Why Amazon's 'Paper Girls' Is A Perfect Comic Adaptation
Way before Stranger Things came out back in 2015, a comic series titled Paper Girls was released. The series focused on four paper girls from the 1980s who were transported to the year 2019, where they have to team up with their adult selves to save the world. The first season of the show was recently released on Amazon Prime Video, and as far as comic book adaptations go, this one is probably one of the best.
The show follows four paper girls, Mac, Erin, KJ, and Tiffany, in 1980s Ohio. It is the day after Halloween, aka Hell Day. It is Erin’s first night out, and her first customer is less than friendly. Tiffany comes to her rescue and warns her of certain customers. They ride to meet up with Mac. Then, they have to save KJ from some older boys that were harassing the girls earlier. At that point, they wisely decide to do the buddy system to complete their routes. On their way, Erin is robbed of the walkie-talkie loaned to her by Tiffany. They get swept up in a war between a group of rival time travelers and get transported to 2019. The girls all want to get home but are also curious about their adult selves.
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The girls deal with reality, loss, and disappointment when they encounter their adult selves. They realized the dreams they had as kids have not come true, and their adult lives are not going as they planned. They deal with their insecurities, and who they are in the middle of the season. The girls also face issues of racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism, which are addressed in the show. The emotional moments bring the girls closer together and are just as important as the fast-paced, action-packed sequences, which make the show all the more special.
The overall vibe of the show fits the 1980s theme well. The music is another added bonus to the show that adds to the 1980s aesthetic. The coloring in this show is something that should not be overlooked as well. You will never forget the first time you see the amazing pink sky after they have time traveled. It is a beautiful, and terrifying way to show the transition from the 1980s to 2019.
The characters are all great, even Mac, who is definitely rough around the edges in the beginning, but grows on you as the show goes on. Ali Wong, who plays the adult version of Erin Chen, is great in this dramatic role instead of her usual comedic one. The girls play their characters very well, and you want them to succeed. The show never loses sight that the main characters are 12- year-old girls. They may be intelligent, but they are still less experienced than their adult counterparts, which adds to the charm of the show. It is also wonderful to see a show based in the 1980s with a focus on girls instead of boys.
Amazon Prime Video’s Paper Girls is one of the most faithful comic book adaptations I’ve seen. It helps that the original creators, Brian K Vaughan and Cliff Chiang are writers on the show. As a huge fan of the Paper Girls comics, I can safely say that those who love the comics will appreciate the series and how close it stays to the comics. Paper Girls is fun and exciting, but also emotional and serious at other moments. This sci-fi adventure is a must-watch for everyone. I can't wait to see where the show goes next, and I hope we get a second season soon!
Paper Girls is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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