Once upon a time, in a land far away, there were four lovely maidens. Each maiden possessed her own talents and charms, and each kicked ass a little bit more than the next. These kick-ass damsels came together to form a mercenary group, known far and wide as the Rat Queens. The Rat Queens rock-and-rolled all night, and partied every day. They dispelled monsters and rogues with spell and sword. Yes, the Rat Queens and kicked much ass, and they became the stuff of legend. One part rock opera, one part lyrical ballad; the raucous tale of “Rat Queens” by Kurtis J. Weibe and Roc Upchurch is more fun than should be allowed.
Written by Kurtis J. Weibe
Illustrated by Roc Upchurch“GOLD, GUTS AND GROG,” Part One. Who are the Rat Queens? A pack of booze-guzzling, death-dealing battle maidens-for-hire, and they’re in the business of killing all gods’ creatures for profit.
It’s also a darkly comedic fantasy series starring Hannah the Rockabilly Elven Mage, Violet the Hipster Dwarven Fighter, Dee the Atheist Human Cleric and Betty the Hippy Hobbit Thief. This modern spin on an old school genre is a violent monster-killing epic that is like Buffy meets Tank Girl in a Lord of the Rings world on crack!
A new ongoing series from PETER PANZERFAUST’s KURTIS J. WIEBE and featuring a gorgeous incentive cover by SAGA’s FIONA STAPLES!
“Rat Queens” #1 follows the adventures of Betty, Hannah, Dee and Violet, the women who make up the mercenary alliance that shares its name with the series. This issue establishes the group’s place in their mythical world, which seems to be firmly on the fringes of their society. The necessary evil of mercenary protectorates is being weighed against the destruction and debauchery that these groups bring to the community, by the groups in power. Crafting conflict at every turn, Weibe and Upchurch create a world that breeds adventure on a number of levels. Whether slaying fantastical foes, or fighting for their place in society, the Rat Queens continually face down odds that never seem to be in their favor.
The characters created by Wiebe and Upchurch bring the series to life. With all the glamour and stage presence of an all girl rock group, the Rat Queens fill up every iota of the spotlight. Each woman is strong in her own right, and has a unique and well articulated personality. Betty is a dwarf with a sexual appetite much larger than she is, though her free love attitude does nothing to prevent her from making war. Breezy and joyous, she shines on the page. Hannah is a fiery Betty Page lookalike, endowed with magical abilities. Bold and daring, brash and headstrong she seems to be the leader of the rag-tag band. Her spitfire temper fuels her surly attitude. The group’s logician, Dee, is a reformed cultist who broke free from her parent’s blood-drinking cult. She seems level-headed and tough as nails. And Violet? Though she be but little, she is fierce. This red-headed hipster bubbles with wit, but boils with hard-hitting rage.
The consistent personality development is skillfully reinforced by Upchurch’s detailed character work. Little details like Violet’s pipe-smoking habit and her freckles, or Dee’s skull necklace and squid-god belt help bring these characters to a three-dimensional realization. Every visual element related to the characters, from their faces to their costumes, to their hairstyles, lends to their personal individuality and to the comprehensive diversity of this cast. Upchurch continues to capture detail in the environments he creates. Rich backgrounds help generate a feeling of realism that is truly transportive. In some panels Upchurch seems to literally focus the camera on the characters, allowing the backgrounds to fade into a slightly blurred scene that gives his work a photographic quality. This is just one more way in which the surrealism of this world is captured. While the world of the Rat Queens is a complete fantasy-scape, the artwork in this issue lends a credibility to the alternate reality that the team has created. Beautifully blending organic and geometric shapes, the stylistic ornaments that Upchurch embellishes the world with create a signature look for the series.
Continued belowThe quick-witted, back and forth dialogue in this issue sparkles with snark. A unique tone, like what might happen if the dungeon master replaced the DnD gamenight snacks with psilocybin mushroom and tabs of E, makes the series a true stand out. The pacing of this issue echoes that tone, seamlessly integrating exposition, plot and action with a sureness and speed that keep the fun coming. Thoughtfully composed action that extends beyond the borders of the panels brings the readers eye through the interesting, but completely readable layouts. The momentum of this issue never slows down.
From character design to layout, from dialogue to environment; every element of this new title lends to its feeling of novelty. Even the eye-catching logo and title design add the singular effect of rock-and-roll fantasy. Anchored by strong female protagonists, “Rat Queens” #1 delves boldly into adventure.
Final Verdict: 8.6 – Killer queens – guaranteed to blow your mind, anytime.
