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Paper Girls #3-4
Paper Girls, Book Two
Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang’s Eisner Award winning series Paper Girls is coming Amazon Prime Video in July 2022!
From Brian K. Vaughan, New York Times bestselling writer of SAGA, and Cliff Chiang, legendary artist of WONDER WOMAN, this gorgeous, oversized DELUXE HARDCOVER collects two complete time-traveling adventures, one that sends our four newspaper delivery girls from 1988 to the prehistoric past, and another to their own terrifying future.
Collects PAPER GIRLS #11-20, along with EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL and an ALL-NEW WRAPAROUND COVER!
From Brian K. Vaughan, New York Times bestselling writer of SAGA, and Cliff Chiang, legendary artist of WONDER WOMAN, this gorgeous, oversized DELUXE HARDCOVER collects two complete time-traveling adventures, one that sends our four newspaper delivery girls from 1988 to the prehistoric past, and another to their own terrifying future.
Collects PAPER GIRLS #11-20, along with EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL and an ALL-NEW WRAPAROUND COVER!
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2019
39 people are currently reading
821 people want to read
About the author
Brian K. Vaughan
1,061 books14.2k followersBrian K. Vaughan is the writer and co-creator of comic-book series including SAGA, PAPER GIRLS, Y THE LAST MAN, RUNAWAYS, and most recently, BARRIER, a digital comic with artist Marcos Martin about immigration, available from their pay-what-you-want site www.PanelSyndicate.com
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
BKV's work has been recognized at the Eisner, Harvey, Hugo, Shuster, Eagle, and British Fantasy Awards. He sometimes writes for film and television in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family and their dogs Hamburger and Milkshake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
November 15, 2025
(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included volumes can be found here:
- Paper Girls, Volume 3
- Paper Girls, Volume 4
Notes: Review pending re-read. Individual reviews for included volumes can be found here:
- Paper Girls, Volume 3
- Paper Girls, Volume 4
July 20, 2022
Readable, but I'm still iffy.
I will say I blew through it pretty quickly. The main drawback was this odd feeling of impending doom that just sort of pervades that entire thing. When I started this as a re-read, I couldn't quite remember why I hadn't continued with these comics this when they first came out. Well, now I can definitely say it's because I feel vaguely depressed when I finish each arc. Like, Nicholas Sparks is hiding around the corner getting ready to pop out at me or something.
I don't like it.
The action made a bit more sense and the characters are starting to tie together, though.
Not sure about the hows or whys exactly, but there's a caveman baby and his mom and a futuristic old man that have more in common than I thought they would.
Th Y2K stuff was kind of funny. Not laugh out loud funny, but funny in a hey, I remember that kind of way.
There is also the obligatory girl gets her period scene. Because you can't have a story about young girls without menstrual blood trickling down somebody's leg.
AND THE FEELINGS!
It's great. Really. I've just seen this same thing done so many times that it's lost all meaning for me.
Well, not all meaning. My inner 12 year old still giggles a little.
And I'm still not sure who the bad guys are!
Is it the teenagers who look like burn victims that are running around fixing the timeline, or is it the adults who are supposedly preserving the original timeline? Or maybe the old people are the young ones and the young ones are old?
See, this is why I hate time travel.
I will say I blew through it pretty quickly. The main drawback was this odd feeling of impending doom that just sort of pervades that entire thing. When I started this as a re-read, I couldn't quite remember why I hadn't continued with these comics this when they first came out. Well, now I can definitely say it's because I feel vaguely depressed when I finish each arc. Like, Nicholas Sparks is hiding around the corner getting ready to pop out at me or something.
I don't like it.
The action made a bit more sense and the characters are starting to tie together, though.
Not sure about the hows or whys exactly, but there's a caveman baby and his mom and a futuristic old man that have more in common than I thought they would.
Th Y2K stuff was kind of funny. Not laugh out loud funny, but funny in a hey, I remember that kind of way.
There is also the obligatory girl gets her period scene. Because you can't have a story about young girls without menstrual blood trickling down somebody's leg.
AND THE FEELINGS!
It's great. Really. I've just seen this same thing done so many times that it's lost all meaning for me.
Well, not all meaning. My inner 12 year old still giggles a little.
