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Finder #6
Finder: Mystery Date
"Vary is a college girl like any other coed studying to be a prostitute whose best mate is a Pomeranian in bondage gear. She has crushes on two of her professors, one of whom looks like a velociraptor. The other one may or may not be blind, has written three books that he forbids his students to read and has mechanical ostrich legs. What else do you need to know?"
152 pages, Comic
Published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 20, 2018
Excellent world-building. Speed creates probably the most well-realized fictional societies in comics, complete with end-notes to help the reader recognize some of the thought and detail that has gone into each page.
The way that our protagonist, Vary, pursues her crushes on her professors, only to find that what truly stimulates them and satisfies them isn't the carnal desire that she was pursuing, is powerful. Philosophical comics don't come much better than Finder.
The way that our protagonist, Vary, pursues her crushes on her professors, only to find that what truly stimulates them and satisfies them isn't the carnal desire that she was pursuing, is powerful. Philosophical comics don't come much better than Finder.
February 19, 2013
Carla Speed McNeil convinces with a daring story that deepens her "Finder" universe. The protagonist is a sunny young woman who has beaten the obstacles of her minority upbringing and is studying in a highly respected university in order to become a prostitute trained in the science of the art.
The premise sounds goofy, and McNeil does manage to amuse the reader on many occasions (the protagonist's professors are a velociraptor-looking alien and a robotically enhanced grumpy old man faking blindness), but she approaches the subject of prostitution universally and in the context of her sci-fi world analytically. Her heroine has a need to love everybody physically, but that need doesn't stem from insecurity or an experience of inferiority. Giving pleasure gives her strength and she herself enjoys sexual acts proudly, especially when they offer a gateway into her customers' psychology.
The tale never feels naíve, there is wisdom here, and the aim of courageously challenging norms. I'm reminded of Ursula K. LeGuin's best stories and novels where she approaches gender and sexuality bravely and with acceptance, constructing something intuitively alien that still impacts with our own culture and makes us question our narrow understanding of our spectra of biological and psychological behavior.
The premise sounds goofy, and McNeil does manage to amuse the reader on many occasions (the protagonist's professors are a velociraptor-looking alien and a robotically enhanced grumpy old man faking blindness), but she approaches the subject of prostitution universally and in the context of her sci-fi world analytically. Her heroine has a need to love everybody physically, but that need doesn't stem from insecurity or an experience of inferiority. Giving pleasure gives her strength and she herself enjoys sexual acts proudly, especially when they offer a gateway into her customers' psychology.
The tale never feels naíve, there is wisdom here, and the aim of courageously challenging norms. I'm reminded of Ursula K. LeGuin's best stories and novels where she approaches gender and sexuality bravely and with acceptance, constructing something intuitively alien that still impacts with our own culture and makes us question our narrow understanding of our spectra of biological and psychological behavior.
June 29, 2011
Vary, a prostitute in training, is in love with two of her professors, one of which happens to be a laeske (a sentient winged lizard), and the other may or may not be blind and has prosthetic laeske legs. Welcome to the sixth book of Finder.
Honestly, this series has never failed to deliver. As someone who adores anthropology, this book tickled me in a myriad of ways. Without spoiling anything, a lot near the ending will crack up anyone with even a passing interest in other cultures.
As always, McNeil has expanded her world and made it even richer than before. Her characters all have become better and better developed as the series goes on, which is saying a lot, because they were well developed from the start. My love of this series knows no bounds.
So get it. Read it. Enjoy it, and pass it on. I've said it before - this is the only graphic novel I know that's got footnotes, and it needs them. This is literature, folks, and it doesn't get much better than this.
Honestly, this series has never failed to deliver. As someone who adores anthropology, this book tickled me in a myriad of ways. Without spoiling anything, a lot near the ending will crack up anyone with even a passing interest in other cultures.
As always, McNeil has expanded her world and made it even richer than before. Her characters all have become better and better developed as the series goes on, which is saying a lot, because they were well developed from the start. My love of this series knows no bounds.
So get it. Read it. Enjoy it, and pass it on. I've said it before - this is the only graphic novel I know that's got footnotes, and it needs them. This is literature, folks, and it doesn't get much better than this.
March 1, 2008
What do you do when you're in love with a pair of your professors? What do you do when the only one of the two who'll reciprocate is a twenty-foot feathered lizard?
This book deals with sex in the most mature, least manipulative fashion I've ever witnessed in a comic book. A great antidote for just about everything else that's out there.
This book deals with sex in the most mature, least manipulative fashion I've ever witnessed in a comic book. A great antidote for just about everything else that's out there.
April 25, 2013
An exploration of human nature as viewed through the lens of wandering detective/bodyguard/ne'er-do-well Jaeger, Carla Speed McNeil's deft and luscious artwork is only outmatched by her incredible storytelling, character development, and worldbuilding skills - and the best thing about it is that there is more Finder to read and discover. Read it all, then read it again.
January 30, 2017
If you don't fall in love with Vary Krishna, there's something "vary" wrong with you.
For more on comics, horror, humanity, morality and the world check out The Stupid Philosopher, aka a place where I put my words.
For more on comics, horror, humanity, morality and the world check out The Stupid Philosopher, aka a place where I put my words.
June 5, 2015
Six stars, really. best so far of an exceptional series. of course I love Jaeger, but he's best seen and only rarely heard - because then you're more likely to notice the incredible impact of what he has to say. and Vary is pretty wonderful, too, as are her professors!
February 8, 2021
Brilliant well constructed speculative fiction of the future with amazing internal cohesiveness. Believable characters dealing with everyday issues not seen in real life or other fiction.
March 23, 2017
Read count: 6/2013, 2/2017
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews