K. could be together with D. as well, but now we know that isn't the case. Everyone else seems to have loved this issue--am I the only one who isn't as interested in the story know that we've seen a glimpse of the (bleak) future? I don't really see where Terry can go from here without just repeating the same antics over and over again. Hopefully he will surprise me.

Casey Femur better do something damn amazing very soon to justify devoting half of this issue to her. Seems she's beating a dead dog chasing after David the way she does. About time to heat up the plot, I'd say.

Frankly, this new story arc is taking the series in what, to me, seems to be a completely different and more sophisticated level. The previous story arc was gripping, and poignant, but...not real in places. This one is wholly real, wholly true to the lives of people (look how popular all this reality tv is these days!), and still wholly gripping and interesting. The long pages of text, complemented by the excellent facial expressions and "sound effects" (I laughed at the "boom chaka" of Casey's approach at teh airport) makes for just as fascinating a story arc as one with airplanes crasing and mob mistresses. How could anyone say that the story is done, that it's time to wrap up? *Everything* is left to explain! Does anybody but me have nay more questions? There's so much more o find out about these people, enough to fill boxes more of comics...why stop now?

Gee, I sure do wish I knew what was goin' on in #41. My comic shop closed down a week before it came out =(. These reviews are making me wonder what I'm missing!

All good things...

I feel I've gotten something out of every issue of SIP I've read and I've been reading since you were with Antarctic.

That said, I hope this is the last arc to SIP.

I have just finished reading issues 40 & 41 and boy did I love them.This is Terry Moore at his best,the insight in to the human heart.This is back to the main reason why this comic book is so special.The study of human relationships in all there various facades,the talk between the preacher and Francine was a gem.But for me I loved to see Casey both at the airport and on the plane.I have always had a special regard for Casey,all she wants to do is be excepted,(which is all most of us want)she just trys a little harder than most.

I have just finished reading issues 40 & 41 and boy did I love them.This is Terry Moore at his best,the insight in to the human heart.This is back to the main reason why this comic book is so special.The study of human relationships in all there various facades,the talk between the preacher and Francine was a gem.But for me I loved to see Casey both at the airport and on the plane.I have always had a special regard for Casey,all she wants to do is be excepted,(which is all most of us want)she just trys a little harder than most.

Let me just preface this by saying one thing: I am unemployed, yet I _still_ scrape together enough change to buy the new issue of SIP as soon as it hits the stores. And, thankfully, SIP rarely dissapoints, even if I do have to eat creamed corn for dinner to make up for the lack of money...

I loved issue 41. I did feel jipped by the cover, though. I mean, really! How can you show us a picture like that and _not_ have Katchoo in the book? Aargh! Anywho...the dialogue between Francine and the minister more than made up for it. I am strongly considering photocopying those pages and sending them to all of my relatives, starting with my parents and sister. Not exactly a smooth way to come out, but it would be artistic, neh? Thank you for handling that scene so well. It needed to be said.

I was happy to see Casey again, especially since she was so cute (not to mention fiesty) in this issue.

On a final note, I was thrilled to read about the visit to Montesano Mtn. in the last letter's page. I'm a Huntsvillian myself. I'm just sad I didn't get to see you when you were in the area! But, I caught you in Atlanta a few years back, so...

Thanks for the fine read, Terry. It makes the unemployment somewhat bearable. Shameless plug: if anyone knows of a job in Atlanta, email me! Pleeeeeeease!

-Alicia

I have been reading SIP now for about as long as it had been on the market and I can honestly say that every six weeks my miond is blown away, by the depth of the writing and the way these characters' lives continually play out. This issue did not fail to bring to this conclusion once again. This issue was fabulous!!! When Francine describes the minister, that Katchoo "sees" people and her, and the way Brad "sees" people and her, and the difference between the two was the most amazing, dare I say profound thing that ia have ever read. Francine's struggle to be the person she wants to be and the person who she thinks that she shoul be for everyone else is so true to life that I moved watching her deal with those things. Terry you continue to brings such depth and life to characters, that I feel as though I can call them up and see if I can help and be their friend. This issue was great and I can't wai to see what happens in the next few issues. These last two issues have left me anxious to watch this thing unfold. Ever thought of taking this thing to HBO and getting this made into a series or something, I for one know that at least a million or my friends would watch. ANyway, keep up the great work!!

