I remember exactly where I was the day I read my very first Terry Moore comic. It was the first issue of Strangers in Paradise from Antarctic Press back in 1993, and typical for a new book from an unknown creator we had only ordered a few copies. I remember being in the back room of the store, picking it up to check it out and immediately being drawn in by both the art and the story. I couldn’t put it down and stood there going through the book page by page until it was finished. I’ve been a fan ever since.

After that first issue, he went on to complete roughly 107 issues of Strangers in Paradise and a 30 issue run of Echo (a science fiction super-suit drama, which I also highly recommend). He’s also done numerous other comic works for various publishers and titles, but it’s his own creations that stand out from the usual comic book releases we see week to week. In 2011, shortly after the end of Echo, Terry Moore announced his next book — a horror story called Rachel Rising.

Rachel Rising opens with the title character digging herself out of a shallow grave in a dry creek bed with no memory of how she got there aside from the brief flashes of a struggle with a dark figure. She soon discovers that she’s not exactly alive any more, and when she touches people she can get glimpses into their lives. As Rachel is busy trying to figure out what’s happening to her, she and her friends find themselves caught up in the bigger mystery of what’s happening to the town of Manson. It seems their sleepy little town has a deeply disturbing history, and like Rachel herself the town’s past doesn’t want to stay buried, either.

The thing that always stands out in any of Terry Moore’s creations are his characters. Not only is he a top notch cartoonist but he has a genuine gift for creating characters that seem full of life. Rachel Rising is filled with a cast that are as authentic as they come. There’s a real joy in seeing how they relate to each other, the easy way they make inappropriate jokes or poke fun at each other. Over the course of the series (32 issues as of this writing) the cast has expanded as characters come and go and we are introduced to some of the other residents of Manson. This is where the series shines, as the emotion each of these characters carry and the way they communicate (both spoken and body language) make for not only a good first read, but thoroughly entertaining re-reads, too. 

The first story arc at times left me frustrated, but in a good way. You know what I’m talking about… you read through the new issue only to find it’s over before you want AND you have to wait weeks before the next installment. Sometimes, there may even be an audible “Gah!” when you unexpectedly discover yourself at the end of the issue. Which is, in my opinion, the perfect measure of a great comic. All you can do is turn the book back over to it’s cover and start flipping through again, like re-watching that awesome movie or TV show you just saw. These are the kind of books comic fans live for.

The hardest part about talking about Rachel Rising is not spoiling it. It’s a fun ride with lots of suspenseful twists and turns filled some of the most likable characters in comics. I have to resist the urge to sit here and tell you all about that time when… Or about the times I’ve found myself sitting there with a grin plastered on my face (or even chuckling) during a funny moment. That’s how good this book is. You want to talk about it. If it wasn’t for the fact that I want you to read it for yourself and slowly pull back the curtains on the many misdeeds going on in Manson, I could easily write an excited synopsis of every issue so far.

There is one thing I can’t explain about Rachel Rising though, and that’s why it’s not one of the best selling titles in comics. There’s a strong desire for creator owned titles that aren’t bound to stories affected by big publishing events. There’s a HUGE trend right now for books with strong female leads done respectfully. Terry Moore is one of the best writer/artists in the business, and he’s been featuring strong, respectable women in his books for twenty years now. The book has won numerous awards and has been optioned for TV. Though I don’t expect that it will ever be a top ten book (though how awesome would that be?) Rachel Rising deserves wider recognition and better sales.

Thankfully Rachel Rising has, like it’s main character, refused to lay down and die. There are currently five reasonably priced collections that will bring you nearly up to date. If you’re a fan of indie books, strong female leads, or just good comics in general you can’t go wrong picking up the first volume and checking it out.

In trying to compile art for this piece I was caught between wanting to show you how good this book is, and not spoil anything. My only option was to pick single panels rather than full sequences, scan them in and make them work. If they look rough, blame me and not the book!

For more info on Rachel Rising and all of Terry Moore's work, stop in to your local Fat Jack's!