And I'm still not sure who the bad guys are!
Is it the teenagers who look like burn victims that are running around fixing the timeline, or is it the adults who are supposedly preserving the original timeline? Or maybe the old people are the young ones and the young ones are old?
See, this is why I hate time travel.
July 8, 2022
Somewhere between 4.25 and 4.5. Another really great volume. The crew was stuck in 11,000 BCE and got caught up with all kinds of rescue missions. Getting separated and trying to find each other, rescuing another time traveler and rescuing a baby. Craziness. Then they get shot all the way to the year 2000. Giant robots fighting, people looting and everyone thinking Y2K has hit. In this part of the story we finally learn a bit more of what going on. The “Old-Timers” trying to stop time travel, and the “young kids” wanting to enjoy traversing the time stream making the two faction be at war with each other. But finding out who the leader, or “grandfather” of the Old-Timers was a crazy revelation. This story is still batshit crazy and I’m still having an absolute blast with it. Can’t wait to read the final volume to see how this all plays out.
May 16, 2023
It’s getting two stars because the art is pretty. That’s it. The plot is so jumbled that you have to actively try to have it make any sort of sense — and even then it barely does.
But the worst part? The part that almost made me DNF, even though I literally have not done that in years? The amount of fucking derogatory language and “jokes.” There is no reason a character I’m supposed to sympathize with should use the ‘f’ slur the first time we meet her (in book one). I put that aside at first, because it was partially condemned afterward, but you know what I can’t put aside? Saying that Y2K is worse than Nazi Germany. No. Absolutely not. We are not bringing in Holocaust comparisons to “raise the stakes” of a sci-fi graphic novel. And then. THEN. That same character who used the ‘f’ slur made Jew jokes to the one Jewish character. And somehow that one Jewish character is supposed to LIKE this asshole character who can’t keep her fucking slurs to herself?
I will not be continuing with this series, even though I’ve now suffered through 2/3 of it. The art style is not nearly enough to redeem a book that manages to make itself problematic even when published in 2019. I don’t care that the characters are from 1988. Use your goddamn presentism for the better.
But the worst part? The part that almost made me DNF, even though I literally have not done that in years? The amount of fucking derogatory language and “jokes.” There is no reason a character I’m supposed to sympathize with should use the ‘f’ slur the first time we meet her (in book one). I put that aside at first, because it was partially condemned afterward, but you know what I can’t put aside? Saying that Y2K is worse than Nazi Germany. No. Absolutely not. We are not bringing in Holocaust comparisons to “raise the stakes” of a sci-fi graphic novel. And then. THEN. That same character who used the ‘f’ slur made Jew jokes to the one Jewish character. And somehow that one Jewish character is supposed to LIKE this asshole character who can’t keep her fucking slurs to herself?
I will not be continuing with this series, even though I’ve now suffered through 2/3 of it. The art style is not nearly enough to redeem a book that manages to make itself problematic even when published in 2019. I don’t care that the characters are from 1988. Use your goddamn presentism for the better.
June 10, 2022
Brian K Vaughan and Cliff Chiang undoubtedly keep their feet firmly on the gas pedal with this second book to the Paper Girls series.
I think it's often taken for granted just how difficult it must be to write that second story-arch or follow up volume, but Vaughan manages to keep the development of both plot and characters on pace here. In fact, I'd go so far to say it's actually ramped up significantly!
I believe book two can be boiled down to a simple statement - if you loved the concepts, atmosphere and ideas in book one, you'll absolutely love this follow up. If you didn't, I think you'll absolutely struggle here.
The plot becomes even more whacky and out there, which may put some folk off, but for me personally it remains the development of these characters and their friendship that keeps me enthralled.
Although not without flaws, this has been a fantastic series so far - imaginatively written and exceptionally illustrated. This could be a real contender for my favourite read of 2022 so far and without a doubt I'll be reading book three.
___________________
My Score: 9/10
My Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
___________________
I think it's often taken for granted just how difficult it must be to write that second story-arch or follow up volume, but Vaughan manages to keep the development of both plot and characters on pace here. In fact, I'd go so far to say it's actually ramped up significantly!