I have been reading SIP now for about as long as it had been on the market and I can honestly say that every six weeks my miond is blown away, by the depth of the writing and the way these characters' lives continually play out. This issue did not fail to bring to this conclusion once again. This issue was fabulous!!! When Francine describes the minister, that Katchoo "sees" people and her, and the way Brad "sees" people and her, and the difference between the two was the most amazing, dare I say profound thing that ia have ever read. Francine's struggle to be the person she wants to be and the person who she thinks that she shoul be for everyone else is so true to life that I moved watching her deal with those things. Terry you continue to brings such depth and life to characters, that I feel as though I can call them up and see if I can help and be their friend. This issue was great and I can't wai to see what happens in the next few issues. These last two issues have left me anxious to watch this thing unfold. Ever thought of taking this thing to HBO and getting this made into a series or something, I for one know that at least a million or my friends would watch. ANyway, keep up the great work!!

But Katchoo *hasn't* come to a full realisation of who she was - rather, she's retreating from the parts of herself that let herself be hurt so badly by Francine. And this is why she's pushing David away. It's not because he's too much like the parts of Katchoo that allowed her to get hurt, but because he loves those parts of her. And since those parts of Katchoo are "weak" (or so Katchoo thinks, anyway,) she's applying the same judgment to David in guilt by association.

Issue 41 was great, I really enjoyed the return of Pat, meeting Casey. The conversation with Francine is one of the best illustrated yet. There is even more being told by the expressions on Francine's face than the actual words that she is speaking, a wonder of storytelling.

-Dave

This last issue was a good wind-up to the last storyline but I almost feel as if we are in the concluding chapter of a long novel. I almost have no desire to see these characters do anything new as if we are at the end of the saga.

Thanks for a great story.

I wonder if David will ever have peace with hiself? Will any of them actually have peace?

Katchoo has come to the full realization of who she is and what she wants and has reached a kind of peace that you get from accepting yourself. I am very pleased to see her reach that point.

Even Francine is desperately close to a revelation, as she is starting to accept and realize certain things about herself that maybe she has known all along and just has had a hard time accepting that not eveything is black or white. People can be very complex, and unfortunately, we cannot "design" ourselves to be the perfect image of what we think we should be. Its ok to have conficting sides to your essence.

In fact, that seemed to be what this whole issue was all about.

Acceptance.

Acceptance, and how hard it is to acheive it for yourself and your own life. David has still not accepted that he will not be the kind of person Katchoo will crave, but there must be some other way for David to reach fullfillment.

Katchoo almost seemed too cerebral to be herself though. I think her life needs an edge to be totally satisfactory. It seemed very odd to see her hiding out as a recluse with David.

Is this series really ending, and new stories with other characters are starting? Are these characters officially retiring?

-Gem Farris

PS. What is going on with the hostboard? They have been down for awhile and I just want to know if the SIP board will be moving somewhere else.

I love where this is going...However I wish more events happened. I just started reading SIP this past January, and I got extremely spoiled by having so many trade paperbacks to read. Since I have been caught up to the story I am filled with anticipation and need more!

RE: SIP #40-41

"Love is like quicksilver in the hand. Leave the fingers open and it stays. Clutch it, and it darts away."-Dorothy Parker

Well, I am going to be perfectly honest and blunt here... and I'm sorry if I upset anyone with this, but I feel that it needs to be said... Terry, I think it's about time to wrap up the series... for good. Don't get me wrong, I still wait it bated breath every six weeks for a new issue to come out because it is still the best comic on the shelves, but I feel that maybe you're starting to strech for stories, just a little bit. I don't want to see it turn into something like the x-files..... something that was really good for a while, but was kept going a little bit too long, and it started to get bad. You definatly aren't at the "bad" stage yet.. if fact you are still in the "extremely good stage" I just don't want to see it go into the bad stage... I'm probably just paranoid, and I should have more faith in you...

Well, I guess when I think about it, I would actually be quite upset if you did stop the series... no more Katchoo would be devistating... I trust in your judgement... if you feel there is more to tell in the SIP universe, please do... just don't keep it going because you can... if you started a new series, I'm sure 98% of SIP's loyal fans would follow you there... thanks for your time...

Always a fan,

-ALEC!-

Another good issue. I was disappointed that it was such a quick read (to illustrate--my boyfriend read the whole thing in the car on the way home from the comic book store, a 5-minute ride).

Francine is becoming annoying with her inability to make a decision based on what will make her happy. It seems like she's only going to be satisfied when she finds a "perfect" situation. I guess that accurately reflects the mindset of a lot of twenty-somethings out there, but it's still hard to witness, even in fiction.

On a different front: is Joe Campbell's name a nod to Joseph Campbell the myth guy?

Terry, thanks for issues 40 and 41!

Both issues were great! The emotions that were brought to the front in these issues left me very satisfied as a fan.

In this issue in particular, it was very nice to see Francine wrestling with the issue instead of flat out avoiding it. I really felt for her in this issue. Finally recognizing what she wants, only to be trapped in what she *thought* she wanted and what is expected for her to want. And with Katchoo so far away both physically and emotionally, Francie is on her own.

