Lilith (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
reflectedeve) wrote2007-10-15 01:26 pm
reflectedeve) wrote2007-10-15 01:26 pm
Entry tags:
oh no, not me; I never lost control
One final ridiculously fandom ramble! Still a bit tl;dr, but less so, because I haven't had this pairing for very long. Posted somewhat hurriedly at lunchtime! Last, but certainly not least, two secondary characters from one of the most "of my heart" comic series of all . . .
Fandom: Strangers in Paradise
Characters: Casey Bullocks-Femur, Mary Beth "Tambi" Baker
What on earth can I say about SiP? It’s one of the loveliest comics I’ve ever read. It’s famous for its fantastic characters, and particularly its excellent treatment of women. It’s lengthy and complicated, romantic and somewhat action-packed. Its main couple, Katchoo and Francine, are probably the most famous and celebrated lesbian couple in comics, and the entire supporting cast is incredibly well-realized and interesting. It also contains one of the more heartbreaking character deaths I can recall.
(It occurs to me that there are many ways in which SiP resembles my favorite TV fandoms . . . except that the main "buddy" relationship of the story is women, not men. Well, and they actually wind up together, eventually.)
I never honestly thought I’d need much fic for SiP. It’s so satisfying on its own, and I was quite happy with the ending. However, the last few issues introduced a possibility I hadn’t considered: Casey and Tambi embarking on a romantic relationship. The dynamic was fresh and amazing, and we’d hardly seen any of it before the comic ended . . . which was a good move, to be sure (something refreshing and new amongst the tying up of very old plotlines), but I wanted more.
Casey was introduced as a fluffy, air-headed, large-breasted blonde stereotype, soon to be unhappily married to Francine’s weasel ex, Freddie Femur. (A note: by the end of the comic, I was even fond of Freddie, but you can hardly deny that he was a weasel.) She was intentionally obnoxious and vapid. Over time, however, she became very close to the three protagonists. She was adorably exuberant and extremely caring besides. In the last few issues, it was also revealed that she was much more intelligent than she appeared . . . and much more complicated. She had been covertly watching out for the others, helping to take care of threats to their health and happiness, some of which they were never even aware of. She’d been working for Katchoo’s sister, Mary Beth “Tambi” Baker.
The daughter of a prominent hitman, Tambi spent her entire life implementing political machinations and a great deal of physical violence. A growling Amazon, she was little more than a deadly thug at first. It gradually became apparent that she really cared for her estranged younger half-sister, though these feelings didn’t stop her from ruthlessly using Katchoo in some of her plans, spying on her, manipulating her, and generally attempting to control her life.
Casey's and Tambi’s various secrets and behind-the-scenes actions cause short-lived byt painful rifts with their loved ones. This leads to a confrontation (verbal and quite physical), and an emotional connection . . . having given her an outlet for her pain and guilt, Tambi consoles Casey, and offers a very rare insight into her own feelings: that Tambi is lonely. From someone as closed-off as Tambi, this is incredible. In the very last issue, it is clear that the two have become . . . close. The teasing and inuendo is beyond adorable.
Casey: [She’s been waffling about seeing Katchoo again, after her outing as an undercover agent] “But what if . . . “
Tambi: “What if I throw you over my shoulder and spank you until you stop whining and trust me?”
Casey: ::Blink!:: ::Blink!::
Casey: ::Sigh:: “I would love that.”
Tambi: ::Stares over the top of her sunglasses:: “Seriously?”
Casey: “Yes.”
Tambi: “Okay, you do know you’re totally bent, right?”
Casey: ::adoring, sheepish expression:: “Yeah, sad, isn’t it?”
I love Casey . . . she’s such a sweet, loveable character, and so emotionally demonstrative. I absolutely adore Tambi . . . she’s so tough, so terse, so very messed up, so protective of Katchoo. (You might notice that I like odd couples!) They have humor and fun and sweetness . . . and angst and pain and history. So yes, as I said: the left me wanting more in a big way. I mean:
Tambi: “Okay, can we get the hugging thing under control here? This is getting ridiculous!”
Casey: “Tambi, be nice!”
Tambi: “You’re acting likea bunch of damn college girls!”
Casey:”Hey! No! No! No! Bad girl! Be nice or no dessert!”
Tambi: “You’re a freak.”
Casey: “And you take yourself way too seriously.”
Tambi: ::GROWL::
Casey: “Aww! I love it when she growls like a bear--she’s so cute!” ::squeek!::
Katchoo and Francine: ::terrified moment of silent comprehension::
(How I wish I had figured out my graphics-program troubles, so as to bring you scans!)
I don’t really have resource links for this one, though you could have a look at the Strangers in Paradise homepage. It’s one of the comics you’re more likely to find in your local library, and the very end of the series is where this relationship emerges (though there’s much history to be explored and extrapolated, based on the earlier parts of the series, once you know that Casey was working for Tambi)
There, I'm done. Aren't you relieved? :p Though![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
yuletide sign-ups end Thursday at 11:59 pm, so it's not too long before you'll be seeing Santa letter stuff, and vague squeeing about undisclosed assignments. ;)
Also, there are currently 1,030 people signed up. Great googaly moogaly.
