Review by Ian Keogh

It’s been a long strange journey for four paper delivery girls from 1988 as they’ve bopped back and forth through time, met versions of themselves in the future, and picked up a new travelling companion. It’s not all been good news. In fact little of it has, and Mac learning in Paper Girls 4 she’s destined to die of leukaemia is knowledge no twelve year old should have. That said, an even worse glimpse of the future awaits another of the girls. However, a theme running through this collection is whether alleged fate can be avoided. What they also need to avoid is a powerful organisation chasing them through time.

The leader of that organisation has been a puzzling and mysterious presence for some while, with their motivation unclear, yet that’s now a matter Brian K. Vaughan clears up. As far as the remainder goes, we’re only a volume away from the conclusion, and the best way to enjoy Paper Girls has always been to go with the flow. Vaughan ensures that scene by scene there’s always a purpose in what’s a rarity for the series as, allowing for a few flashbacks, the entire volume is spent in 2171.

Once again Cliff Chiang’s art is outstanding. He creates a viable and detailed future with just enough of the present recognisable and providing a touchstone, with Matt Wilson’s colouring very important for the overall effect. The more difficult task is ensuring the lead characters remain believably their age of twelve, as Vaughan ensures they’re incredibly resourceful, a sort of combined Nancy Drew. Chiang achieves this by drawing emotionally strong people, whatever their age.

It’s another great volume, and all change at the end as we head for the conclusion in Paper Girls 6. Alternatively both volumes form part of the hardback Book Two, or the entire series was reissued as The Complete Collection to tie in with the then forthcoming TV show.