Paper Girls Issue #1

Paper Girls Issue #1

Paper Girls is written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Cliff Chiang, colours by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher and published by Image Comics. You can't go on the comic corners of the web without seeing something about Paper Girls so it seemed like trying to swim against the current avoiding it. So I decided to pick up a copy for myself and found myself agreeing with most of the praise it is receiving.

Paper Girls begins with Erin preparing for her paper route the morning after Halloween or "Hell morning" as Erin dubs it due to the amount of teenagers still out causing trouble. During her route, Erin comes across some teenagers who begin to harass her but she is saved by other Paper Girls, Mac, KJ and Tiffany, who frighten the teenagers away. The girls decide it will be safer to team up to finish their deliveries and split into two groups, each group taking a walkie-talkie so they can stay in contact. Not long into their deliveries Erin and Mac receive a distress call from Tiffany and KJ and race over to help. After fighting off the mystery attackers the girls find something very, very strange.

I'd probably just avoid these guys if I saw them

The art of Paper Girls is just gorgeous and some how managed to make a group of 12 year old girls look like total badasses. Most of the panels are tinged with blue giving a creepy, abandoned feeling to the town that follows the girls even before their problems begin. The use of the girls clothing and costumes that the teenagers wear clearly shows this is taking place in the 80's without feeling the need to throw in unnecessary references to make the time period clear. I actually missed the date on the calendar at the beginning of the comic but had no problem placing the time period easily.

The character's each have their own personalities falling a little into the pop band stereotypes with the tough one Mac, the smart one Tiffany, the mature one KJ and the innocent dreamer Erin. That not withstanding it still captures the essence that they are still children. I particularly like the character of Mac who tries so hard to prove to everyone that she is tough but clearly is still just a child.

Badass

Paper Girls Issue #1 is a good comic and I enjoyed reading it but didn't think it was anything fantastic until the last page which ends on a brilliant cliffhanger that made my jaw literally drop while reading.

I give Paper Girls issue #1 4 out of 5 walkie-talkies.

Find out more about Paper Girls here.