Latest From The Lakes 2024: ‘Strangers in Paradise’ Creator Terry Moore Announced As Special Guest

Just announced – the creator of Strangers in Paradise, Rachel Rising, Echo, Motor Girl, Five Years, and The Parker Girls, Terry Moore, to appear at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival

“We’re absolutely delighted to host Terry Moore as a special guest at this year’s Lakes International Comic Art Festival. We had him lined up as part of our planned in person events back in 2020, but world events prevented it. He has a huge following for his work in the UK and Europe, and we’re delighted he’s been able to add our event to his busy 2024 schedule.” – Festival Director Julie Tait

One thing the British comic con or festival circuit doesn’t tend to do is have big, big names. It’s not a problem either, as events such as Thought Bubble and, in this case, The Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF) go more for the depth and breadth of guests and events at their shows. Frankly, there’s no need to really go for that one huge guest when there’s more likely 100s of incredible guests that can show you some incredible comics.

However, every so often there’s a special guest announced that really is something of a special guest. In this case, it’s LICAF 2024 announcing that Terry Moore will be making one of his rare UK appearances.

Now, I’ve been a huge, huge fan of Moore’s since picking up the very first issue of Strangers In Paradise way back in 1993 with the very first three-issue series from Antarctic press. It was a wonderful, heartbreaking, romantic, funny thing of a comic, a breath of fresh air at the time, and something my love for simply grew and grew over the next few years as I shared the comic adventures in relationships of two wonderful women; Francine Peters and Katina “Katchoo” Choovanski. As a romantic drama with a funny streak it was, still is to be honest, unsurpassed.

Since ending Strangers in Paradise, Moore’s gone on to other series, other genres, all of them well worth a look for anyone with an interest in quality non-superhero comics. There’s been Rachel Rising, a very dark horror comic with a 10-year old serial killer called Zoe, the sci-fi thriller Echo, Motor Girl, the story of a wounded warrior and her imaginary best friend, and Five Years, the series that brings together characters from all of his series in one tale. We even had a 25th anniversary return to the characters of SiP with the 10-issue limited series, Strangers in Paradise XXV. His latest series was Parker Girls, is a return to the world of Strangers in Paradise with the infamous Parker Girls coming back to fight crime. We also have The Really Complete Paradise Too, a collection of Moore’s pre-SiP comic strips and more, has blown through its Kickstarter target and then some.

So yes, Moore’s one of the great comic makers we have and a real draw for this years’ LICAF – but just part of a really strong line-up of creators, makers, artists, events, and much more from the Festival.

“It is an honour to be a guest of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival which raises awareness of the power of comics through its celebration of artists and writers from around the world. I look forward to being a part of this amazing weekend and appreciate the Festival for giving me this opportunity.” – Terry Moore