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Paper Girls, Vol. 1

Book 1 in the series:Paper Girls

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'Paper Girls, Vol. 1' in the series 'Paper Girls' by Brian K. Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, and Matthew Wilson follows a group of 13-year-old girls set in the 1980s who embark on a mysterious and thrilling adventure involving time travel, alien creatures, and a touch of horror. The story is reminiscent of 'Stranger Things' but from a female perspective, offering a blend of 80s nostalgia, sci-fi mystery, and engaging character dynamics. The comic series captures the essence of suburban America in the 80s with its detailed artwork and intriguing storyline that keeps readers hooked from the first issue.

The writing style of 'Paper Girls' is praised for its smooth flow, minimal dialogue, and fresh-looking artwork that effectively sets the tone and atmosphere of the 1980s setting. The series is commended for its gripping narrative, well-developed characters, and a cliffhanger that leaves readers eager to delve deeper into the story. With elements of time travel, alien encounters, and a touch of horror, 'Paper Girls' offers a unique and captivating reading experience that appeals to fans of graphic novels and sci-fi mysteries.

Characters:

The characters, primarily a group of 12-year-old girls, are portrayed with depth, showcasing camaraderie and personal growth throughout the story.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features engaging dialogue with a fluid narrative, occasionally using vagueness to enhance the storytelling experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on a group of newspaper delivery girls who encounter a time war, combining elements of nostalgia and science fiction.

Setting:

The setting reflects a Cleveland suburb in the 1980s, infused with Halloween elements and rich nostalgia.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast and engaging, characterized by an intriguing cliffhanger and smooth transitions that maintain reader interest.

Notes:

Paper Girls is written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Cliff Chiang.
The story is set in the 1980s, specifically on All Saint's Day 1988.
It follows a group of 12-year-old girls who deliver newspapers in Cleveland.
The plot involves time travel and alien encounters.
The series has been compared to Stranger Things and Super 8.
Art in the comic is noted for its beautiful color schemes, despite some 'same face syndrome'.
The first issue is short but engaging, with a surprising cliffhanger.
The entire Paper Girls series consists of 30 issues.
Readers have praised the nostalgia factor and the humor in the dialogue.
There is a significant queer relationship in the series.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of violence, potential bullying, and some instances of homophobic language.

From The Publisher:

SAGA writer BRIAN K. VAUGHAN launches a brand-new ONGOING SERIES with superstar Wonder Woman artist CLIFF CHIANG! In the early hours after Halloween of 1988, four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls uncover the most important story of all time. Stand By Me meets War of the Worlds in this mysterious young adult adventure, starting with a spectacular DOUBLE-SIZED FIRST ISSUE!

Ratings (19)

Incredible (6)
Loved It (5)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (5)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (35):

Read It (18)
Want To Read (15)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

Incredible
1 month

Full disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book from Net Galley. This review was originally published at Full of Words.

Paper Girls feels like a forgotten 1980s adventure that piles on the subversive twists. They don’t make movies like that anymore, let alone ones this weird.

I think the technical term here is “box office poison,” and yet I’d love to see Paper Girls up on the big screen. It begs for the kind of lovingly nostalgic adaptation that could only work with modern special effects and sensibilities.

Erin is a paper girl in the small town of Stony Stream, Ohio. Her story begins on the morning of November 1st, which is known in her profession as “Hell Night” thanks to all the teenaged trick-or-treaters still humming on stolen sugar highs.

When Erin runs into three other girls on the same route, they team up to stay safe during the night, but run into something far more sinister than marauding teenagers. Things only get weirder from there.

If you enjoy Vaughan’s work on Saga, you’ll recognize the same bizarre sensibilities here. What starts off like a throwback to Spielberg at the height of the eighties quickly collides with Vaughan’s surrealist sci-fi tendencies, and shit gets weird.

I’m still not entirely sure what is going on in the story at the end of the first volume, but it definitely grabbed me and made me want to keep reading. As soon as I finished issue five, I bought the next issue at full price and am seriously considering subscribing to the series on Comixology.

My only real criticism of the book is that the girls don’t get much character development. Erin is a good girl. Mac is a cynical rebel. KJ and Tiffany are… present? Somehow the book still works despite hanging on archetypical characters with little to no depth.

That said, that lack of depth could be a major turnoff if you aren’t a fan of Vaughan’s brand of weirdness. My hope is that future issues flesh out the characters a bit more, but either way I’m hooked.

 
 
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