With the flash forward you did awhile back, many of us are sitting waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. But as you have shown me with these last two issues, the shoe dropping is so much less important as the process there is to getting there.

There has been great speculation on what will cause the rift. What big explosive thing will rip these two girls apart.

There is a great Stephan Sondheim song called "Everyday a Little Death" which is what I see happening in Francine and Katchoo's relationships. They never seem to be on the same page at the same time. When Katchoo pulls, Francine retreats. When Francine longs for Katchoo, Katchoo stays distant. Sitting back watching them you want to slap them both upside the head and have them get together. But it seems that the small missteps take them farther and farther from each other.

One wonders what they will have left to fight about.

Perhaps Katchoo decision to marry David even tho she is not in love with him?

But that would be the pot calling the kettle black. ;o)

Hi guys, its me again....I would like to say that Im totaly in love with katchoo, and with there i a girl like her, pay atention: I LL MARRY YOU!!! hahaha Kisses

I think that i should have the last issue, or at lest have it in my country, BUT IT DOESN'T AND IT'S MAKING ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I m gonna start a revolution about the sad and depressed people that doesn't have a way to get sip!!!! Help me brothers: WE WANT SIP!WE WANT SIP!!!!!THANK YOU ALL....

PS:WRITTE ME!!!

Geez! This one was sure a teaser. There's a big ol picture of Katchoo practically NAKED on the cover but nary a mention of the girl inside. And we're reading, we're reading, we're learning vital pieces of information, like Francine loves Katchoo still (big whooping duh!) and Casey is boy-crazy (ditto) but I felt gypped when the issue ended, I guess because there were still several pages left and they were allll letters and no story.

I came to SIP late and have been reading all the tpbs and am realizing how lame it is to now have to wait months for the story come (in unsatisfying little chunks.) Poor little me. :(

Terry...the story told by the back cover made the issue worth it before I even opened the book up.

Your objection over the gynecologist remarks sounds plausible, but you would not believe how many women have told me they sympathized with Francine's published remarks. While I doubt anybody would try to make a big case about her particular point of view, on the other hand, I have to tell you widespread acceptance of gynecologist husbands is not rampant. While all women appear grateful for gynecologists, not all appear to be willing to be married to one. Unfortunately, Francine falls in the latter category. If this seems illogical to you, then you and your female friend must be more well balanced than poor Francine. I'm happy for you both.

A mixed issue, alternating between an amusing interlude with Casey and her new boobs - illustrating that there is life after Freddie - and a less than satifactory dialogue between Francine and her ineffectual minister. While I enjoyed the implications of the inability of western religion to accept anything that deviates from their interpretation of the Bible, the thing that bothered me most about this sequence was Francine's comments about Brad's decision to become a gynecologist. As a female friend of mine whom I share each issue with succinctly put it, Terry has been masterful in the past in writing plausible dialogue for his female characters; Francine's fears about Brad's vocation is the kind of thing men would leeringly perceive gynecology to be like. It's a medical examination, for God's sake, not strip show! As the backbone of Francine's justification to choose Katchoo over Brad, it's half-baked.

This was a cool book. Mainly for the reason that Terry used my idea to give Casey a Black boyfriend. I had suggested that Francine's husband be black but I don't think that worked well for the story. I am glad some happiness is coming to Casey, she is the girl that you liked to have as friend and sleep with also.

Hi Terry (Konnichiwa!)

Good issue! I'm supposing that's Katchoo on the cover which totally makes up for her not being in the issue! I would've liked to have seen David, though. As for the rest of the issue (I think I've forgotten to type a return here..whoops!), it was great, though I'm ashamed to admit that I wanted to be that guy who meets Casey on the plane. How come I don't ever get to sit next to someone who looks like that? Well, looks aren't everything, though. Also, I loved seeing Tom Hanks' volleyball pal out in the ocean there. Nice! And finally, I was absolutely thrilled to have my letter printed! That was so cool! Do you have any criteria for deciding which letters are printed? Just wondering. All I did was write my reaction to the issue and how it made my train ride more enjoyable. Anyway, looking forward to next issue!

Alan

Thanks again, Terry. Have fun in big-D.

P.S. I saw Wilson!

I LOVED this issue! But who am I kidding, I love every issue. I truely run to my comic book store to get the newest issue.

Terry, you are wonderful! A true story teller. Every month I am on the edge of my seat anxiously waiting for the next issue.

I love SIP so much. I have gotten many friends hooked onto it and even my boyfriend. I'm also going to name my first born Katchoo. hehe I have a Phantasy Star Online Character named Katchoo and everybody recognizes her from SIP.

Will you be at Comic Con? I have a huge collection of SIP stuff, but I have yet to meet you in person and thank you for writing such an incredible comic.

