Paper girls

Like some great 1980s teen sci-fi/horror cult classic, this aggressively awesome new series from Vaughan (Saga) and Chiang (Wonder Woman) throws alien invasion and time travel plots together and steeps the whole thing in suburban angst and attitude. It's Halloween night, 1988, in a drowsy Ohio neighborhood, and Erin Tieng has just joined up with three of her fellow 12-year-old papergirls on bicycles. Riding the quiet streets like the world's mildest gang, they try to get their routes done without too much hassle from cops or loser guys in Freddie Kruger costumes. But complications arise, including mummy-like scavengers lurching around the dark streets and a wormhole over a football field that's disgorging flying dinosaurs with laser spear-wielding riders. Vaughan's spiky writing and Chiang's vivid, dramatically skewed art make for a potent mix, particularly in the darkly comic dream sequences that punctuate the action. This is that rare period series that lets its references (Dukakis, MacGyver) slip seamlessly into the action. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

At four o'clock in the morning, 1988, the day after Halloween, most are slumbering comfortably in bed. Erin, however, waking from a hellish nightmare, rises to start her newspaper delivery. As her new routine begins, she meets up with three other 12-year-old paper girls who have been pedaling the route for some time. Since Halloween crazies are still lingering, the girls pair up for safety. A chance encounter with a few "costumed" boys who steal their walkie-talkie turns the morning upside down. Little do the girls realize that the boys are tech-taking, otherworldly beings, and, now at the heart of an interdimensional war, the girls are in serious danger. Vaughan (cocreator, Saga; Y: The Last Man) treats readers to another bewitching tale blending the supernatural with coming of age. Artist Chiang's dark panels and thick lines and Matt Wilson's remarkable use of color add to the overall emotional tension. Verdict This exciting romp through the 1980s is reminiscent of the movies Goonies and Stand by Me. Anyone who grew up in that era will find something to love in this volume. Older teens may not get certain references but will delight in the fast-paced action and plot. Readers will eagerly await the next installment.-Laura McKinley, Huntington P.L., NY © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.