I believe book two can be boiled down to a simple statement - if you loved the concepts, atmosphere and ideas in book one, you'll absolutely love this follow up. If you didn't, I think you'll absolutely struggle here.
The plot becomes even more whacky and out there, which may put some folk off, but for me personally it remains the development of these characters and their friendship that keeps me enthralled.
Although not without flaws, this has been a fantastic series so far - imaginatively written and exceptionally illustrated. This could be a real contender for my favourite read of 2022 so far and without a doubt I'll be reading book three.
___________________
My Score: 9/10
My Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
___________________
January 12, 2022
In this volume, the girls travel both to the past (in the prehistoric age) as well as the future (to the eve of the dreaded Y2K), all the time trying to stay one step ahead of an epic temporal war. And just as the girls are struggling to piece together this conflict that they’re involved in, I also find myself trying to figure out what the hell is going on!
We do get many more answers this time, especially once our heroes encounter a boomer cartoonist who also happens to be a time travel fangirl, but many answers still remain elusive. And we also get much appreciated character development and exploration of our heroes and it really holds everything together.
We do get many more answers this time, especially once our heroes encounter a boomer cartoonist who also happens to be a time travel fangirl, but many answers still remain elusive. And we also get much appreciated character development and exploration of our heroes and it really holds everything together.
April 20, 2019
Every time I go back to this series I'm always welcomed with a strange sense of nostalgia. I love this story for everything it is. I'm never disappointed and I look forward to reading it right through.
An easy five stars for me.
An easy five stars for me.
June 20, 2024
It’s absolutely wild to me that the creators of this series were men for a series about 4 tween girls because they did such a good job I couldn’t even tell until I read it.
April 18, 2019
I just can’t get over how much I love these graphic novels, they make me crave more
January 18, 2021
The character building just keeps getting better but I feel like the story has dropped in quality a bit in this volume.
April 14, 2019
Fun, entertaining, nostalgic story. The characters' motivations are sometimes difficult to understand, and I definitely don't quite understand the main objectives of our protagonists and antagonists, but that's probably a personal failing. Great book.
May 12, 2021
Not quite as mind-meltingly awesome as the first collection, but still pretty great. Now with cargo cult cavemen and giant robots!
September 22, 2022
it just keeps getting better and better. time travel shenanigans are so fun. 4.5
April 17, 2021
my brain hurts. will likely start again from the beginning before moving onto the next volume. because I think I understand about 35% of what's happening currently...
March 19, 2022
I’m really enjoying this but I’m. Or going to lie the time travel just really confuses me. Also there’s some homophobia(but it’s internalized I think).
February 23, 2021
I finished books 2 (#11-20) and 3 (#21-30). They both have EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL!
These awesome books follow Erin, Tiffany, Mackenzie, and KJ who are 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls who uncover the most important story of all time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this critically acclaimed story about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood. Book 2 and 3 really just keep following the girls in their crazy time travel adventures. They get into all kinds of situations.
I am totally sad that I've finished these and it's the end. I really loved them. The story was awesome and the graphics were so fun and amazingly done. They are my favourite graphic novels/comics. The covers are so pretty. I don't regret buying the deluxe editions. I really love the girl power in these. Made me feel a lot of great things about my teenage years. I just LOVED everything about it. I NEED MORE!!! =P
I recommend them to everyone!! You won't regret it at all.
These awesome books follow Erin, Tiffany, Mackenzie, and KJ who are 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls who uncover the most important story of all time. Suburban drama and otherworldly mysteries collide in this critically acclaimed story about nostalgia, first jobs, and the last days of childhood. Book 2 and 3 really just keep following the girls in their crazy time travel adventures. They get into all kinds of situations.
I am totally sad that I've finished these and it's the end. I really loved them. The story was awesome and the graphics were so fun and amazingly done. They are my favourite graphic novels/comics. The covers are so pretty. I don't regret buying the deluxe editions. I really love the girl power in these. Made me feel a lot of great things about my teenage years. I just LOVED everything about it. I NEED MORE!!! =P
I recommend them to everyone!! You won't regret it at all.
