Erin Tieng

Erin Tieng is one of the central protagonists of Image Comics' critically acclaimed series Paper Girls, first appearing in Paper Girls #1 (November 2015) from the creative team of writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Cliff Chiang. That debut issue is a landmark collectible in modern comics — it launched one of the most talked-about sci-fi series of its decade and introduced readers to Erin alongside her fellow paper delivery girls on the morning after Halloween, 1988. First print copies of Paper Girls #1 are among the most sought-after Image Comics back issues from the 2010s, and collectors who missed the initial print run have chased it through multiple subsequent printings.

Erin serves as arguably the emotional anchor of the Paper Girls story. Of Chinese-American heritage and quietly introspective by nature, she stands apart from the bolder personalities around her, and her perspective grounds the series' increasingly wild time-travel narrative. As the girls are swept up in a conflict spanning multiple eras and civilizations — including the discovery that godlike eternal beings are waging a covert war across time — Erin's arc becomes one of profound self-discovery. Encountering an adult version of herself forces her to confront questions about identity, regret, and destiny that resonate far beyond the genre trappings of the story.

The Paper Girls series ran for 30 issues, collected across six trade paperback volumes, and earned Eisner Awards and widespread acclaim during its run from 2015 to 2019. Erin and her teammates occupy a unique space in the collector market: the series is beloved enough to have inspired a major streaming adaptation, which renewed demand for back issues and sent values on key early issues climbing. Her origin, tied to the god/eternal mythology woven through the series, gives the character a mythic weight that sets Paper Girls apart from a simple coming-of-age story.

For collectors, building a complete run of Paper Girls anchored by Erin's appearances is a rewarding pursuit. Paper Girls #1 in high grade is the crown jewel, but variant covers, convention exclusives, and the oversized hardcover collections are all worthy additions to any modern comics library. As a character who helped define the tone of prestige Image Comics storytelling in the 2010s, Erin Tieng's books represent both a smart investment and a genuinely great read.