Comic Book Review: Paper Girls #3 - Image Comics (2015)

Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Cliff Chiang

The girls are at Mackenzie's house and Mac is trying to get the gun away from her mother when there is an accident.  On the way to the hospital, the girls meet a visitor from elsewhere.

Paper Girls continues to add surprises to each issue.  Issue three has plenty of times that make you scratch your head wondering where this story is heading.  Who is the mysterious man at the beginning?  Who are the beings that the girls met in issue one?

A lot of questions but we still have good character development.  Brian K. Vaughan makes the most out of the limited amount of pages to use banter between the girls and demonstrate each of their personalities.  This tale takes place in the 1980s so there is a bit of nostalgia.  During Erin's dream/hallucinating experience she is ice skating with President Ronald Reagan.

Paper Girls is three issues in and I still have no idea what's going on.  That is actually a very cool thing.  I'm impressed by what Vaughan is doing, hooking the audience in and making us all wonder what direction he is taking Paper Girls.  Cliff Chiang's art is fantastic looking with this story and is capturing the eighties extremely well.

Are you reading Paper Girls as well?  What do you think of the review?  What other books would you like us to review for Maskerpiece Theatre?  Please leave your comments below.

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Comic Book Review: We Stand On Guard #6 - Image Comics (2015)

Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Steve Skroce

The final issue in the series.  Amber is on board an American ship with explosives strapped to her body and holding a detonator.  "The American" attempts to negotiate with Amber to prevent anything explosive happening.  Outside, the Canadian resistance movement continues to keep the Americans at bay.

I was saddened to find out that the sixth issue of We Stand On Guard would be the final issue.  I don't know if this was the original plan as the comic book felt very rushed.  I feel there was more to be told and the end felt very abrupt.

All in all I did enjoy the series and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys comics that are violent and even a bit humorous.  The characters were likable and their enemies were the type you could really dislike, even if though they were, in their minds, doing their jobs.

At only $2.99 per issue, We Stand On Guard is not an expensive collection to put together and you wouldn't have to wait for the trade paperback.  I have a feeling that when the trade comes out, people will buy it and wonder why this book wasn't given a larger issue run.  Perhaps it was truly by design.  I will say this, purchasing the actual comic books is how the writers and artists keep their jobs.  By the time trades come out, the book could already be done.

Okay, I'll stop preaching about being good consumers.  I hope you enjoyed the review.  Please let us know in the comments below how you think we are doing.  Also let us know if there are other titles would like us to read and review.  

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Comic Book Review: We Stand On Guard #5 - Image Comics (2015)

Written by Brian K. Vaughan
Art by Steve Skroce

It's the year 2124 and the war between The United States and Canada continues.  Amber and the rest of her group are moving in on the Americans.

I heard that this series is heading for an end soon.  The action increased in this issue and it looks to be at a point of no return for the Canadians.

We Stand On Guard has been a pleasant surprise.  In five issues, we have had ups and downs, lives lost and even a little bit of humor.  There's actually a fleet of supertankers the Canadian group refers to as the "Hosers."  I am really enjoying all of the Canadian humor that Brian K. Vaughan is including in this comic book series.

Get to your local comic book shop and pick up the back issues for We Stand On Guard before everyone finds out how excellent it is.  The cover price is only $2.99 per issue which has been great, especially compared to what Marvel and DC like to charge for most of their books.

What do you think of We Stand On Guard?  Are there any other comic book series' you are interested in reading?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Comic Book Review: We Stand On Guard #4 - Image Comics

Written by Brian K. Vaughn

Art by Steve Skroce

The future war between the United States and Canada continues.  It seems the Canadians are pinned down and the U.S. is able to stop these rebels.  The Canadians have something up their collective sleeves however.

This is such a great series.  Taking place 100+ years in the future, "We Stand On Guard" has a very interesting take on what the world could be like, especially with what we are seeing in the real world news today.  Canada being a place that, in this comic, was a place that would take in Syrian and other refugees that the United States would not.  There is great character development, especially with the main character as we see flashbacks of her past that builds on her tough as nails character she has become.

I will say, I can't help but read "We Stand On Guard" without a Canadian accent in my head.  Whether you think of Strange Brew or listen to the "Your Canadian Girlfriend" podcast available from Abnormal Entertainment, you can't help but smile amid the violence taking place in the Great White North.  

I love that Image Comics generally doesn't overcharge for their comic books.  "We Stand On Guard" is only $2.99 per issue so you ought to motor down to your local comic shop and grab those first four issues.

You can read more of my blogs here on Maskerpiece Theatre and also on http://cinemaheadcheese.blogspot.com/

Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

  

Comic Book Review: Paper Girls #2 - Image Comics (2015)

Written by Brian K. Vaughn
Art by Cliff Chiang

The girls are on the run from whomever, or maybe whatever came along and dropped some sort of device that has an Apple insignia on it.  Mackenzie feels they need more protection, so they're on the way to her house to get a gun.

More mystery than ever in the second issue of "Paper Girls" as the girls are on the run and see out of the ordinary behavior from passers by and creatures never seen alive.  We also get a glimpse of Mackenzie's home life and why we may be seeing this tough girl attitude from her.

Brian K. Vaughn is spinning a tale that gets more and more intriguing and leaves you with, while different circumstances, cliff hangers in both issues.   Cliff Chiang's art is as eye popping as ever and gives the reader the visuals that compliment the story Vaughn is writing.

"Paper Girls" #2 is available in comic book shops now and has the low cover price of $2.99.

You can read more of my blogs here on Maskerpiece Theatre and also on http://cinemaheadcheese.blogspot.com/

Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Comic Book Review: Paper Girls - #1 - Image Comics - 2015

Paper Girls #1

Writer: Brian K. Vaughn 

Artist: Cliff Chiang

Four girls in the mid 1980s are delivering newspapers on what appears to be Halloween night. Two of the girls have a run-in with a group of three “people” dressed in some strange garb speaking a language they don’t understand.  These individuals steal the walkie-talkie, I mean CB radio, and now the four young ladies are on the hunt.

In looking for these individuals, the girls find something strange in the basement of an abandoned house.  This is where the story takes a very odd turn…

As often found with new Brian K. Vaughn books, they do not seem to end the way you might think and it leaves you wanting to read the next issue.  This holds true with Paper Girls #1 as the end leaves you scratching your head as to where this book is heading.  I don’t want to give away too much information as I highly recommend purchasing this book.  With a $2.99 cover price, why not? 

Cliff Chiang’s art is exactly right for this story.   The look of this book flows so well with the dialogue and story direction. The interactions between the girls are just enough to give you an idea of their individual personalities and allows for a nice foundation for future issues.  

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