With enough plot twists to make even a hardcore fan of Lost, well, lost, and more time-travel trouble than your average McFly, that can only mean one thing: it’s the return of “Paper Girls.” Read on for our review, which contains only minor spoilers.
Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Illustrated by Cliff ChiangA BOLD NEW STORYLINE STARTS HERE! The Eisner and Harvey Award-winning ‘Best New Series’ from BRIAN K. VAUGHAN and CLIFF CHIANG returns, as Erin, Mac, and Tiffany finally reunite with their long-lost friend KJ only to encounter some horrifying new threats in an unexpected era.
Brian K. Vaughan has never been afraid to throw everything at the reader, and this issue is by no means an exception. There is, however, a quieter tone and a more measured pace than previous installments. Stranded in a new location thanks to the events of the last issue, our quartet of reluctant time-hoppers find themselves attempting to piece together any clues they can while trying to survive this foreign landscape, all the while no less confused than the rest of us.
In this issue, sadly, there still aren’t any answers to the larger plot points; if anything there are only more questions. Obviously Vaughan is very deliberate with the secrets he reveals, and by this issue it’s clear that the reader is consciously being kept in the dark to emulate the mental space the characters are in. Things are constantly happening that make no sense, and while there’s a risk that there are too many unexplained elements in play by this point, it no doubt helps the overall enjoyment if, again, like the characters, you just roll with it and try to keep up. This issue is instead dedicated to character development, and narrowing the reader’s focus is a sensible choice; the grander mystery is still tantalisingly out of reach, so until answers are more forthcoming, we’re given a solid, core cast of protagonists to grasp onto. There are also two new characters in this issue that serve as a fresh narrative momentum moving into this third volume.
If the plot feels somewhat confusing, then artist Cliff Chiang and colorist Matt Wilson are, as always, on hand to provide that much-needed clarity. Chiang works with Wilson and letterer Jared K Fletcher to produce a bright, approachable, almost animated look that helps to offset the mayhem of the narrative with clear lines and colors. A strong example of their collaboration is in the linework. Opting to not use black lines on the characters faces really softens the overall look and accentuates their expressions. In a character driven issue like this, that decision only serves to reinforce the narrative. This is the first issue to not take place in an urban setting and, besides a few panels, there aren’t any crazy futuristic designs to throw in either. That doesn’t stop Chiang giving his all and skirting the line superbly between expertly detailed and openly clean. His character work on the two new additions to the cast are especially strong; they’re thematically polar opposites, but you can learn so much about them from Chiang’s detailing, including some clues that even the protagonists don’t pick up on. So while this issue doesn’t seem as artistically taxing as previous installments, there’s still a confidence and consistency on display by Chiang that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Likewise the pacing here is excellently controlled. While there isn’t much deviation in panel style, the choice to increase the size of the panels to half-page and sometimes full-page which controls the momentum and provides maximum impact for the more important story beats in the issue.
Similarly, Wilson has an opportunity to produce a more tempered palette than previous issues, choosing rich blues and purples for the most part to reflect the twilight setting of the latter two-thirds of the issue. A scene around a campfire allows for bright yellows and oranges to dance off the faces of the characters, and the initial dream sequence gives Wilson the chance to show off his wildly bold colours and tone-setting backgrounds which, much like the art and the narrative, really help to jump-start this new story arc.
Continued belowInterestingly there are multiple elements in this issue that echo back to issue 1; the opening dream sequence; the comparatively normal setting (in issue 1 it was suburban Cleveland, here it’s the heart of a forest;) and the feeling of being on the cusp of an impending adventure all feel like very deliberate callbacks.
There’s no doubt that this series is forever moving forward – perhaps a commentary on the consequences of nostalgia – yet this issue is almost a narrative breather in comparison. Vaughan allows for the characters to rest, interact and learn a little more about each other, and Chiang’s panel structure gives the reader that sense of space too by opening up the panels, a decision that really sets a strong pace throughout. Overall this isn’t an issue for new readers, but it does give long-term fans a chance to catch their breath while at the same time hinting at the madness to come.
Final verdict: 7.0 – New characters, new mysteries and a new location all provide a solid, if slow-burn, introduction to this third arc. Welcome back, “Paper Girls.”
