Like HBO’s “Girls” – if the girls were all foul-mouthed, beer-chugging, goblin-smashing ladies of distinction.
Written by Kurtis J. Wiebe
Illustrated by Roc Upchurch“GOLD, GUTS AND GROG,” Part Two Someone wants to kill the Rat Queens? The girls are seeing red and there’s only one thing to do about it: get really, really drunk. And, eventually, maybe get to the bottom of who’s trying to kill them. Because, let’s be honest, they already know why.
Kurtis J. Wiebe has a small, but incredibly strong array of comic books under his belt. He’s a terrific writer, finding unique voices for all of his characters, but he’s an incredibly strong pitchman too. Each of his books his wildly different, and each is based around a very easy-to-digest, but brilliantly original premise. With “Rat Queens” the pitch is “What if the Skullkickers were all fully-formed female characters in a medieval adventuring party (emphasis on the party)?” On the surface it may not look like it, but this is as good a sword-and-sorcery book as you’ll find on the stands.
The Rat Queens have been given a typical ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ quest as punishment from the city for their chaotic party-animal ways, but as these things do, it quickly spins into what seems like a greater conspiracy aimed against them and their rival adventuring troupes. Along the way, there’s plenty of clever nods to fantasy and role-playing dashed with a modern comic sensibility and vernacular. I’ll speak to the strength of the central 4 “Rat Queens” in a bit, but the strength of the world surrounding them shouldn’t be undersold either. With the conspiratorial eye very much turned toward the “Rat Queens” and their rivals, we get a unique opportunity to see squads who would otherwise be trying to outdo one another in questing (and drinking) turn to one another and commiserate with something resembling reverence and kinship. It makes the surrounding cast richer and it serves to endear the reader to the greater world of the series, in preparation for an as yet unseen bigger bad.
By not worrying about steeping these characters in any sort of specific time period, they become so much more fun. Every “Rat Queens” reader will be sure to have a favorite. Better still, Wiebe and Upchurch have developed them so well in such a small amount of time that it’s easy to see any one of these characters as someone’s favorite. No one is shortchanged. The 4 characters are pretty different, personality-wise, but it’s tough to say that they’re archetypes. Each one fits a set of tropes, I guess, but none are confined to it. And it’s easy to see why they’d be friends, even when they’re driving each other nuts. The characterization is very aggressive as a result. It makes for a really strong sense of who each of these characters are, for sure, but these first two issues really put the spotlight on how reckless and colorful the characters are. If you want an outrageous, loud, and fun fantasy book – that’s what you’re getting with “Rat Queens.” It’s also remarkable how little that makes this book sound like any other Kurtis Wiebe comic – a testament to his flexibility as a writer.
Another common trait of these Kurtis Wiebe creator-owned joints seems to be an up-and-coming, top-notch artistic talent. Roc Upchurch shoulders quite a bit of the character-defining work through his design sense and his ability to play with character expression. Upchurch has a terrific nose for character “acting” and body language, imbuing each of the Queens with a uniquely “them” set of mannerisms. Almost every sequence contains the 4 ladies bouncing off of one another – whether in spirited fight sequences or expressive banter – which makes the visual invention of each one stand out even more. As the cast of characters grows, Upchurch’s ability to make each and every one completely unique does not go unappreciated. The extensive drinking sequence that brings all the clans together is a visual delight of design and joy.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a style quite like Upchurch’s. Somehow, his storytelling style feels extremely fluid and loose, but when you get right down to looking at the characters, every line is deliberate and appears carefully constructed to maximize the expressiveness. What looks absolutely great in a rather brisk read becomes even more impressive upon more careful inspection. Wiebe has partnered with yet another stellar talent that is going nowhere but upward from here.
Truth be told, “Rat Queens” is just another in a long line of creator-owned comic booking that Wiebe and whoever his latest artistic partner happens to be are making look extremely easy. Here, it’s Roc Upchurch, with a playful style that stretches the comedy of these characters far beyond an already sharp script. This is a book that feels like it has legs just based on the unique concept alone, but it’s the ability of Wiebe and Upchurch to put pure entertainment on every page and favor strong characters above all else that should make “Rat Queens” a mainstay on your pull list.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy. An extremely strong recommendation for fans of fantasy and vulgar hilarity