Fandom: Strangers in Paradise
Characters: Casey Bullocks-Femur, Mary Beth "Tambi" Baker
What on earth can I say about SiP? It’s one of the loveliest comics I’ve ever read. It’s famous for its fantastic characters, and particularly its excellent treatment of women. It’s lengthy and complicated, romantic and somewhat action-packed. Its main couple, Katchoo and Francine, are probably the most famous and celebrated lesbian couple in comics, and the entire supporting cast is incredibly well-realized and interesting. It also contains one of the more heartbreaking character deaths I can recall.
(It occurs to me that there are many ways in which SiP resembles my favorite TV fandoms . . . except that the main "buddy" relationship of the story is women, not men. Well, and they actually wind up together, eventually.)
I never honestly thought I’d need much fic for SiP. It’s so satisfying on its own, and I was quite happy with the ending. However, the last few issues introduced a possibility I hadn’t considered: Casey and Tambi embarking on a romantic relationship. The dynamic was fresh and amazing, and we’d hardly seen any of it before the comic ended . . . which was a good move, to be sure (something refreshing and new amongst the tying up of very old plotlines), but I wanted more.
Casey was introduced as a fluffy, air-headed, large-breasted blonde stereotype, soon to be unhappily married to Francine’s weasel ex, Freddie Femur. (A note: by the end of the comic, I was even fond of Freddie, but you can hardly deny that he was a weasel.) She was intentionally obnoxious and vapid. Over time, however, she became very close to the three protagonists. She was adorably exuberant and extremely caring besides. In the last few issues, it was also revealed that she was much more intelligent than she appeared . . . and much more complicated. She had been covertly watching out for the others, helping to take care of threats to their health and happiness, some of which they were never even aware of. She’d been working for Katchoo’s sister, Mary Beth “Tambi” Baker.
The daughter of a prominent hitman, Tambi spent her entire life implementing political machinations and a great deal of physical violence. A growling Amazon, she was little more than a deadly thug at first. It gradually became apparent that she really cared for her estranged younger half-sister, though these feelings didn’t stop her from ruthlessly using Katchoo in some of her plans, spying on her, manipulating her, and generally attempting to control her life.
Casey's and Tambi’s various secrets and behind-the-scenes actions cause short-lived byt painful rifts with their loved ones. This leads to a confrontation (verbal and quite physical), and an emotional connection . . . having given her an outlet for her pain and guilt, Tambi consoles Casey, and offers a very rare insight into her own feelings: that Tambi is lonely. From someone as closed-off as Tambi, this is incredible. In the very last issue, it is clear that the two have become . . . close. The teasing and inuendo is beyond adorable.
Casey: [She’s been waffling about seeing Katchoo again, after her outing as an undercover agent] “But what if . . . “
Tambi: “What if I throw you over my shoulder and spank you until you stop whining and trust me?”
Casey: ::Blink!:: ::Blink!::
Casey: ::Sigh:: “I would love that.”
Tambi: ::Stares over the top of her sunglasses:: “Seriously?”
Casey: “Yes.”
Tambi: “Okay, you do know you’re totally bent, right?”
Casey: ::adoring, sheepish expression:: “Yeah, sad, isn’t it?”
I love Casey . . . she’s such a sweet, loveable character, and so emotionally demonstrative. I absolutely adore Tambi . . . she’s so tough, so terse, so very messed up, so protective of Katchoo. (You might notice that I like odd couples!) They have humor and fun and sweetness . . . and angst and pain and history. So yes, as I said: the left me wanting more in a big way. I mean:
Tambi: “Okay, can we get the hugging thing under control here? This is getting ridiculous!”
Casey: “Tambi, be nice!”
Tambi: “You’re acting likea bunch of damn college girls!”
Casey:”Hey! No! No! No! Bad girl! Be nice or no dessert!”
Tambi: “You’re a freak.”
Casey: “And you take yourself way too seriously.”
Tambi: ::GROWL::
Casey: “Aww! I love it when she growls like a bear--she’s so cute!” ::squeek!::
Katchoo and Francine: ::terrified moment of silent comprehension::
(How I wish I had figured out my graphics-program troubles, so as to bring you scans!)
I don’t really have resource links for this one, though you could have a look at the Strangers in Paradise homepage. It’s one of the comics you’re more likely to find in your local library, and the very end of the series is where this relationship emerges (though there’s much history to be explored and extrapolated, based on the earlier parts of the series, once you know that Casey was working for Tambi)
There, I'm done. Aren't you relieved? :p Though
yuletide sign-ups end Thursday at 11:59 pm, so it's not too long before you'll be seeing Santa letter stuff, and vague squeeing about undisclosed assignments. ;)Also, there are currently 1,030 people signed up. Great googaly moogaly.
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