j9 Comic Reviews

A lot of the pull-quotes for the first issue center on the fact that the Kim & Kim is LGBTQ-positive, even describing the work itself as "queer as shit," which is great to advertise proudly " it's a huge part of what drew me into reading it. Yet I actually found the queer element to be pretty casual and organic, and I liked that.

Other reviews Ive read have described Paper Girls as Stand by Me meets War of the Worlds, but if I were pressed to compare it to something at this point, Id be more tempted to invoke the film Repo Man for the mix of sci-fi mystery and punk attitude. However, while Paper Girls is heavy on the angst and grit, it goes lighter on the comedic snark and campiness than its cinematic predecessor. Its hard for me to praise this pilot issue without wandering into spoiler territory, but the characters are an admirable pack of sharp young women who are actively trying to integrate their school smarts with street smarts and I look forward to seeing how they develop as the series grows.

Paper Girls is a perfect example of why I tend to read my comics in collected volumes instead of singular issues – I want more. Now!

When I said Id come back to Space Idris comment about Scruddy Teenagers this is the moment I was referring to – using the same translational vocal box that Space Idris employed, the mummies peel back their wrapping, deny being aliens, and assure the girls, Were just like you – teenagers! Those who read the premiere issue may remember that when Erin was first harassed by three boys on her paper route, her reaction was an aggravated Ugh, teenagers! Her disgust proved to be warranted, which makes me think this new batch of teens may not be the allies theyre selling themselves as. Compile that with the opening near-assault in this issue and Id say writer Brian K. Vaughan seems to be making a point of painting teenage boys as the enemy as far as the Paper Girls universe is concerned. Theres definitely an age-related conflict at the root of the events taking place, and Im hoping Issue #4 will deliver a little more generously with answers than with questions.

Again, I like to think if I were reading a collected volume Id be more satisfied with the way things are being laid out and I think ultimately a binge-reading would be great fun (its why I always recommend buying this title in trade), but at the rate were going Im ready for some solid movement instead of the Lost-esque constant mystery-building. Thats not to say Im not enjoying the ride, however; this issue had some fun moments and an added visual punch with more greens and oranges than weve seen previously. Im definitely curious to know more about the dude in the Public Enemy shirt, known formally as Grandfather, and I love that a group of tweens are the neutral party in a war between teenagers and adults. Overall Im still on board, and looking forward to whats up next.

While theres a lot of action through these first five issues, I dont actually feel like theres a whole lot at stake while reading it. Although characters Ive liked have died, I didnt get to spend enough time with them to really feel the loss. The characters that are still plugging along are entertaining and interesting, but not what Id call solid. Each issue is a fun read, but at this point Id expect a deeper emotional investment which has yet to come to fruition.

Will this comic appeal to folks who havent spent twenty years of their life with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease? I think yes. Even without a personal history of Ulcerative Colitis I would still be a sucker for poop humor, and I know damn well having a bowel disease is not a prerequisite for enjoying fecal funnies. That being said, while I would gladly put a physical copy in my bathroom at home, it doesnt really earn its place on my bookshelf so Id suggest checking it out in digital format first. Web comics like The Oatmeal and Cyanide and Happiness have proven that simple concepts can be illustrated by simple drawings and still deliver solid laughs, and Poop Office is of a similar ilk.

Overall I enjoyed both quite a bit, but it took a second reading of Eighth Seal to appreciative it, and there could have been more of a payoff by the end of the first volume. Both titles left me wanting more, but I predict (and hope) Glitterbomb will deliver more swiftly.

That being said, most of my criticisms of this issue are aesthetic. The lettering and linework are too blocky for my eye, and theres not a single character whose face I can consistently bear to look at, including Xenas. The overall look suffers from a lack of detail and consistency, with too many supporting characters having ape-like faces or minimal features, and the coloring is more utilitarian than creative. I had tempered my expectations with regards to the story, but was deeply hoping the comic would give me something far more exciting to look at than what was delivered.