I hope to meet you one day, but until then,I'll be anxiously waiting for the next issue.

love,

Trina Schwimmer

I am amazed. I'm sitting, reading this comic thinking to myself 'How can someone write so wonderfully the emotions I've felt so many times?' While I've never been a Francine, my girlfriend and I agreed that Francie explained what it's like to realize you love a woman, when you too are a woman.

Please, don't stop writing until every level and layer of this remarkable story is told. I'm constantly amazed, and ever so glad I still read comics. My dad even agrees, you're the real thing.

(FWIW, I have a copy of the Willow/Tara comic, only becuase YOU drew it. You're my number one comic artist.)

simple...

i think the latest issues are getting a bit to wild for what i like i prefered the plain old issues where kat and francine lived together!!!And everything was simple

Yes!!!! Terry, I wanna kiss you man!!! #40 and #41 have reaffirmed my faith in you. I mean, I was starting to think we were on totally different wavelengths regarding Katchoo and Francine (and David) and how each of them feels about the other. FINALLY, Katchoo and Francine get a clue and realize they are meant to be together!!!! Poor David, I do feel bad for him, but he must realize by now that Francine and Katchoo are soulmates. Hey, I would love to replace Katchoo in David's life. He is such a cool dude and VERY yummy! Can you pass my e-mail address onto him? That would be much appreciated! Of course, I'm sure you have enough angst up your sleeve to last a lifetime for Francine and Katchoo, as well as David, to work through, don't you? But that's half the fun, isn't it? And wow, Francine was so in tune with herself in #41 and what she said about Katchoo being able to see the inside of her and paint it, was way cool and extremely insightful of her. I always knew Francine was a smart girl!

Thanks again for making my day. Take care, from Felomena. PS. Wish I could go to San Diego to see you at ComicCon, but alas, Melbourne, Australia is a bit far. So, I'm getting a friend to get your autograph. But I know, some day, I'll get to meet you personally. Until then, stay cool mate!

Terry.

Issue 41, appears Francine has finally acknowledged what she has probably always known in her heart. I'm afraid she may have waited too long though.

Katchoo - I don't actually see Katchoo as a lesbian but as a person who has a great love and that just happens to be Francine. Kathcoos' past was mostly forced on her as I see it. I believe Katchoo has a chip on her shoulder for men as a gender, but this doesn't preclude the ability to love a single man.

Why am I trying to analyze fictional characters? Because when it comes to comic books, these characters project more emotion in one book than most in a year.

Now, for the real reason I'm writing...

The last page above the indicia, where the box is that has the title of the current book (iss 41). Right in the middle it says "Terry Moore Cartoonist". It doesn't say Artist/Writer.

I just want to know... why Cartoonist?

I don't consider SiP to be a cartoon, so why?

Katchoo, please don't turn your back on us! This issue had me laughing out loud. Casey swoons. What big fingers, Dr. Freud! Pat got a new job handing out "boring" passes, but he has a point. Casey does resemble Brooke Richards. Shame on you, Francine. You told a great big fib just to shock the minister. Katchoo does too wear underwear. Is this Joe Campbell the Secular Humanist, the author of "The Masks of God", a study in comparative religions? Speaking of religion, and aside from the jokes, what is Gary Biddle doing here? He and the unnamed priest from #40 (presumably R.C., although that's not an R.C. church, but never mind) are interchangeable. One has a moustache and one has a Roman collar, but they are both namby-pamby, wishy-washy, roly-poly feckless mama's boys. They are Hollywood's generic inoffensive ineffectual men of faith. Pretty subversive, Terry. If this were a Hollywood movie the moral would be that organized religion doesn't have the answers. "You do your thing and I'll do mine, and if we meet, it's beautiful. Groovy." On the other hand, there is no hint of such an attitude in #12 or #29 or a bunch of other issues, where faith (as opposed to organized religion?) is taken very seriously. I dare to hope that later will come a statement of a deeper, personal faith.

I think that this is setting Casey up for the fitness-instructor job she tells Francine about in the "ten years later" part of the storyline.

Again.. a wonderful cover that had nothing to do with the issue. Sigh. But that's okay. That's one heck of a good looking cover. the Lara Croft inspired knife holster is wonderful. Enjoyed the issue. Will let all those people that keep thinking that Francie is one dimensioned and is just comforming to society something to think about. I'm wondering where you are taking us with Casey falling in love like that, Terry? but heck, at least you are back to character driven times, so I be happy. I am not happy however that I have to post my thoughts here and not at the forum. Sigh. But isn't this making us suffer, Terry? we already know what Francie's decision is gonna be... why not just take us to the point where she's forced to make that decision? the wait is killing me!!!

Wow, Terry.

All my comments beyond that will be submitted to the letters page, but I wanted to be the first one to post a review of the latest issue. See you at the convention this weekend...