
Well, that was weird. Volume six finally wraps up the series, as our papergirls are separated and scattered in time by the somewhat unhinged Erin clone. But they get back together, helped by more clones, and help (somehow, I’m still not really sure how) to bring the time war to a close. Frankly, I’m still not sure why the papergirls needed to be involved, and why the truce that was eventually obtained couldn’t have just happened anyway, but it was a wild ride that kept me entertained throughout.
It’s been lovely throughout getting to know each of the girls, and their distinctive voices. Mac can be a dick, but she has a kind heart, and the puppy romance with KJ that started in the previous volume gets a chance to breathe here. Erin is smart and calm under pressure, KJ gets to prod some serious buttock, and Tiff brings the whole lot together.
There’s some clever simultaneous storytelling in the third issue of this volume, as the stories for all four girls go on at once, with one long, strip each, across each double-page spread, making four panels in total. It took a bit of getting used to, but it was very effective.
I didn’t have a clue how Vaughan was going to end this, but when it eventually came about, I did enjoy it. It was quiet, but hopeful. It really worked. There’s loose ends and unexplained bit – like what were those 4D blobs and what was their agenda? But the main story gets pretty much wrapped up.
I started this series because I’d heard there was going to be a TV series and wanted to experience the original first. Now that I’ve read it, will I watch the Amazon series? Yes, I think I will. It’s been fun spending time with the papergirls, and I want to see how other people imagine them.