• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Comic Book Review – Paper Girls #3

December 3, 2015 by Zeb Larson

Zeb Larson reviews Paper Girls #3…

The ongoing mystery series from BRIAN K. VAUGHAN & CLIFF CHIANG charges ahead, as the girls have a close encounter with an unexpected visitor.

Good God, what the hell is happening in this comic? I’m not complaining, but we’re three issues in and it’s gotten even more complicated and confusing than it was in the first issue. Ah, who am I kidding, I love it. Thankfully, hardy souls on the internet have pieced together that the alien language we see can be cracked with a substitution cipher (check it out here), so we can at least go back and read through the whole old dialogue. What we learn in this issue raises a few fair questions, but at least we get a little closer to understanding the people and creatures that have appeared. I will be discussing spoilers in this review, so consider yourself forewarned.

Terry and a girl named Gabs find themselves on the football field, where they have a brief spat amid all the weirdness before they’re dematerialized by a strange faux-knight speaking a sort of neo-Shakespearean techno dialect. Back at the house, we learn that Mac managed to deflect the shot away from her step-mother…right into Erin, who collapses with a bullet wound in the stomach. If things couldn’t get worse, the mother abruptly disappears. The others try and take Erin to a hospital, but they run into that same guy from the beginning. He eventually figures out that they’re “natives,” and promises to help them during the “Ablution” but before he can explain, he’s shot and killed by the same cloaked figures from earlier, who have a secret of their own to reveal: they’re teenagers too.

In general, I liked this issue. I will say that Erin and Mac are getting the lion’s share of character development, while Tiffany and KJ seem to fill supporting roles. Don’t get me wrong: they’re here, and they’re more active in this issue (Tiffany drives and KJ gets the gun), but I want to learn more about them.

Halfway through the issue, Erin has a sort of hallucination involving Ronald Reagan (who was himself shot in the side and survived). He tells her to “remember her papers” and holds up an all-black apple, itself bleeding. Just what the hell does that mean? I love that all of Erin’s dreams are wrapped up in the events of the 1980s: the Challenger explosion, Hinckley’s shooting of Reagan, and the Strategic Defense Initiative (“Star Wars”). But I can’t think of any possible significance for a black apple, except the Apple logo we already saw.

Well, it’s safe to say that the Rapture has been ruled out, because it’s not done by a bunch of teenagers. Are they trans-dimension travelers? It’s safe to say that the cloaked figures have at least some kind of connection to Earth, given that they’re dropping iPods as they go, but beyond that we don’t have much. It’s a shame that the neo-Shakespearean bit the dust so early because I really wanted to figure out what his story was.  The best I can say is that everybody they’ve encountered feels like they have some kind of pop culture character: cyborgs, beasts, dimension travelers…And this is a small detail, but the text at the end reads matches old video-game font. Is all this a giant mixture of ‘80s pop culture and historical references?

This book is a great enigma, but I feel like somewhere there are the small details I’m missing that will crack it open. Now that the invaders are talking to the girls, we’ll learn some more. Oh well, maybe something will jump out to me next issue.

Rating: 8.5/10

Zeb Larson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=0_9dLZCKOvQ

Filed Under: Comic Books, Reviews, Zeb Larson Tagged With: Image, Paper Girls

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

20 Essential Criterion Collection Films

Underrated Modern Horror Gems That Deserve More Love

1995: The Year Horror Sequels Hit Rock Bottom?

Out for Vengeance: Ten Essential Revenge Movies

Seven Famous Cursed Movie Productions

The Worst Movies From The Best Horror Franchises

Asian Shock Horror Movies You Have To See

Philip K. Dick & Hollywood: The Essential Movie Adaptations

Coming of Rage: Eight Great Horror Movies About Adolescence

Ranking The Police Academy Franchise From Worst to Best

Top Stories:

Comic Book Review – Rick and Morty vs. The Universe #1

Movie Review – Saint Clare (2025)

18 Incredible 21st Century Films You May Have Missed

Feel the Heat: 10 Uncomfortably Hot and Sweaty Films

10 Great 1980s Sci-Fi Adventure Movies

James Gunn’s Superman soars with $217 million worldwide box office opening

Movie Review – Eddington (2025)

Comic Book Review – Star Trek: Red Shirts #1

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

10 Great Forgotten Erotic Thrillers You Need To See

Films That DEMAND Multiple Viewings

The Must-See Horror Movies From Every Decade

Lock, Stock and The Essential Guy Ritchie Movies

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket