• Reviews

• All
• Music
• DVDs
• Live
• Cinema
• TV
• Books
• Comic Books
• Video Games

Nov 08, 2017 Issue #62 - Julien Baker By Ryan E.C. Hamm

One of Brian K. Vaughan’s many (seriously, how does he do it?) ongoing projects, this series with illustrator Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman) and colorist Matt Wilson (The Wicked + the Divine) at first seems like an homage to ‘80s sci-fi—think Stranger Things but with paper delivery girls and a lot more swearing. But it quickly veers from the comfortable confines of nostalgic Walkman references and alien visitors into something much more knotty and complicated.

Vaughan’s strength has always been identifying the human center in his characters, no matter how crazy their surroundings. And he’s succeeded in Paper Girls—perhaps the thing that so far keeps it from reaching the heights of Saga or Y: The Last Man is the sheer number of protagonists. But as each titular paper girl gets her spot in the spotlight, it’s easy to see how this fantastic voyage will pack an emotional wallop.

Chiang’s angular pulp-style drawings are a perfect fit for the narrative, which relies heavily on emotive faces and huge, grotesque alien monsters. Additionally, Wilson’s coloring allows pops of primary colors to stand out amongst the general monochrome palette. (www.imagecomics.com)

Author rating: 8/10