June 10, 2019
Finished this on a break during my class. Really really enjoyed the ending, although the beginning setting during like 17000 BC wasn’t as fun to me, when they went to 1999 it was a lot better, and it looks like the next (final?) hardcover will take place in the future which should be really cool.
The best thing about this series is the characters and dialogue. And the world building is really cool, just not explored enough. I’d love for this to get a Stranger Things treatment and blow up, cause this series could definitely use some novels to flesh it out.
The best thing about this series is the characters and dialogue. And the world building is really cool, just not explored enough. I’d love for this to get a Stranger Things treatment and blow up, cause this series could definitely use some novels to flesh it out.
June 28, 2024
Yessssss so good! The only reason this isn’t higher is because it’s FUCKING CONFUSING GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION. But other than that, beautiful art, great characters, and an intriguing story! I flew through this.
**4 stars**
**4 stars**
August 2, 2018
[4.5 stars] fucking love this series.
April 1, 2021
It's fun watching this series spin-off into its new and interesting directions, but the weird thing about collections like this is that it's clear this is ten issues that were released monthly with the intent of them getting collected into two five-issue volumes that are now in one oversized hardcover.
The problems that were in the first volume persist here: it's clear that the series is still fairly obfuscatey about all the happenings going on because there's still one more final volume to go, and at a certain point it feels like obfuscation simply for the sake of it. I also feel like this thing is moving at such a breakneck pace that it's easy to forget just how much has happened to these girls on this one batty night.
Still, the joys of BKV are still here. No one writes comics as fluently or fluidly as he does and he's paired with a fantastic artist in Cliff Chiang. And that makes this whole thing work when really it is just an insane whirlwind.
Can't wait to see what the last page is.
The problems that were in the first volume persist here: it's clear that the series is still fairly obfuscatey about all the happenings going on because there's still one more final volume to go, and at a certain point it feels like obfuscation simply for the sake of it. I also feel like this thing is moving at such a breakneck pace that it's easy to forget just how much has happened to these girls on this one batty night.
Still, the joys of BKV are still here. No one writes comics as fluently or fluidly as he does and he's paired with a fantastic artist in Cliff Chiang. And that makes this whole thing work when really it is just an insane whirlwind.
Can't wait to see what the last page is.
May 7, 2019
I had to go back to the library and get this compendium to refresh my memory because I didn’t know what the fuck was going on as I began reading volume #5. I highly recommend reading these comics in this way (back to back) because the setting (both time and place) is constantly changing as well as the characters (and their different selves/clones throughout time), so it’s hard to keep track. There’s not really a linear storyline and you never know what to expect - dinosaurs, robots, mullets, futuristic cities and hover boots. All that keeps it interesting though, and it’s pulled together with a gorgeous color palette, beautiful artwork, and a diverse set of young women just trying to get back home to the ‘80s.
June 28, 2019
Filled with just as much kick-ass girl power as the first. I’m liking that this makes the adventure feel like it has more of a direction, as it takes on the Y2K scare, but I also feel like we didn’t get as much out of this one. I think the girls stayed kind of static and just ran into a bunch of random interesting people. However, I still found myself wanting to flip faster than possible and I can’t wait for the next set to come out.
August 18, 2022
"I'm so sorry for what happened to that girl, but history is a tragedy we can only observe."
that's some Brian K. Vaughan energy right there. I like his style of storytelling and the choices of the artists more than the actual plots or premises on their own: at this point he can probably sell me on anything.
It never stays too long in one place, never lets its ideas or characters go stale, always some fresh hell to orient yourself in.
August 4, 2020
This story bounces back from volume 2 and starts to fill in some blanks and gives us major details. We start to know who some of the other time traveller people are. I didn't really understand the bonus section at the end where the colorist explains the techniques he uses to create the art for the book, but I've never created digital art.
August 31, 2019
God I love paper girls. The storyline! the art! the characters! all around one of my favorite graphic novels, and these hardcover collections are honestly works of art I want to own them all
Read
August 7, 2021Book Two of Three
Will review when completed all Three.
Will review when completed all Three.
December 17, 2021
It's kind of convoluted, but the characters are cool
July 28, 2022
Don’t mind me, just waiting for my gay dreams to come true
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2023
Still so fun and mind boggling. Excited to see how this wraps up!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews