Only tangentally related and putting it in a second post but i’ve mostly completed my collection of giant days! I still need to get the early admission collection but have everything else and have re-read the whole deal. Excellent stuff. Hope we get a serial some day following some of these guys again as i’m curious where they’ve landed between when the series ended and present day of the allison verse.

Coming out of my second reading I love the series even more. It was already an all time faviorite but reading it in a big pile allowed me to see a lot of the setups sprinkled throughout, especially in years 2 and 3 where John had a clearer idea of where the rest of the series was going. Nina showed up way earlier than I remembered, Esther’s dread about her future that’s the backbone of her final character arc (for now) starts to set in early in late year 2. As the series goes you can see John evolve from mildly writing by the set of his pants ot having some clear ideas of where the various plot threads go. Neither style is bad but it’s engaging to see. Every piece fits in in some way and by the end the story feels complete.. evne if I badly want to see these guys again. And also teh Esther/Ed/Nina throuple we deserve. I just shipped Ed and Esther but not only is nina great her whole “If you don’t date her I will” sounds less like an empty threat and more like a promise. Or maybe I read too much into it.

As one last note having finally read the Australian Issue I also wouldn’t mind a nina (and co) spinoff set there at some point. Even in just a one shot John built up a lovely strange little town. Also told me the superb parrot exists.