This series really reads completely differently in trade, maybe because after issue one i switched to digital, but it definitely has a better flow to the story collected and in print. the $10 price tag on this book should really draw in any uncertain potential readers, because Image knows how to hook you into trade waiting for a new series. this book is gorgeous- cliff chiang’s art is amazing, and i talked about BKV’s writing in Walking Dead: The Alien- i love Saga and Paper Girls and i loved his Walking Dead story, too! this book has so many moving parts, and so few of them get really revealed in the first trade, it is going to keep you coming back for more in volume 2. and the last page reveal of the book is almost as big of a reveal as the one at the end of the first issue. this is a stellar series, and i doubt i need to push the issue any further, but if you think you may like a book about 80’s newsies girls, and crazy sci-fi action, some time travel and TONS of different subtle cultural references and nods throughout the book, then this is a story you WILL NEED to read.

Paper Girls Vol. 1: (2016) by Brian K Vaughn, Cliff Chiang, and Matt Wilson (Image)
The series would amass thirteen (13) industry award nominations including five (5) Eisner nominations, one (1) Harvey nomination, four (4) Ringo nominations, and three (3) Hugo nominations. The series received the unique distinction of winning both the Eisner and Harvey awards for "Best New Series" in 2016. Vaughn won the 2017 Eisner and 2019 Ringo. Chiang won the 2016 Eisner and received a 2017 Ringo nomination. Wilson won the 2017 Eisner and received a 2019 Ringo nomination.

The series received recognition by Goodreads on their "Best Comics and Graphic Novels of 2016" with Vol. 1 at #9 and Vol. 2 at #12. Volume #1 received a 3.8 on Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon, and 8.5 Critic Review on Comic Book Round Up.

Strangely, I was late to the party on Paper Girls. Its strange because (1) I've read most everything by Brian K. Vaughn, (2) I was a paper boy, and (3) I'm a child of the late eighties (like Vaughn and the main characters). Recently, I ran into a stranger on a cruise reading Paper Girls. I introduced myself and started up a conversation about comics. Adam explained that Paper Girls was "probably my favorite series ever". It was high praise and I agreed to pick it up if he would agree to read my favorite title (King & Gerad's "Mister Miracle").

I picked up the first trade of Paper Girls at Barnes & Noble for $9. I read the second volume through Comixology Unlimited. While I enjoyed Paper Girls, I didn't find the first two volumes exceptionally endearing. Both the story and the characters were interesting enough to keep me around though Comixology Unlimited but aren't likely to make it on my shortlist. I'm going to convince my wife to watch the Amazon pilot with me and see if that doesn't spark any further appreciation for the series.

The art and style of this hooked me. I love every frame, every color, and the visual design is some of the best work I've seen. The characters are also hilarious, real, tinged with complex ideas, and identifiable. So why 3 stars? The story. The world Vaughan built is creative yet filled with tropes and ideas he already explored in Saga. The complete randomness of the word in Paper Girls would be appealing if we hadn't seen a lot of the ideas in Saga already. That said, I love the art and characters SOOOO MUCH. I may press on... Or may not.