Image Comics 2015
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Illustrated by Cliff Chiang
Coloured by Matt Wilson
Lettered & Design by Jared K. Fletcher
Okay Colour me intrigued. I had no idea what this was going to be about but it’s by Vaughan so I was going to read it. There was a slight controversy over the word faggot appearing in these pages but it’s not used very offensively to me more in tune with the story and them being kids. What I what I like about this is that Brian is telling a story through a group of young girls and yet still weaving into it his own unique vision of the way a world can work.
At first while reading this opening I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. There’s this whole trippy psychedelic weirdness happening that but very quickly it turns into more about seeing the strength of character that Erin possesses. I like Cliff and Matt’s version of what’s happening here it’s interesting and showcases a vivid imagination from them and the character.
Erin gets up at an ungodly hour because she has a paper route. This particular day happens to be “Hell Day” as it’s the morning after Halloween. In the nice quiet town of Stony Stream Ohio we see Erin go about her day. She runs into couple boys that are still out causing mischief and well let’s say they aren’t the nicest of fellas. We learn through this exchange that she’s twelve so right at that preteen age where you are starting to develop your sense of self. The encounter could have gone badly if she weren’t “rescued” by a trio of other girls with paper routes. Hence the title Paper Girls.
Led by foul mouthed wise cracking and chain smoking Mac. She’s got a reputation, not all good, and we get bits and pieces about her through the issue. She’s one to keep an eye on because of what we learn here. It’s definitely enough to garner your attention and interest and keep coming back to learn more. Well as we all know there is strength in numbers and the girls split up into two teams of two and go about getting their papers delivered. When Brian has a project he wants to work on there’s never any doubt about the level of characterization he’ll bring to it and this is pretty spectacular stuff.
So what’s so interesting about four girls with paper routes? Aside from the fact that they are complex characters with hinted at ties and backgrounds as the story continues well it takes a turn into the decidedly weird. With elements of science fiction, horror and general uneasy creepiness the morning will be like none other the girls have ever experienced. I am very impressed with this first issue, we see the girls are smart, sassy and full of moxie not to mention loyalty to each other. The kind of thing that girls in particular are missing in comics today. It’s also a lesson in life and how to make, keep and be a good friend to someone else.
What a delightful and surprising read this turned out to be. There’s more than meets the eye with what’s going on here and the fact that our “heroes” are a group of young women, see girls, makes it all the more captivating. I mean it goes right along with the saying girls can do whatever boys can.
Fun, interesting and definitely out of left field this series looks like it could be another hit for Brian, Cliff, Matt and Jared.